Major League Baseball is exploring options to secure a temporary home for the Tampa Bay Rays, at least for the beginning of the 2025 season, as repairs to Tropicana Field following Hurricane Milton's damage remain uncertain. The hurricane severely damaged the ballpark's fiberglass dome in St. Petersburg, casting doubt on its immediate future. Several spring training sites in the Tampa Bay area have been proposed as potential temporary venues, and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed a preference for keeping the team in the region if feasible.
"We're hopeful that we can find a solution within the Tampa Bay area and that the necessary repairs can be completed to allow the Rays to resume playing," Manfred stated on a recent episode of The Varsity podcast. "Staying in the market where the team is based is usually the simplest option, if we can manage it."
The Rays have called Tropicana Field home since their inaugural 1998 season, despite the stadium being constructed in 1990. The hurricane damage occurred just months after St. Petersburg and Pinellas County approved a new $1.3 billion ballpark, set to open in 2028 as part of a broader downtown revitalization project. The city has engaged Hennessy/AECOM to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the damage and contracted another firm to remove the remaining roof material. An insurance claim has also been filed.
Potential temporary homes for the Rays include local spring training sites used by the Phillies, Blue Jays, Yankees, Pirates, and Tigers. Further afield, the Rays' own spring training complex in Port Charlotte, about 85 miles south of St. Petersburg, and the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex near Orlando are also being considered. Most of these venues host minor league teams post-spring training, which could necessitate significant schedule adjustments. An alternative is the Orioles' spring training site in Sarasota, which does not have a minor league team.
Discussions have also included sharing the Miami Marlins' stadium, though this presents significant scheduling challenges and is a four-hour drive from St. Petersburg. A previous proposal to have the Rays play some home games in Montreal has resurfaced, but the stadium there is undergoing renovations and won't be ready for next season. The Rays declined to comment on Tuesday, stating only that it could take weeks to fully assess Tropicana Field's condition. Playing without a roof is another consideration, though Tropicana Field lacks the necessary drainage systems for a rain-prone area.
Another factor is the cost of repairing a facility slated for demolition in a few years for the new ballpark. The Rays' opening home game against the Colorado Rockies is scheduled for March 27, 2025. Manfred assured that MLB, the team, and other entities will find a solution.
"One thing is certain: they're playing next year. We'll find them a place to do it," Manfred concluded on the podcast.
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