Let's Road Trip Brewers 2025: Trip #4 - From Tampa's New Digs to the Guardians' Lair

Tampa Bay Rays - May 9-11
George M. Steinbrenner Field - Capacity 11,026
2024 Attendance (at Tropicana Field): 1,337,739 (Averaged 16,515, 14th out of 15 AL parks and 28th overall)

When the Brewers traveled to Tampa in May of 2023, they had started the season 23-20, but the Rays were storming out of the gate with 32 wins and only 13 losses. Milwaukee got a gem from Adrian Houser in the opener, but the Rays scraped their lone run together off of Peter Strzelecki in the eighth, and the Brewers never touched Shane McClanahan and the bullpen in a 0-1 loss. Game two saw the offense return, but the result remained the same in a 4-8 loss. Finally, the Brewers salvaged a win with some home run power in a 6-4 victory in what turned out to be the last game the Brewers would play at Tropicana Field.  The first game the Brewers played at the Trop on June 13, 2005, was witnessed by 8,858 fans in the seats. Their final game on May 21, 2023, had a rousing 20,193 attendance. Overall, the Brewers went 7-7 there, with the only series victory coming in a two-game sweep in 2022, thanks to six home runs and just enough pitching.

On paper, putting Major League Baseball in Tampa Bay made sense. As the Yankees' spring training home, it already houses a major league team for two months each year, so why not put an actual franchise in town? In 1998, the Tampa/St. Pete metro area got its own ballclub: the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. They celebrated by losing at least 90 games in their first ten seasons!

Then, after a 2008 name change to the Rays (think “sunshine,” not “seafood”), the tide turned in many respects. Their first World Series appearance and a constant stream of small market success stories defined the next decade. Attendance, however, never followed suit except for the occasional playoff run.

Tropicana Field boasted the notorious label of “unattractive” and “nondescript.” A concrete dome, with Astroturf (which even the Astros stopped using), optical illusions from the seating arrangement, and catwalks that giveth and taketh away. But apparently, the game experience itself could be a lot of fun. Dancing grounds crews, a live ray tank in the outfield (think “seafood,” not “sunshine”), a Ted Williams and Hitters Halls of Fame, and plenty of room to roam made the Tropicana experience a good buy. If you could time the series right, you can also catch a few minor league games in the area while you were there.

The "Trop" embodied quirky baseball, but thanks to hurricane-force winds and a stadium dispute that strangled any motivation for repairs, it now stands roofless, leaving more questions than answers about the future of the franchise in the area. That leads the Brewers to George M. Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the rival Yankees and the minor league home to the Yankee's Single-A Tampa Tarpons. Don't the Rays have their own spring training site in Port Charlotte? It is too far to travel, and there are worse amenities, supposedly. With a capacity of less than their average attendance in 2024 and with a ballpark that is (finally) easily accessible to citizens of Tampa, the Rays look to raise some prices, make some cash, and most likely vacate town. 

The landscape and tourism industry of Tampa took a hit with Hurricane Milton. However, the Salvador Dali Museum, the Sunken Gardens, and the Florida Aquarium are still worth the trip, and the Big Cat Rescue is also pretty sweet. Hopefully, you can find a way to get your tickets early because these games will be sold out by February. Hopefully, the Brewers can make hay in Tampa while the sun shines because Cleveland is their next stop.

Cleveland Guardians - May 12-14
Progressive Field – Capacity 34,830
2024 attendance: 2,056,264 (Averaged 26,028, ranked 9th out of 15 AL parks, 20th overall MLB)

The Brewers last journeyed to Progressive Field in 2023, and they came away winning the series two games to one thanks to Willy Adames being unstoppable and a 10th-inning squeaker in the finale. The Brewers' first trip to Progressive Field in 1994 was as an American League divisional rival, and therefore, they have a longer history at the ballpark compared to other AL destinations. They've gone 21-23 in Cleveland over the past three decades and have won five of six there since the Covid, empty stadium season.

Baseball in Cleveland began in 1894. This trip's destination, however, is the most current iteration of Cleveland baseball: Progressive Field. I grew up memorizing Major League and even parts of Major League 2 (no shame). This stadium isn’t Municipal Stadium, but it’s been around a while nonetheless. Progressive Field opened for business in 1994, and 2019 brought an extensive concourse renovation at the 200 level with entertainment spaces and open walkways.

The Guardians rebrand brought them back to the top of the AL Central, and the future looks bright for the organization. A trip to the southern tip of Lake Erie brings plenty to see and do.  Built downtown, with plenty of surrounding neighborhood options for food and drink and a consistently winning team, Progressive Field can be well attended when the team is winning, so Brewers fans should be aware if they plan to catch these games. Cleveland boasts the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and several neighborhood eating highlights. A short drive to Canton brings the Pro Football Hall of Fame into the mix, while lake and outdoor activities are also available.

One unique attribute and history that carries on is John Adam’s Drum. This dedicated fan brought the “thump” to every game since 1973 but hadn’t been in attendance since Covid started. He passed away in 2023, but his tradition carries on. One of his original drums is now enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

After this trip, the Brewers return home for three games against the rival Twins and three against the young and talented Orioles. Will they find a way to stack some victories in this odd and difficult road trip? Or will the Rays and Guardians put a hurt on the Brew Crew? What do you predict, Brewer Fanatics?