Owing to its nature as baseball's only permanent indoor stadium, Tropicana Field gets a bad rap as a bad place to watch a game. While the dome certainly lacks the appeal of offering "outdoor" or "night" baseball, small crowds and cheap ticket prices allow fans the opportunity to purchase great seats even on a modest budget.
Tropicana Field is a fairly straight-forward ballpark with three main seating decks. Lower level sections are labeled in the 100s and include odd-numbered sections on the third-base side and even-numbered sections on the first-base side. Views from both sides of the field are fairly equitable, although sitting on the third-base side gives you a head-on view of the videoboard in right-field.
While most fans will argue that the best views in the 100 level sections are in the seats closest to the field, it's worth pointing out that the front rows of these sections are pushed back farther from the field than you might expect. There is extra foul territory on the infield in front of the dugouts which means that fans in sections 101-118 aren't as close to the field as they might like to be.
As an alternative to the expensive tickets in sections 101-118, consider the first six rows in sections 119-124. These rows are truly at field level and provide an excellent view of the field and into the dugouts. If you don't mind being a little bit farther from the field, the elevated rows in sections 101-118 offer one of the most comfortable views from the lower level. Specifically, we like rows EE-JJ which are located just in front of the walkway.
Another opportunity for excellent elevated views comes from the 200 level. While these are club level seats in most ballparks, they are common seating at Tropicana Field and are generally much less expensive than the lower level seats below. Because these sections hang over the lower level (and create obstructed views in some 100 level seats), they are closer to the field than one might expect. Again, we recommend seats on the third-base side where you have a better view of the videoboard, and we also recommend skipping row A where the railing can sometimes be a distraction.
With relatively small crowds for Rays game, the upper deck at Tropicana Field is largely under-sold. Despite being mostly empty, 300 level seats behind home plate might actually be the best cheap seats in all of baseball. Because the 200 level hangs over much of the lower level - and there is only a modest suite level above the 200s - the front rows of the upper deck are closer to the field than at most stadiums. If you're seated in one of the first seven rows of these sections, expect a view similar to what you'd get in club level seats at a modern stadium. Just don't venture up much higher - the desolate highest rows (N and above) are some of the worst cheap seats in all of baseball.
An additional note when considering lower level tickets:
- There are some truly horrific obstructed and claustrophobic views from 100 level seats above the walkway. While the worst views are in rows UU and higher, we also recommend skipping rows PP-TT because of their boxed-in feel and the distraction of people in the walkway.
Rows B-G in Sections 119, 120, 121 and 122
- Closest seats to the field
- Cool view of the action from field level
- Great looks into both dugouts
Rows EE-JJ in Sections 101, 102, 103 and 105
- Best views from the lower level with elevation
- Located just in front of the walkway for easy access
- Best view of the center-field and right-field scoreboards
Rows B-H in Sections 207, 209, 211 and 213
- Excellent elevated views from the 200 level
- Little-to-no distraction from the netting behind home plate
- Best view of the videoboard in right-field
Rows E-J in Sections 300, 301, 302 and 303
- Some of the closest upper level seating in all of baseball
- Excellent birds-eye view from behind home plate with minimal distraction from home plate netting
- These rows have fewer seats than nearby rows for easy in-and-out
