The roof of Tropicana Area, house of the Tampa Bay Rays MLB group, was torn off by Hurricane Milton’s highly effective winds. Satellite tv for pc imagery from Maxar reveals the destruction on Oct. 10, 2024. Previous to landfall, the stadium was transformed right into a base camp for emergency responders. Main League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred acknowledged that, whereas Tropicana Area is anticipated to be prepared for the 2026 season, the Tampa Bay Rays’ long-term house stays unsure.
The St. Petersburg, Fla., Metropolis Council voted in April to approve $22.5 million for a brand new Teflon-coated fiberglass roof to exchange the one shredded by Hurricane Milton in October. Manfred stated Wednesday that the purpose is to have the Rays enjoying in Tropicana Area on or close to Opening Day subsequent season.
The group performs this season’s house video games on the Yankees’ spring coaching facility, George M. Steinbrenner Area. Nonetheless, the Rays are averaging an MLB-low 9,850 followers per sport, which provides a further wrinkle to resolving the franchise’s long-term locale.
The group in March walked away from a cope with town and Pinellas County to construct a $1.3 billion stadium, claiming it couldn’t transfer ahead due to the challenge’s shifted timeline and price overruns.
“The massive contingency (for subsequent 12 months) is what occurs with the (2025) hurricane season. There’s not a lot you are able to do about that apart from preserve your fingers crossed,” Manfred stated. “Lengthy-term, they’ll honor their lease (at Tropicana Area) by way of 2028, however I do not actually have something so as to add past that.”
Town was contractually obligated to offer the Rays with a playable house, and the council voted 7-1 in April for the brand new fiberglass roof regardless of issues.
“I would a lot quite be spending that cash on hurricane restoration and serving to residents in our most affected neighborhoods,” council member Brandi Gabbard informed the Tampa Bay Occasions, “however that is our obligation.”
A neighborhood dialogue moderated by the Tampa Bay Occasions earlier this week mentioned the way forward for the Gasoline Plant District — the place Tropicana Area is positioned — now that the brand new stadium deal is lifeless. Among the many concepts raised had been further lodge area, a park, or an space much like Boston Frequent in New England.
–Area Degree Media
