The Tampa Bay Rays and Major League Baseball need to find a temporary home for the ballclub for the 2025 season due to extensive repairs needed at Tropicana Field following damage from Hurricane Milton.
A damage assessment report estimated $55.72M in repairs, with the stadium not expected to be ready until just before the 2026 season, meaning the Rays will not be able to play there in 2025.
Over $23M of the repairs are for the roof blown off during the storm. The stadium is structurally sound, but administrative areas were affected by wind and water damage, and a new playing surface is needed.
“Overall, the stadium appears structurally sound and would be a viable candidate to continue to serve the city (should they so decide) in providing continued service following hurricane damage repairs,” Hennessy Construction Services wrote.
The report also mentioned wind and water damage to administrative areas, affected audio and visual systems, and intact exterior with damage mostly to the fabric roof and portions of the metal panel system.
This creates complex scenarios for the Rays and the league, as the team is set to move to a new stadium in 2028. The decision to invest in fixing Tropicana Field for just two more seasons or finding a temporary solution for 2025 onwards needs to be made. Potential temporary locations include Durham, Charlotte, Nashville, and Montreal.
