### Hurricane Milton Leaves Tropicana Field in Tatters, Tampa Bay Rays Scramble for Solutions

The Tampa Bay Rays, along with Major League Baseball, are facing a challenging situation after Hurricane Milton tore through Tropicana Field's fiberglass dome earlier this month. The damage has cast significant doubt on the stadium's readiness for the fast-approaching Opening Day. As assessments continue, the league is exploring alternative venues in the Tampa area to ensure the team can still play their home games as scheduled.

"We're hopeful that we can figure out something in the Tampa area for them and that the repairs can be done in a way that allows them to resume playing," Commissioner Rob Manfred said on a recent episode of The Varsity podcast. "The easiest thing is always to stay in the market where the clubs are anchored, if we can manage it."

Several spring training facilities situated nearby are under consideration. These include BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, home of the Philadelphia Phillies; TD Ballpark in Dunedin, used by the Toronto Blue Jays; George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, where the New York Yankees train; and Pittsburgh Pirates' LECOM Park in Bradenton. The Rays' own spring training venue, Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, is about 80 miles south of Tropicana Field.

Another potential venue is Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports complex near Orlando, which has previously hosted MLB regular-season games. However, shifting the Rays to any spring training stadium would pose challenges, such as adjusting the minor-league schedule and possibly upgrading the facilities to meet MLB standards.

According to the Associated Press, the city of St. Petersburg has hired firms to both assess the structural damage and initiate the cleanup of roofing debris. Although no official decision has been made, it seems increasingly unlikely that Tropicana Field will be ready to host games on Opening Day.

Adding another layer of complexity, the Rays are eyeing a move to a new ballpark by the 2028 season. For now, however, their immediate priority is to find a suitable venue for the upcoming season. The team is scheduled to kick off the 2025 regular season with a six-game homestand against the Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates, starting Thursday, March 27.