Greetings Reader -
How's your September going so far? As I'm sure you know it can be an exciting or difficult time to be a baseball fan; either your team is closing in on clinching a playoff spot or staring down elimination. And as I mentioned in a previous issue, it affects ticket prices accordingly.
The Tampa Bay Rays are one of those teams in the hunt. As I write this they're leading the AL East by four games and their magic number is 18 to win the division. Even if they don't, they're still very likely to clinch a spot in the postseason.
It's been an exciting year for Rays fans, especially after a rough period when a hurricane tore off the ballpark roof. If you haven't heard, Hillsborough County has approved a new Rays ballpark in Tampa.
I've been looking at the renderings of the new home of the Rays and I really like a lot of things about it. The transparent roof is my favorite feature. You can check it out here. The new ballpark will open in 2029, and of course I'll get there as soon as I can to get you the info.
But in the meantime, definitely visit the Trop while you still can. It's not everyone's favorite ballpark, I know, but it's got a lot going for it...I was just there last month, and I didn't mind escaping the 95-degree heat. And the thunderstorm that happened during the game would have caused a lengthy delay, which isn't fun.
Plus tickets are affordable, and the Rays are an exciting and fun team to watch. I'm always amazed at their success with a payroll that's always near the lowest in baseball.
Anyway, below I've included some stuff about parking and food at the Trop; if you're headed there soon, I highly recommend having a look. Lots of useful tips as always.
Thanks for reading, and I'll see you at the Yard!
Your Friend in Live Baseball,
Kurt
Tip of The Week
Many cities offer transit options that are ideal for baseball fans heading to the ballpark. St. Petersburg's SunRunner bus is an example. They're usually inexpensive, sometimes even free, and you can probably park near a stop much cheaper than at the ballpark.
Check the city's transit website and see if you can use one of these; it's a great way to save quite a few bucks on parking and avoid fighting traffic after the game.
Did a friend forward this email to you? Cool, thank them for me! You can sign up for this newsletter here.
Looking for a massive helping of BBQ nachos for two or more? How about a true Tampa-style Cuban sandwich? Interested in an epic milkshake with bourbon in it?
Here's a list of a dozen enticing looking food items that you can order to go along with your Rays baseball. Check out the crab fries with actual crab meat on them!
You have a lot of options for Rays parking; there's the convenience of using official Rays parking, cheaper options of city lots, and a couple of buses that can take you there and help you avoid fighting the traffic. There's even some free street parking not too far away.
I cover it all here, including some alternate routes to the Trop that can spare you some traffic headaches. Make it part of your plan!
Please Support Ballpark E-Guides.
I'm happy to drop the ballpark info for you free of charge...but this venture does require me to devote lots of time and money to bring you this informative and hopefully entertaining content.
So I really appreciate your support. Thank you in advance.
No actual charge at all. I won't ask you to "buy me a cup of coffee"; I can make my own.
All I ask is that you support my affiliates - which I of course recommend to baseball fans regardless - using the links below:
Need baseball tickets? Go with my friends at Gametime for great deals, including last minute tickets. If it's your first time spending $200 or more, get $20 off with the code SAVE20 at checkout.
Going to a game soon? Book your baseball parking now with the fantastic folks at SpotHero. (Just used them for airport parking with great success!) First time using it? Get 10% off your booking with the code FIRSTSPOT10.
You always need essential gear. Go to MLBShop for your official jerseys, caps, and other essentials...take advantage of the Labor Day sale and get up to 60% off with the code HOMERUN. Hurry, that expires Monday...
Want to bring ballpark food home from your trip? Check out the awesome folks at Goldbelly to order from regional food destinations across the USA. Check out their 20% off everything sale; use the code BITEWIDE. This ends September 7, hurry!
