Tropicana Field suffered significant damage during Hurricane Milton, tearing away large sections of the roof and leaving the field and indoor amenities open to the elements. In the week after the hurricane, there has not been a definite statement from the team on how extensive the repair process will be. However, one thing is clear, the Tampa Bay Rays will not be able to play their season opener on March 27 at Tropicana Field.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, to begin repairs is a massive undertaking for several reasons. First of all, the roof is six acres in size. Funding for that project aside, there are still questions about who could make the roof and how long it would take. Structural engineers are expected to assess the field’s overall structural integrity in the coming days.
Tampa Bay Times
Tampa Bay Times reported that engineers will, “get a better sense of the overall structural integrity (such as whether the roof struts are in danger of falling), the condition of the large video board and other features that were not designed to be exposed to elements, and other damage throughout the building, such as the exposed offices.”
Also at stake for the Tampa Bay Rays is the fact that the team’s plans for a new stadium by 2028 have already been approved, which makes pouring money into this soon-to-be empty ballpark a financial nightmare. At this time, the city of St. Petersburg is responsible for the costs and insurance associated with the stadium.
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Rob Gerdes, the city administrator, said, "It’s a little bit complicated how the fund works for Tropicana Field, but there is insurance on the property. So that’s the first thing we’ll be looking at is the property insurance to help make repairs."
While the fate of repairs remains unknown, the Rays must find a new place to play their home games, at least for the first part of the 2025 season. Their options include Steinbrenner Field (the Yankee’s spring training facility), Disney World’s baseball stadium and the Ray’s own spring training facility in Port Charlotte, Fla. The MLB has not yet been asked which facility would be the best fit, but the team’s facility in Port Charlotte would certainly need upgrades to bring it up to the standards of an MLB stadium.
