The Motor Vessel "Once Around"

The Motor Vessel "Once Around"
The Motor Vessel "Once Around" in the Florida Keys

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Fathers and Sons

Leo and I had been jamming around Florida for a few days when last night he came up with the idea to go to a Tampa Bay Devil Rays MLB game.  "Sure", says I, "go ahead and see if you can get us some good seats for tomorrow night."  Next thing I know I'm handing him my AMEX card, feeling a little nervous.  Oh well, what the heck, it's a father and son night after what we expect to be a long day today at the boatyard.  And we were right.

So tonight, a little tired but excited for just about anything outside a boatyard, off we went to Tropicana Field in St. Petersberg.  I knew Leo had bought seats somewhere behind home plate, and when I stopped for a hot dog and beer shortly after entering the ballpark, he mumbled something about maybe having food service, he thought.  Talk about a couple of bumpkins.  We wound our way around to our section and walked pretty much all the way down to the floor of the stadium before we reached our seats.  Here's a shot from there:


As we sat down in the high backed, fully padded reclining seats (softer and better than first class airline seats) an elderly usher walked up and asked, "First time in these seats gentlemen?"  How did he know?   Well, the hot dogs and beers were a dead giveaway.  Seems we missed the part where we were supposed to go down an elevator to a concierge guy named Angelo and get a wrist band.  I couldn't quite fathom that so as we re-entered properly I took a picture of Angelo greating the guests that arrived just after us:



Also, our tickets weren't just for food and booze service, everything was covered!  Not only beer and hot dogs, but a full blown buffet upstairs in a sky lounge that Leo commented was like the Solon's Club at Raley Field on mega-steroids!  Here's a shot of Leo after a plate of pasta up there.



Oh, yeah, and we saw a great ballgame.  Tampa Bay 4-3 in a 10th inning walk-off two run home run!

Cost of these two tickets:  Ridiculous.

Being at a ballpark and getting served like a country club:  Over the top.

Being with your boy at a ballgame:  Priceless!

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