Rays have till Christmas to find a temporary home

Major League Baseball is seeking a location for the Tampa Bay Rays to play part, if not all, of their 2025 season in one of the many minor league parks in the Bay Area. Commissioner Rob Manfred, addressing the media in Los Angeles before Game Two of the World Series, emphasized the league’s desire to have the Rays’ temporary home finalized by Christmas.

Hurricane Milton destroyed the roof of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, and the city, together with Pinellas County and the Rays, are assessing whether timely repairs to the stadium are feasible. Consequently, the Rays may have to play in one of the numerous minor league ballparks located within approximately a thirty-mile radius of Tropicana Field.

“They’re still in the damage-assessment mode,” Manfred said. “They’re trying to figure out how bad the damage is that needs to get done, and obviously, it was not just the roof.”

Why the rush to find a home before Christmas?

MLB should initiate the renovation of whichever ballpark the Rays select, similar to their current efforts for the A’s. MLB has sanctioned the Las Vegas Athletics to play all their games at a minor league park in Sacramento, California, for the next three years while their new stadium is constructed in Las Vegas. Presently, MLB is collaborating with the team and the city to install a new grass surface to ensure safer conditions due to the summer heat. Additionally, temporary stands will be added to increase seating capacity from approximately 11,000 to 15,000 fans, along with new lighting to comply with network broadcast standards.

“It starts with the playing surface and the safety of the ballpark itself,” MLB Players Association executive director Tony Clark said Friday before Game 1 of the Series. “Ensuring that you can get the work done that you need to get done and that the surface is reflective, and the ballpark is reflective, of major league standards.”

MLB is working with the Rays to find a spot that is in the area

Manfred has suggested multiple alternatives given the improbability of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, being prepared for Opening Day. The options include utilizing a minor league or spring training facility, with MLB insiders naming Tampa, Dunedin, and Clearwater as the preferred locations for games in the region.

Two locations previously mentioned, the Rays’ spring training site in Port Charlotte and the ESPN Disney site in Orlando, are both over 90 miles from the Bay area and are likely on the list of last-resort options. The objective of MLB, the Rays, and Pinellas lawmakers is to retain the Rays in the vicinity because their new stadium is slated to open in 2028.

Ranking the possible options for the Rays temporary home

Lawmakers in Pinellas County view TD Ballpark in Dunedin an option for the Rays. The park having played a significant role for the Blue Jays during COVID in2020, serving as their spring training ground before becoming their regular-season home for May and June, until they relocated to Buffalo to be nearer to their fan base. With a seating capacity of only 8,500 it’s a fantastic venue to enjoy a game, this could be a nice landing spot the Rays. Therefore, I would rate it a B- because it is about 25 miles from Tampa and might be a challenge to get to for fans.

Another location in Pinellas County is BayCare Ballpark, the winter home of the Phillies. Similar to its counterpart in North Pinellas County, BayCare Ballpark accommodates around 8,500 fans, offers excellent seating and sightlines, and is the nearest ballpark to Tropicana Field. However, the traffic on U.S. 19 is notoriously challenging, which can detract from the ballpark’s appeal and make driving problematic, leading to a grade of C.

The premier choice in Pinellas County is Al Lang Field in downtown St. Petersburg, situated on the picturesque bay with access to numerous restaurants and cafes, making it ideal for fans. It was also once the preferred site to replace Tropicana Field. Al Lang Field currently hosts the Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer team. Conveniently, the Rays’ owners also own the Rowdies, which would simplify schedule coordination. Although Al Lang Field sustained hurricane damage and requires repairs, these could encompass the essential upgrades mandated by MLB and the Players Association. To accommodate the Rays, seating capacity would need to increase from 7,500 to approximately 12,000 or more, which would merit an A grade.

The family’s favorite is George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the winter home of the New York Yankees. With its capacity of over 10,000 seats and proximity to Raymond James Stadium, it stands out as a top choice. Among all the spring training facilities available to the Rays, Steinbrenner Field is the largest and most equipped for Major League Baseball, meriting an A+ grade.

Regardless of the ballpark the Rays choose, unless it’s Al Lang or their Port Charlotte winter home, they will require MLB’s assistance to coordinate with the Blue Jays, Phillies, or Yankees to facilitate any regular season home games, even for a brief period. While it’s conceivable that the Rays might relocate within the Bay Area or possibly to Orlando, moving out of state is not an option as it would invalidate their TV contract with Bally’s Sports.