June 21, 200521 yr Author Driving up from Homestead friday mornin, staying for all three games. I also think I know where the marlins are staying while they're in Tampa, so I'll be looking for them! 818333[/snapback] According to the Marlins Media Guide they'll be staying at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort.
June 21, 200521 yr Driving up from Homestead friday mornin, staying for all three games. I also think I know where the marlins are staying while they're in Tampa, so I'll be looking for them! 818333[/snapback] According to the Marlins Media Guide they'll be staying at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort. 818569[/snapback] YUP! :thumbup
June 21, 200521 yr A tip to those of you wondering...instead of staying in Tampa and crossing the Bay you can stay in Manatee or Sarasota Counties and cross the SkyWay to the park. The Trop is a couple of exits after the Skyway....beware of the one way streets in St. Pete. Coming from the South is easier than coming from the East. Be careful when crossing Charlotte and DeSoto Counties. If you must get off remember these areas were hit hard by Charley and many of the gas stations and restaurants near the Interstate are gone. Do not get scared when you pass the Jones Loop Road exit. FEMA Village is big and may seem intimidating, but the damage is not very visible from 75 from there on out. The airport that used to be there is gone so you won't notice it anymore. The Burger King there is open too. In Sarasota County you will find eveything like normal except for construction.
June 21, 200521 yr I'll be making the trip from G'ville to be at all Three games. Go Marlins!! (I hope its better then last years trip.) GO GATORS!!!!
June 21, 200521 yr yeah tropicana looks like a boring place to watch a game and w/ arguably the worst fans in baseball (not their fault. they have nothing to cheer for). Turner is a MUCH better stadium. i was just there for an angels v braves game and it was a good time. the crowd is not what you would expect from a 13 year division winner (~25k for a weeknight game. thats weak for perenial playoff franchise). originally i WAS going to Tampa for the game. i may still go but its a good 8 hr round trip from my house in south florida. so w/ gas, tickets, meals, and hotel we're easily looking at a $350 trip. and plus, im going to the braves, brewers and cubs games the following week.
June 21, 200521 yr If you don't mind walking an extra 5 minutes...you can park for free on the overflow lots across the street from Tropicana Field. Here is my map for you guys... The green perimeter is Tropicana Field's property and is considered on-site. The yellow boxes are the lots I speak of. During game days police is all over the place and certain streets may be blocked depending on the parking. If the Rays lot is full, the grass lots will be filled next. A crowd of 20,000-25,000 will fill the Trop's lot easily. Last time I went we had to park here because the game lots on-site were packed. It was O's-Rays. http://tampabay.devilrays.mlb.com/NASApp/m..._directions.jsp There are only 7,000 slots on-site. Get there early!
June 21, 200521 yr Now on to the next part: Inside the Trop is actually very nice. You go up on escalators and are under the A/C all the time. However the lights are very bright on the field and it gets very hot. The Trop has baseball in mind at all times and is very nice to go through. There are several food courts along with your normal concessions every few sections. Bathrooms are also plentiful and clean. My only problem with baseball in this building is that the lights are extremely bright at night and they seem to change every half-inning. Don't wear much clothing because it will be about 82 degrees in there due to the light. Hopefully we get some rain so we cool down a bit. If you go during the day you will notice when planes fly over because the roof is semi-transparent.
June 21, 200521 yr I was just wondering if you know where the players get dropped off when they are going to the stadium. Down in Houston the Marlins rode cabs to the game was nice they got dropped off 3 - 4 hours before the game right in front of you. That is where Cabrera signed like 10 items that I had of his at one time. Was nice!!! How do the Marlins sign down there in Tampa just wondering we are coming all the way from Texas for this. You will not be able to miss us we are going to have a huge Venezuelen Flag. Come say hi if you see us.
June 21, 200521 yr The Trop really doesn't have a place...so just keep watch near the front (or should I say the Center Field Rotunda) and you should spot them.
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