Major League Baseball is working hard to ensure that the Tampa Bay Rays have a temporary home near their fanbase if the damage to Tropicana Field from Hurricane Milton cannot be fixed in time for the start of the 2025 season. The fiberglass dome at the ballpark in St. Petersburg was severely damaged by the hurricane’s winds, putting the future of the stadium in question.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed the league’s desire to find a temporary location for the Rays in the Tampa Bay area if possible. The Rays have been playing at Tropicana Field since 1998, and the recent damage comes after plans were approved for a new $1.3 billion ballpark in a different location set to open in 2028.
The city of St. Petersburg is currently assessing the damage to Tropicana Field and working with insurance carriers to determine the next steps. Suggestions for temporary homes for the Rays have included local-area spring training sites used by other MLB teams, as well as the Rays’ own spring training complex in Port Charlotte.
Playing at the Orioles’ spring training site in Sarasota is another option that doesn’t have a minor league team, making scheduling adjustments easier. Sharing the Miami Marlins’ stadium or playing home games in Montreal have also been proposed, but logistical challenges remain.
The Rays have not yet commented on their plans for the upcoming season, but MLB, the team, and other entities are committed to finding a solution for their home games. Despite the challenges posed by the damage to Tropicana Field, the Rays are expected to have a temporary location to play their games in the 2025 season.
