The Tampa Bay Rays are hopeful that Tropicana Field will be ready by opening day of the 2026 season, but St. Petersburg city officials recently informed the team that the city does not have a strict deadline to complete the repairs caused by Hurricane Milton.
At the end of 2024, Rays president Matt Silverman wrote a letter to the city of St. Petersburg saying the team expects Tropicana Field to be repaired in time for the start of the 2026 season. He added that “massive logistical and revenue challenges” would arise if the Rays were to begin that season in another location.
St. Petersburg city administrator Rob Gerdes replied to Silverman in a letter dated Jan. 15, saying the city is under no contractual obligation to fulfill the team’s wishes by a certain date.
“We look forward to cooperating to attempt to achieve the mutual goal of making Tropicana Field suitable for Major League Baseball games by opening day of the 2026 season,” St. Petersburg city administrator Rob Gerdes wrote. “However, it is important to reiterate that the current Use Agreement governs the obligations of the parties and any correspondence between the City of St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay Rays does not alter those obligations.”
Under the current use agreement between the Rays and the city, the agreement is extended another year for every year Tropicana Field is not in operation. Gerdes wrote that it could extend past the 2028 season, when the team’s lease with the ballpark expires.
The Rays have made plans to play their home games next season at the New York Yankees’ 11,000-seat spring training ballpark — Steinbrenner Field — in Tampa.
If the Rays can’t play at Tropicana Field by opening day 2026, they could potentially return to Steinbrenner Field or play at the Philadelphia Phillies’ spring training home, BayCare Ballpark, in Clearwater, before moving back to their home stadium.
Tropicana Field’s roof was torn apart when Hurricane Milton made landfall south of Tampa on Oct. 9. It has been estimated that the stadium, in St. Petersburg, will need about $56 million in renovations.
In December, city officials said repairs could be completed to ensure the Rays open the 2026 season at their home park but would need approval by late March 2025 to install turf and a new roof by February 2026.
Silverman’s email did not address the Rays’ plans to build a planned $1.3 billion stadium, which originally was planned to be their home beginning in 2028. The Rays have until March 31 to complete a checklist of benchmark items. If they don’t, the deal for the private-public partnership will expire.
The 2025 season will mark the Rays’ 28th season on the West Coast of Florida.
–Field Level Media
