Rays’ Future Uncertain As Tropicana Field Repairs Begin

The Rays still don’t know where they will play in 2025, but a significant step has been taken in efforts to start repairing Tropicana Field. 

The St. Petersburg city council approved roughly $6.5 million in public funding Thursday for work to be done to the ballpark that sustained major damage—including its roof collapsing—during Hurricane Milton.

A temporary drainage system will be created and the Tropicana Field’s electrical system, offices, concessions, and other exposed areas will be waterproofed, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The process, which is also intended to safeguard the facility against future storms, could last eight weeks.

It’s still expected that the Rays will need to open the next MLB season in late March at a temporary venue—with the team focused on Tampa-area options like their own spring training center in Port Charlotte, Fla., or potentially the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. 

It remains possible that Tropicana Field could be declared unsalvageable during the cleanup process, which could save St. Petersburg some money in the short term but create major long-term issues for the Rays.

Looking to the Future

The Rays are dealing with the damage to Tropicana Field while they simultaneously try to move forward with the construction of a $1.3 billion ballpark in St. Petersburg set to open in 2028.

Public funding will account for $600 million of that project, but earlier this week, Pinellas County officials delayed a crucial vote to move the process forward. 

The county must issue $300 million in bonds to help the stadium financing by March 19, or the deal will be terminated, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal. The vote on those bonds has been pushed back to Nov. 19.