Photo courtesy of USAToday
By Kendall Bulkiewicz
The Tampa Bay Rays are facing a challenging situation after Hurricane Milton shredded the roof of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, leaving the team unable to host the 2025 Major League Baseball season at home as planned starting on March 27.
With damage assessments and repairs underway, the Rays are currently displaced and exploring temporary venues for their games, potentially for the next three years, until their new stadium opens in 2028. There has been conversations about leaving the stadium without a roof, but Tropicana Field does not have a drainage system for rain-prone situations.
The Tampa Bay Times and MLB News reported that the Rays are considering a number of temporary homes, including the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World. The team has previous experience playing there, having held two regular-season series and part of spring training at the complex in 2007 and 2008. While Disney would require minimal upgrades to accommodate the team, it poses scheduling challenges due to numerous youth events already booked at the venue.
As of Oct. 10, Rays officials have not publicly commented on the condition of Tropicana Field, though they indicated in a memo to staff that an update is forthcoming.
With the 2025 season opener approaching, the team faces a critical decision: should they seek a temporary field for only a few months or for the entire three-year period until the new stadium opens?
The Rays are reportedly evaluating a list of around 50 potential locations for their temporary games. Here are some of the top contenders:
- Durham Bulls Athletic Park: The home of the Rays’ Triple-A affiliate in Durham, N.C., is less than two hours by plane and keeps the team on the East Coast.
- Charlotte Sports Park: Located 80 miles south of St. Petersburg, this is the Rays’ spring training facility and makes logistical sense as a temporary home. The stadium’s small capacity could be an issue.
- Wide World of Sports Complex: The largest baseball venue in Orlando, the Rays played two regular-season series here over a decade ago and hosted part of spring training in 2023. Its 9,500 seats and relative proximity could make it the most likely temporary home.
- Doak Field: Home to the North Carolina State baseball team, this recently renovated facility could theoretically be expanded beyond its current capacity of 2,200. Raleigh, N.C., is also vying to attract an expansion team, with wealthy benefactors and potential ballpark renderings signaling the city’s readiness for MLB.
- Olympic Stadium: In 2019, the Rays explored a “sister city” partnership with Montreal, where they would play some “home games.” Although MLB rejected that plan, it could be reconsidered if necessary. A Jays-Mets exhibition game in 2014 drew more than 50,000 fans, and some locals believe MLB could return to the city long-term.
As the Rays navigate these challenging circumstances, fans are encouraged to share their opinions on potential venues for the 2025 season.
As a result of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Tampa Bay Rowdies were also affected. As a result of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the team will play its final two regular-season matches at IMG Academy in Bradenton, which is 32 miles away from Al Lang Stadium.
A news release said that due to limited capacity at the IMG Academy Soccer Complex, tickets will be available only to Rowdies season ticket members. Details will be provided by the team’s ticket sales staff directly to members. Additionally, they can request a refund or credit for the 2025 season. Season ticket members can also donate any remaining tickets to the Rowdies’ hurricane relief efforts.
