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Charlotte County Sports Park
http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/spring_training/ballpark.jsp?c_id=tb
Tampa Bay Rays 2010 Spring Training
Ball Park rundown:
From the Rays website :”The beautifully refurbished Charlotte Sports Park is a state-of-the-art facility with kids’ play areas, a 360-degree boardwalk, upgraded concession stands and a top-notch team store. The Rays Inaugural Spring Training Season in Charlotte County in 2009 was incredible. In addition to breaking the record for the largest crowd at the Charlotte Sports Park facility, the Rays also set a new franchise record for single-season home attendance. The park is also the home of the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Florida State League, which made the playoffs in their inaugural season.”
From the guy who loves to Heckle there: This is my favorite of all spring training ball parks in Florida. The park features 360 degrees of HECKLING space. The outfield is surrounded by a boardwalk with a HUGE tiki bar that basically encompasses the entire outfield. This park was basically gutted and rebuilt and is now owned by (Cal) Ripken Baseball so it’s got to be a class operation. This is also the site of the St Patty’s Day SH.C Bus Trip. Listen whenever you are there for the “HEY NOW BARTLETT” heckles. They can easily be heard as JB has a major following, since his arrival in 2008.
For autographs and close player interaction: hit the grassy nole at the 1st base foul pole in right field. This is the main entrance for both teams.
Players to watch: BJ Upton is great to interact with in CF, but good luck getting any recognition from Carl Crawford in LF, unless you have hot chicks with you. [I sit between CC and BJ during the regular season at the Trop and have caught them checking my (wicked hot) wife out on several occasions.] Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena will also interact with fans. And skipper Joe Maddon will always turn and wave if you ask nice. Should the opportunity arise, please feel free to HECKLE the pitching coach Jim Hickey. Tell him you’re hammered and ask him for a ride home. (See our hecklepedia tab for more details)
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Tailgating: is all about what you make of it. The ball park is in a very rural area and most of the parking is on grass fields behind the park, so there is a ton of room. Great place for wiffle ball! If you’re there on the 17th of March, look for the big white Sportsheckle.com bus and stop by for a beer.
