Getty Image / Bryan R. Smith
Hurricane Milton ravaged Tampa, Florida and other areas in the Southeast last week with incredible rainfall, wind, and storm surge. The damage done will tally in the billions of dollars when it’s all said and done, including damage to the roof of Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays .
The stadium, located in nearby St. Petersburg, saw much of its roof ripped off the building, producing an incredibly eerie scene. On Tuesday, we learned the fate of the Tampa Bay Rays stadium situation for the beginning of the next season.
First, here are some shots of the stadium.
Now that the sun is up, here’s a 360-degree view of the damage Hurricane Milton caused to Tropicana Field’s roof and the inside of the ballpark. Absolutely heartbreaking 💔 pic.twitter.com/ZCtPHv6rE9
— Ryan Bass (@Ry_Bass) October 10, 2024
These pictures were taken by BroBible Editor-in-Chief Cass Anderson, a bay-area local.
That’s just a terrible situation for the Tampa Bay Rays. Ironically, after years of trying to get a new ballpark built, they finally got an agreement to get a new park built in St. Pete this year. But, obviously, it won’t be ready to play in for a number of years. And, opening day is less than six months away.
The Tampa Bay Times reported that the Trop will not be ready for the start of the 2025 season, confirming what many already believed.
Where will the Rays play? This seems like a good guess.
My guess is George Steinbrenner Stadium in Tampa. The stadium can hold over 11 000+ fans. If the A's are doing it, why not the Rays? pic.twitter.com/yjZx2PS3kt
— Jeremy Filosa 🎙 (@JeremyFilosa) October 15, 2024
The other option is their spring training facility in Port Charlotte. But, that stadium only seats 5,000. Assuming the Yankees lend their facility to the Rays, that should be the solution.