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Legends Field /
Tampa Yankees
| Year Opened | 1996 |
| Capacity | 10,000 |
| Dimensions | 318L, 399LC, 408C, 385RC, 314R |
| Last Visit | 2004 |
| Web Site | www.legendsfield.com |
| Online Broadcasts | No |
| Online Ticket Sales | Yes |
| Phone | 813/879-2244; 813/287-8844 |
| League | Florida State League |
| Ticket Prices | Reserved, $5; general admission, $3 |
| Architect | DLR Group |
| Parking | Parking in the reserved area right next to the ballpark is free during the Tampa Yankees season. There is also a large free parking lot directly across Dale Mabry from the ballpark, with a walkway connecting the ballpark and the parking lot. |
| Address/Directions | 1 Steinbrenner Dr., Tampa. Take I-275 to North Dale Mabry (U.S. Hwy. 92), exit 41B (old 23). Proceed north approximately three miles. Legends Field will be on your left, directly across from Raymond James Stadium. Follow the signs for parking, as you'll park on the opposite side of Dale Mabry from the ballpark. Signs to the ballpark are abundant |
| Rating |   |
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Legends Field is a great spring-training facility: the aisles are wide, the concourses feature an abundance of unique offerings, and crowds pack the ballpark to see the New York Yankees in action.
But there's a hangover effect when the regular Florida State League season starts. Crowds are significantly smaller despite some very reasonable ticket prices ($5 and $3), and it just feels sad to see young players without the presence to light up the ballpark.
Otherwise, Legends Field is an interesting ballpark in a number of ways. First off, it has the same dimensions as Yankee Stadium, but that's really more of a plus for the spring-training Yankees than the Tampa Yankees (who will need to make a number of stops before reaching the House That Ruth Built). It has a number of decorative touches that are reminiscent of Yankee Stadium, most notably the facing that's been a feature of the original ballpark since it was built. The large Yankees placards certainly remind you at all times who inhabits the ballpark.
And there is a certain grace to the ballpark. There are only 12 luxury boxes, and they are not separated from the rest of the ballpark; George Steinbrenner was clearly visible during a spring-training visit. The seats are comfortable, and the rows are not crammed together.
Perhaps the worst thing about the ballpark is its location: On the corner of MLK Blvd. and Dale Mabry Blvd., two very busy highways. There's little ambiance around the park: Raymond James Stadium (the home of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers) is located southeast of the park, while a car dealer is located north of the park. When you look out beyond the center-field scoreboard, you have a view of the MLK/Dale Mabry intersection, and that's about it. You might as well be in an industrial park in New Jersey.
One more problem with the ballpark: the lack of places to stand and watch the game. Because the concourse is in back of the grandstand, you can't see the action while you're heading back for a snack. There's no concourse ringing the ballpark, which means you can't see the action from beyond the outfield wall. (It would be close to impossible to add a concourse; the ballpark is already close to Dale Mabry on the right-field side.)
Concessions
All the concessions are located in a concourse
behind the grandstand, so you will miss the action
should you head out for one of the standard
ballpark offerings -- hot dogs, beer, pop,
popcorn, peanuts, etc.
For
the Kids
There's nothing a lot at the ballpark
specifically for kids.
Parking
Parking is in two locations. The parking lot
directly next to the ballpark on the west side of
Dale Mabry is free and open to the public for
Tampa Yankees game. In the unlikely case that this
lot is full, there's additional free parking on
the east side of Dale Mabry.
Before/After the Game
If you're bringing the kids, a possible stop
is
Busch Gardens, a theme part built around a
zoo, various rides, and a water park. I will
confess it's been many years since I've visited
Busch Gardens -- in fact, Anheuser-Busch still
owned the park when I last visited -- so I can't
wholeheartedly recommend Busch Gardens.
The International Plaza Mall is located a few miles from the ballpark. It's a large high-end mall, with Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus among the anchor stores. The restaurant offerings include the Cheesecake Factory, Blue Martini and the Bamboo Club. It also has a reputation for being a less-than-bustling mall (which has certainly been the case during my visits), so you won't need to fight any crowds.
Those more in party mood will want to head to Ybor City, Tampa's Latin Quarter. It's a gentrified area that was once home to cigar factories that's now a shopping and entertainment mecca. Ybor City's larger buildings can be seen a ways away, and the district -- located on 7th Avenue East between 15th and 20th streets -- is well-served with many road signs showing the way. Notable nightlife spots include brewpub Barley Hopper's International Alehouse, the Green Iguana bar, and the Centro Ybor, which houses several clubs and restaurants. At night Ybor City gets pretty rowdy, as the music clubs bring them in. Oh, and you can still find hand-rolled cigars in Ybor City as well.
Also worth a trip is the Pier, located on the waterfront in downtown St. Petersburg. The Pier features a five-story inverted pyramid with giant tubes bubbling with fish and creatures from the sea, complete with a second-floor aquarium filled with native and tropical fish and sharks. You'll also find educational exhibits from the Great Explorations Museum and the historic H.M.S. Bounty docked pierside.
For the truly surreal, there's the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Pete. Get it? Surreal? Good.
If you're looking for more excitement, you can head into Orlando, which is 75 miles up I-4.
Where to Stay
There's one hotel within walking distance of
Legends Field:
Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Tampa Stadium,
located a half mile from the ballpark at 4732 N.
Dale Mabry. Rates run to $85 on weeknights and $75
on weekends. Other hotels located within two miles
of the ballpark and near the aforementioned
International Plaza include the
Tampa
Microtel Inn and Suites (5405 N. Church St.;
888/771-7171),
Days Inn (2522 N. Dale Mabry; 813/877-6181),
and the
Residence Inn (4312 Boy Scout Blvd.;
813/877-7988)
There's a wider selection of hotels at the Tampa airport, including the Howard Johnson (2055 N. Dale Mabry Hwy.; 813/875-8818), La Quinta Inn (4730 Spruce St.; 813/287-0440) and the Sheraton Suites (4400 W. Cypress St.; 813/873-8675).
The Westshore area of Tampa (also only a few miles from the ballpark) is also home to a cluster of hotels, including the Wyndham (4860 W. Kennedy Blvd.; 813/286-4400), the Clarion (5303 W. Kennedy Blvd.; 813/289-1950) and the Crowne Plaza (700 N. Westshore Blvd.; 813/289-8200)
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