By outdoor-nature-child.com Major League Baseball is exploring options for the Tampa Bay Rays to secure a temporary home near their fanbase for the beginning of the 2025 season, given the extensive damage caused to Tropicana Field by Hurricane Milton. The hurricane severely shredded the ballpark’s fiberglass dome, leaving the team’s immediate future uncertain.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred emphasized the league’s commitment to keeping the team within the Tampa Bay area, stating, “We’re hopeful that we can figure out something in [the Tampa Bay area] for them and that the repairs can be done in a way that allows them to resume playing. The easiest thing is always to stay in the market where the clubs are anchored, if we can manage it.”
In light of the hurricane’s devastation, Ryan Bass provided a heartbreaking 360-degree view of the damage on social media, capturing the destruction of Tropicana Field’s roof and the inside of the ballpark. The Rays have called Tropicana Field home since their inaugural season in 1998, although the venue itself was built in 1990.
This disaster comes just months after St. Petersburg and Pinellas County approved plans for a new $1.3 billion ballpark slated to open in 2028, as part of a significant downtown revitalization initiative. The city has brought in the Hennessy/AECOM firm to conduct a thorough assessment of the damage and has contracted another company to remove the remaining roof material, according to city spokeswoman Alizza Punzalan-Randle. An insurance claim has also been filed by the city.
“We will have more information on next steps once the analyses have been completed and the remaining roof has been removed,” Punzalan-Randle confirmed.
Potential locations for the Rays’ temporary home include nearby spring training facilities used by teams like the Phillies, Blue Jays, Yankees, Pirates, and Tigers. The Rays also have a spring training complex in Port Charlotte, approximately 85 miles south of St. Petersburg. Another possibility is a ballpark at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports complex near Orlando.
Many of these venues typically host minor league teams after spring training, which could require significant adjustments to existing schedules. One potential solution might be the Orioles’ spring training site in Sarasota, which does not have a minor league team.
There has been discussion of the Rays sharing the Miami Marlins’ stadium; however, that option poses a logistical challenge, given the four-hour drive from St. Petersburg. A previous idea to have the Rays play some home games in Montreal has emerged again, but the stadium there is under renovation and won’t be available for the upcoming season.
The Rays have refrained from commenting at this time, noting that it may take weeks to fully assess the condition of Tropicana Field. While playing without a roof is one possible consideration, the Trop lacks the essential drainage systems for such a rain-prone area.
Lastly, the question of how much to invest in repairing a facility that will ultimately be replaced by a new ballpark in a few years looms large. Despite these challenges, the Rays are scheduled to host their opening “home” game against the Colorado Rockies on March 27, 2025, and Manfred assured fans, “The one thing I can tell you for sure, they’re playing next year. We’re going to find them someplace to do it.”