Major League Baseball is looking for a temporary home for the Tampa Bay Rays for the 2025 season after Hurricane Milton damaged Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred stated that the league hopes to find a location near the Tampa Bay area to keep the team close to their fanbase. The city has hired firms to assess the damage and is working with insurance carriers to address the situation.
Options for temporary homes include local spring training sites and the Rays’ complex in Port Charlotte. Other suggestions have included the Orioles’ spring training site in Sarasota or Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports complex near Orlando. Sharing the Miami Marlins’ stadium and playing home games in Montreal have also been considered, although logistical challenges may arise.
The Rays have not made any official statements about their plans and are still assessing the damage to Tropicana Field. Playing without a roof is not a viable option due to the location’s rainy climate, and the cost of repairing a facility that will be demolished in a few years is also a consideration. Despite the uncertainty, MLB, the team, and other entities are working to find a solution for the Rays to play their home games in the upcoming season. Manfred assured that the team will play next year, and plans are underway to secure a temporary location for them.
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