Remember, you can shoot me an email any time with ideas for the Lunch Break (or anything else!) at scottcaruso@gmail.com.
Here’s an email that Richard sent to me the other day:
Scott, would like to put a push on to get a better hot dawg at the trop. He guy just kidding (well not really, hot dawgs do suck). Looking forward to the ‘08 season. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to my morning coffee at the Namoli complex next month. Be my last year, been doing it for 10 years..
Go Rays
Better hot dogs, eh? That almost sounds like something I can campaign on to actually win the David Bloom Award next year instead of giving in to the power of corr… you know what, I’m gonna stop myself right there. I’ve already gotten into enough trouble with that award.
Anyways… back to the issue at hand. Better hot dogs. Yeah, the Trop’s hot dogs are alright (I’m kind of fond of the ultra-bad for you Sting’em Dog, myself) but they could always be better. That brings me to the topic of discussion for today: other than more wins, what would make the experience at the Trop more enjoyable for you? Do you think it’s perfect the way it is? I’d love to hear how the diehards feel about this one.
For me, I want them to actually tone down the sound effects and music that is constantly blaring through the sound system. Not only is there too much of it, but it is EXTREMELY loud. And maybe one of those promotions like some other teams do where it’s $1 hot dog night or something along those lines. I actually think that could inspire more people to head on down there.
January 17th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Richard, the regular hot dogs do indeed suck…although if anybody has film on me and the eating show I’ve put on during a couple of $1 hot dog nights, you may not believe me.
Nonetheless, I have decided to devote my life to better hotdogs in ‘08 ’cause the current ones are too freaking mushy.
You heard me, Friedman.
January 17th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Almost the same story. I too was on the TV when they introduced the Stingem’ Dog with Todd Kalas. The hot dog was Hebrew National, All beef dog. It is a little sloppy to eat in your seat but the dog is a good one. The $1.00 HD are a lot smaller and not as good but they sure sell a ton of them. Good promotion for people with a big family, it gets the kids to the game. Thier are future fans.
January 17th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Not that that is what you are doing but this is to the majority. People complain about the trop to much. That would make my baseball expierience better. When ever I go to the trop I don’t want to look at my brother and say “man I don’t know why everyone thinks the trop is a s$*# hole”.
At the same time, most people hate the trop but when they propose the stadium idea most people are against it. Rays fans just want to look for a complaint.
One way they could make my trop visit better would be to go back to playing the Jimmy Buffet song fins during the 7th inning stretch. That was perfect for a Florida team. Alot of teams have a “signatue” song why can’t that be ours?
January 17th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
My wife and I LOVE the Jimmy Buffett song!! “Fins to the left… fins to the right….”
January 17th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
What do the hot dogs cost at the Trop?
January 17th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
MLB says we will NEVER get the All-Star game while the Trop is the Rays home field. That alone should make people want this new stadium, because new stadiums create attendance at least for the 1st season, and they also attract all star games which raise money for downtown… I have been to 1 game at the Trop and thought it was cavernous and cold (this was before the re-do 2 seasons ago), but the sightlines were really good and I liked having AC. With that said I am already planning a vacation in conjunction to the “new Trop” opening in 2012. And I really don’t care if I have to sit in 90 degree heat or not, because I know that the Rays brass is taking into consideration that people are complaining about the heat- Which in my opnion is weak, because its hot as heck everywhere in the summer time… I roast at Citizens Bank Park at least 3 times a year, but HEY ITS BASEBALL! What do people do who are fans of the Florida State league or the Montgomery Biscuits do? They go to the game- A winning team will make everyone forget it’s hot out… PLus a view of the Bay and a fun lower downtown would rock on gameday-
January 17th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
I have to agree with HJ, my first game impression of the Trop was cold & cavernous as well. The new regime has done a nice job of improving it though. My biggest complaint is that it’s baseball INDOORS. There is NO comparison between watching a game in an auditorium on synthetic turf, and watching a game outdoors, with green grass and the smells of the game. I would much rather catch a Spring Training game at Progress than watch a game in the Trop. If ya can’t stand the heat, you live in the wrong state. With a stadium on the water, you wouldn’t need half the distractions (loud music for one), the natural atmosphere of an outdoor stadium and surrounding sights would suffice.
January 17th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I like the Trop (although I am increasingly convinced-or am convincing myself-that the new stadium is a great idea) and think it is rather attractive. I love the walk down the long aisle into the park and think there are lots of interesting Kiosks and such inside. But I do agree about the noise. One great joy in Wrigley Field is that there is virtually no extraneous noise between innings, just crowd chatter and vendors calling out their wares.
But I doubt there is any use complaining. It has become part of the atmosphere of the ballpark just about everywhere else and I suppose is necessary to keep people interested. It’s just that I love to talk about the game or about baseball or whatever between innings and find it nearly impossible.
January 17th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
I’M SORRY, BUT IF YOU LIVE IN FL YOU KNOW THAT MOST HOT, I MEAN HOT NIGHTS THERE IS MASSIVE LIGHTENING STORMS LIKE THE 4TH OF JULY. TEMPS AT NIGHT SOMETIMES NEVER GET OUT OF THE 90′S AND THE BUGS SET IN. GIVE ME A BREAK. WE HAVE A GREAT STADIUM. THE NEW STADIUM WOULD WORK IF IT HAD A RETRACTABLE ROOF AND A/C.
January 17th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Aybar is on board. Indifference…
http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/sports/comments/rays-acquire-aybar-from-braves/
January 17th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
I live here and regularly attend games in Clearwater, Dunedin and Tampa during the summer. No problem.
January 18th, 2008 at 12:06 am
Bob apparently floridians don’t go outside during the summer. It is to hot and there are way to many bugs, especially on the bay.
January 18th, 2008 at 9:20 am
weak sauce- wear bug spray…