Archive for the 'The Trop is bringing sexy back' Category

Sep 28

Concessions At Trop Getting Better, Still Not Great

The Trop, The Trop is bringing sexy back Cork Gaines 6 Comments »

Last year, ESPN conducted a review of every major sporting venue’s concession stands and Tropicana Field did not receive a favorable rating. In fact, all 47 of the concessions inspected received at least one critical violation.

This year, things are better, but the report is still a bit gruesome…

Centerplate, the concessions vendor for Tropicana Field, has reduced its average number of critical violations by more than two-thirds, to 1.1 per outlet.  But 57 percent of outlets still were cited for things like “mold and flies,” “slime in the ice machine,” and workers handling meat without gloves.

Ok. flies happen. Not great, but whatever. Mold? It doesn’t say where the mold was found. So let’s just assume it was on the floor or on the backside of a machine. Right? Good. But “slime in the ice machine.” What the hell? C’mon people. Slime? What does that even mean (Ed. note: see comments)? And “handling meat without gloves”? We know a lot of these workers are volunteers, but aren’t gloves just common sense?

Disgusting. Just disgusting.

Mar 29

Filming Rays PSAs and Commercials

Fans do silly things, Jordi Scrubbings, Raymond, Raymond is a sexy beast, The Trop is bringing sexy back Jordi Scrubbings No Comments »

Our correspondent Jordi Scrubbings recently had an opportunity to participate in some TV work at The Trop for the Rays. Below is his account of that experience.

If you have ever been to the ballpark early, you’ve probably seen the public service announcements the Rays video folks play. They usually go on about an hour before the game and warn fans of the consequences of smoking in the stands, blocking the line of sight, using foul language, and generally ruining the experience of other fans.

Over the last two weeks the Rays have filmed these videos and other commercials for the 2011 season. Being currently between jobs, I had the pleasure of going to Tropicana Field and answering both casting calls for extras. It was a very cool experience.

The first casting call was strictly for the pre-game PSAs. These were done by people I think were part of the Rays’ media team and marketing staff. There were no trained actors, just the Rays Team girls, Raymond, a few employees, and a bunch of extras. There was also no script, just a format and a direction. They filmed the drunk fans bit, the people with crazy hats bit, the guy who sits in the wrong seat bit (coincidentally next to a very pretty girl – imagine that!), and as a very cool added bonus, the guy with afro bit. That’s right, there is a very good chance you will see my smiling face front and center in a Rays pre-game public service announcement. Of course, I’m not giving you any spoilers, but let’s just say it involves a rubber chicken and it’s funny.

(Oh, and for those who might think me acting in a Rays commercial will ruin my objectivity as a writer, I didn’t get paid. These were completely voluntary and we had to sign waivers releasing our image, etc. So fire Joe Maddon and trade BJ! Kidding!)

A few days later, I returned Read the rest of this entry »

Feb 22

Keeping Faith in the Cowbell

David Price, Fans do silly things, RAYSHEADS, Tampa Bay Rays, The Trop is bringing sexy back Jordi Scrubbings 6 Comments »

Our correspondent and Afrologist, Jordi Scrubbings, is back with another sensible take on things that drive most of us nuts…

“Absolutely!! Have faith in us!! RT @GtotheLee: @DAVIDprice14 there goes Soriano & Balfour is there anybody left to field a team?”- David Price on Twitter, Jan 14th, 2011

We live in a very fickle society, and many things we hold dear one day we have no problem parting ways with the next. We swap our phones, move on to other jobs, flip our homes, and even trade in our cars often times without the slightest regret.

We call it “upgrading” and we are modern masters.

Sometimes, however, we don’t the ability to move up.  Sometimes life deals us a bad hand and we lose the very thing that comforted us the most.  Sometimes we have to pull out the duct tape, bubble gum, toothpicks, and screwdrivers and do our best MacGuyver impression. Sometimes, like David Price said, we gotta have faith.

That’s not to say the 2010 Rays were Read the rest of this entry »

Jan 31

The Trop’s Turf: Before And After, Plus Bonus Live Cam

AstroTurf, The Trop is bringing sexy back Cork Gaines 11 Comments »

The Rays today released the image below of the new AstroTurf being installed at Tropicana Field. If you have watched any Rays games in recent years, you should immediately notice the difference in color. Compare it to the image at bottom from the ALDS in October.

Also, AstroTurf has a live cam running on their website where you can track the progress. Not quite as entertaining as a puppy cam, but still fun to check from time-to-time. [Tropicana Field Live Cam]

Click here to see the before and after shots… Read the rest of this entry »

Jun 23

[ENERGIZED INDEED] Most Energized Fans Of The Game

The Trop is bringing sexy back Cork Gaines 11 Comments »


On Friday night, as the Rays broadcast came back from their commercial break to start the seventh inning, Dwayne Staats introduced one of those sponsored moments of the game as they zoomed in on the “energized fans of the game”.

The “winners”? Those two young ladies above with their special message to the Rays players.

We are not sure how that sign got on TV, but we have a feeling that somebody was in a little trouble after the game.

Of course, in the end…the real winners were the Rays players that answered the call. Ahhhh, the rough life of a big leaguer.