Charlotte Sports Park is the minor league home of the Tampa Bay Rays. The bag policy at the venue, as of February 2024, is that bags can enter as long as they don’t exceed 16″ x 16″ x 8″ in size. That means that clear and non-clear bags can enter the venue for a game. However, you should bring a clear bag into the venue to be safe in case the rule changes to a clear bag, and that will result in a faster bag inspection check than a non-clear bag.
Here is the complete bag policy guide at Charlotte Sports Park for your next spring training game. As a note, there is an affiliate link on this page.
Approved Bags
Below are the different types of bags that fans can bring into the Spring Training ballpark for a game. As a reminder, the bags can’t exceed 16″ x 16″ x 8″ in size.
- A clear single-compartment bag
- A clear fanny pack
- Medical bags/diaper bags (you must have a child with you during the bag inspection to bring this bag into the arena)
- ADA bags
- Small clutches/wallets
- Strapless clutch bags
- A backpack
My Clear Bag Recommendation for Stadiums
I’ve been bringing a clear fanny pack into stadiums for a few years. Even though this venue does not require the bag to be clear, more and more spring training venues are moving towards that policy. Even though in February 2024, the bag does not need to be clear, I still encourage fans to bring one in with them. A clear bag tends to result in a faster bag inspection check at the gate.
How Does the Staff Review Bags at the Gate?
Fans will pass through a metal detector screening at the gate before entering the venue. Fans with a bag will line up in the “bag” line, which is a slower line to go through than the non-bag line. The stadium security staff will do a manual inspection, visual inspection, or metal detector scan of your bag and may ask you to remove certain items. The security staff won’t allow them to enter the venue if there are any issues with the bag or the items inside it.
What are the Prohibited Items?
There are certain items that the security staff won’t allow to enter the venue for a baseball game. Be sure to visit the official mlb.com page to get the most up-to-date information on the prohibited items. Below are some more common items that fans can’t bring inside the venue.
- Drones
- Glassware
- Outside food and drinks
- Tripods
- Lasers
- Folding chairs
- Weapons of any kind
- Brooms
- Laptops and tablets that exceed 16″ x 16″ x 8″ and or interfere with other fans around you
What Should You Do If Your Bag Can’t Enter the Venue?
If your bag can’t come inside the venue, you have a few options to consider. First, you can see if The Twisted Fork restaurant, which is directly next to the venue, can watch your stuff. Community members tell me that the staff can watch your bag there for a small bag-holding fee, assuming they have the space to hold onto it. Of course, the fan accepts all responsibility for stolen or damaged property if you choose that route.
The second option is to throw away your bag or items in one trash can outside the stadium.
Third, you can always return your bag and items to your car and leave them there. The third option works best if you have a car with you to do so.
Greg Kristan, owner of The Stadium Reviews, LLC and TM Blast, LLC, brings his extensive experience visiting over half of the MLB ballparks, along with numerous MLS, NHL, NBA, and NFL venues, to provide in-depth coverage on the bag policy, food options, and parking. He has also been interviewed about his experiences on several sports podcasts.