Rays begin assessing the damage and viability of the Tropicana field

The Rays began their initial assessment of the damage caused by Hurricane Milton at Tropicana Field on Thursday morning, particularly the destruction of the roof.

“In recent weeks, our beloved city, region and state have been struck by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. We are devastated by the harm caused to so many,” the team said in a statement. “Our priority is supporting our community and our employees. We are fortunate and grateful that no one was injured by the damage to our ballpark last night. …

“We ask for your patience at this time and encourage those who can to donate to organizations in our community that are helping those directly impacted by these storms.”

The first step will be for a response team to examine the stadium and work to secure the building in cooperation with St. Petersburg police.

The most visible was the destruction of the roof caused by strong winds on Wednesday night. Only a few panels of the roof – constructed, according to the team, from “6 acres of translucent, Teflon-coated fiberglass” and supported by cables connected by struts and designed to withstand winds of up to 115 miles per hour – remained intact except for remnants seen in the field Thursday.

From the outside, there was no other obvious structural damage to the building.

Another problem is water damage, as Tropicana Field, built in the late 1980s and opened in 1990, has no drainage system.

This is also a factor in the repair plan, as the team would not be able to play in the stadium without the roof being replaced.

An obvious priority after the team's evaluation will be determining whether the stadium can be made fit for the 2025 season, which is expected to open March 27 with a six-game homestand against the Rockies and Pirates.

If not, the Rays could seek a temporary home, such as a nearby minor league or college facility; The Blue Jays, for example, played regular season games at their Dunedin Spring Stadium in the 2021 post-COVID season. Another option would be to temporarily relocate from the Tampa Bay area. These decisions are made in collaboration with Major League Baseball officials.

There are plans to build a new Rays stadium next to the Tropicana Field site, which should be ready for the 2028 season. The groundbreaking ceremony is planned for the next few months.

There was only a small group of fewer than 20 people in the stadium at the time of the damage – some team security and some security from a private contractor. Most sought refuge in one of the team's clubhouses, everyone was safe and no injuries were reported.

Crews from government contractors and Duke Energy employees were stationed at Tropicana Field ahead of the storm to help clear debris and were relocated Tuesday before the storm hit. The stadium was not used as a shelter, as was reported nationally, fueled by a photo making the rounds on social media showing thousands of cots on the field.

“When it became clear that there was going to be something of this magnitude far away, they moved it out of Tropicana,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a news conference in Tallahassee. “There were no government assets located at Tropicana Field, I think Duke removed all of their assets as well.”

Some Rays players took to social media to express their feelings about the damage. Infielder/outfielder Richie Palacios reposted a video on X with the comment “I'm crying” and a tear emoji. Pitcher Shane McClanahan also posted a drone photo of the damaged stadium with a crying emoji. Taylor Walls' wife Hallie posted a video with a broken heart emoji.

Major League Baseball said in a statement: “Our hearts and prayers go out to the entire Tampa Bay community and all families impacted by this storm across Florida.”

As a disaster response partner of the American Red Cross, MLB provides ongoing support for recovery and relief efforts. The Baseball Assistance Team will also provide support to team employees and other members of the baseball family impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Rays officials had an initial report Thursday morning on the condition of their training facility in Port Charlotte, which was heavily damaged by Hurricane Ian in 2022, forcing the Rays to split 2023 spring camp between the Disney Sports Facility and Tropicana Field.

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