Tropicana Field unlikely to be ready for Opening Day 2025

Five takeaways from the latest Tampa Bay Times report on Tropicana Field

Marc Topkin has a lengthy report on the status of Tropicana Field, and it looks like the Rays will need to find a new home for next season.

As such, here are five big takeaways about the new twist in the Stadium Saga:

1. Tropicana Field likely will not be ready for Opening Day 2025

Replacing the custom tarped fiberglass roof alone would be a major undertaking on its own. But under the dome, the stadium may have suffered structural damage, and will require a thorough inspection by engineering experts to assess the stability of the entire building.

Then will come the process of completing the evaluation with the insurer, something people are facing across the state of Florida after the damaging floods of Helene and winds of Milton.

God only knows how long that could take, and Opening Day is 23 weeks away.

2. The City of St. Petersburg is responsible for repairing Tropicana Field — but will they?

Topkin confirms the city is responsible for repairing the damage to the Trop, but with a new Rays stadium starting construction in January and many area residents in urgent need of help, it’s not likely the old stadium will get much attention or be a priority financially.

Add in the potential delays in even assessing the damage to the Trop, and it’s increasingly obvious the Rays will need to look elsewhere for a new home in 2025 — and potentially outside the Tampa Bay area.

3. This is going to be more expensive for the Rays organization than you think

The extensive damage to Tropicana Field caused by Hurricane Milton is not just a minor setback for the Tampa Bay Rays; it’s a multi-million dollar problem.

First up there’s the need for temporary relocation, which will come with its own costs —potential stadium upgrades to the new temporary site, staff relocation, and rental fees for an alternate venue are just the beginning.

There are sure to be revenue losses due to diminished ticket sales, reduced or re-worked sponsorship deals, and potential refund obligations that will add to the team’s constant and infamous financial strain.

The situation is further complicated by the insurance claim process, which is likely to be lengthy and convoluted, and the funds that are eventually disbursed by insurance may have restrictions on their use.

Simply put, expenses are about to skyrocket and revenue is going to be even harder to come by than it ever was before.

Photo by Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

4. A lot of people are going to lose their jobs

The unfortunate reality is that this disaster is likely to have severe repercussions for the Rays’ workforce.

With Tropicana Field out of commission for the foreseeable future and no certainty around a temporary home, the organization will face significant operational challenges. The likely reduction in revenue, especially from ticket sales, will prompt the team to consider cost-cutting measures that will impact a lot of peoples lives.

Game-day staff, particularly those who work in ticketing, field maintenance, and concessions, are at high risk of job losses if the Rays relocate to a new facility for the longterm.

The distance to the temporary relocation site further complicates the staffing situation, as the Rays will have to navigate whether to transfer existing employees or depend on staff at the new facility’s location.

Additionally, relocating players and core staff could create more challenges in keeping non-essential personnel on board. The temporary nature of these arrangements leaves many without long-term job security, and it remains to be seen whether Major League Baseball will be willing to provide financial support to avoid job cuts.

As such, the likelihood of layoffs or furloughs is sadly high as the Rays grapple with this crisis.

5. MLB needs to pick a strategy for where the Rays play until 2028

So the Rays need to relocate. What will be the primary motivating factor in moving to a new venue?

Will it be staying close to Tropicana Field, to allow local fans to attend games (or at least view games in a standard timezone) and local employees to stay employed? Such a decision could displace a minor league team, which is unlikely to be taken well by the franchise impacted — namely the Blue Jays, Phillies, or Yankees.

Will it be trying to select a venue that is the closest to being major league ready to reduce costs and timeline for upgrading facilities? This would mean a relocation away from Tampa Bay — with Disney World or Omaha, Nebraska’s site for the Little League World Series, which is a new suggestion first mentioned by Topkin. That site can seat 24,000 fans, approximately what the Trop held.

Or will MLB take advantage of the situation to try to grow the game in expansion candidate cities like Nashville, Montreal, San Juan, or a city in North Carolina?

These questions and more are addressed in the article. Read it here: