Tropicana Field St. Petersburg Florida Landmark Series
Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 10:25PM Jason Collin 
Tropicana Field in full - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 7-bracket HDR on Induro CT214 tripod with Nikon MC-30 cable releaseI am starting a new photo series: St. Petersburg Landmarks
The first landmark is the home of the Tampa Bay Rays -- Tropicana Field. It is a much maligned dome stadium. First, almost nobody is happy about its location. It is far from the other major cities in the area, Clearwater and Tampa. Even for us St. Petersburg residents it is not in any kind of walkable location. It must be driven to and it is in an area there is no other reason to drive to. It basically sits in the middle of a huge parking lot. Inside it is dark and dreary looking. I would actually say from the stands to look out over the field it is a depressing experience.
The entrance to Tropicana Field - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 7-bracket HDR on Induro CT214 tripod with Nikon MC-30 cable releaseThe entranceway and the stores in the immediate grandstand are actually attactive and make you feel like you are attending an exciting event. It is only once under the dome proper does the horridness settle in. I have been to only one game (see photos) and photographed a charity event on another occasion.
Palm tree lined parking lot walkway - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 7-bracket HDR on Induro CT214 tripod with Nikon MC-30 cable releasePerhaps the best view of the entire property is when you are walking out of the stadium under a mosaic sidewalk lined with tall palm trees toward your car. The walkway does not go on forever, eventually you would run into Tampa Bay!
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