ST. PETERSBURG, FL: There hasn't been any indication of how badly the Rays would be affected in the first week since Hurricane Milton tore the roof off Tropicana Field while it was tearing through west central Florida. The team's inability to start the 2025 Major League Baseball season at home on March 27 is about the only thing that is definite.
Many things they don't know, but hope to find out in the upcoming weeks, include where the Rays play, how long they'll be gone, and what repairs beyond a new custom roof are required to return to Tropicana Field — until the projected 2028 inauguration of their new stadium on an adjacent site.
Safety concerns, such as the integrity of the struts supporting the Teflon-coated fiberglass roof, have severely restricted access to the building. Other parts of the stadium appear to have sustained significant damage.
For instance, the fourth-floor team offices that previously had drop ceilings beneath the roof are now exposed to the weather. The day after the hurricane struck, on October 10, Rays officials released a statement stating that they intended to "assess the true condition" of the stadium "over the coming days and weeks." Since then, they have not made any public remarks.
That is the most frequently asked question and, given that opening day is 162 days away, it is also possibly the most urgent. The Rays need to determine if they are searching for a short-term home for a few months, a season, or three years.
Additionally, the players union will undoubtedly be involved, and Major League Baseball will have a voice. There will be a huge list of choices—perhaps fifty locations—some of which are better suited for longer stays. All of them have drawbacks, including weather, location, amenities, and/or scheduling difficulties depending on the main tenant.
For a number of reasons, playing in one of the local minor league or spring stadiums can be an alluring prospect. Most importantly, fans were still able to come. Additionally, staff and players are allowed to live in their normal residences, and game-day workers may be able to find employment.
A number of venues are at least worth checking out, such as Tampa's Steinbrenner Field (Yankees), Dunedin's TD Ballpark (Blue Jays), Clearwater's BayCare Ballpark (used by the Phillies), and St. Petersburg's Al Lang Stadium.
However, none of them have roofs, which causes pre-game work disruptions and weather delays frequently in the summer. And in order to hold games during the regular season, all would need to be upgraded.
Although it would be ideal for the Rays to remain in the Eastern Time Zone for television considerations, they might wind up out of state. Expect to hear recommendations for places like Nashville and Charlotte, which have Triple-A teams and expansion goals; San Juan, Puerto Rico, which has hosted major league games; and Durham, North Carolina, which is home to their Triple-A team and close to Raleigh, which is a popular spot for an expansion club. (The Athletics' intentions to relocate to Las Vegas in 2028 seem to rule out the possibility.)
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