The Rays released a statement on X today in the wake of Hurricane Milton passing through the Tampa and St. Petersburg area. “During the past couple weeks, our beloved city, region and state have been impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton,” the statement says. “We are devastated by the damage incurred by so many. Our priority is supporting our community and our staff. We are fortunate and grateful that no one was hurt by the damage to our ballpark last night. Over the coming days and weeks, we expect to be able to assess the true condition of Tropicana Field. In the meantime, we are working with law enforcement to secure the building. We ask for your patience at this time, and we encourage those who can to donate to organizations in our community that are assisting those directly impacted by these storms.”
Obviously, a sports stadium is not the top priority with a tragedy of this magnitude, but it is nonetheless a story with relevance to Major League Baseball that could impact the upcoming season. Drone footage shared on X by Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Florida clearly shows significant damage to the roof, with almost all of it ripped off, shredded into pieces that have fallen to the field below.
Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, club employees have begun the process of assessing the damage. Topkin notes that, due to the presence of the roof, the stadium was built with no drainage system. That means that water damage is a concern for as long as the roof is damaged and the field exposed to the elements.
The Rays are planning to open a new stadium adjacent to the Tropicana site but not until the 2028 season. As such, they will need to assess the playability of the Trop for the 2025 through 2027 seasons. They are scheduled to open the upcoming campaign at home on March 27, hosting the Rockies and then the Pirates for three game each.
As noted by Topkin, the Rays could potentially move to another location temporarily, if necessary. He cites the example of the Blue Jays, who weren’t able to travel to Toronto at the heights of the pandemic due to travel restrictions in 2020 and 2021. During that time, the Jays played at their minor league facilities in Dunedin and later in Buffalo.
Whether the Rays will have to follow a similar path or can return to the Trop by Opening Day 2025 will naturally depend on the severity of the damage and when it can be repaired. The club will undoubtedly be providing further updates in the coming days and weeks.
They could move to Oakland until the new park is ready
We all know that the Rangers would not be accommodating without seeking gate revenue.
This is fact
I’m not sure what the Rangers have to do with any of this but I bet they could figure something out if it came down to it. My guess is the Rays fix their roof before opening day or find somewhere on the east coast to play.
I think that comment about the Rangers is a reference to when the Astros needed some assistance after the city flooded. If memory serves, that attempted to play at the Rangers stadium but were denied. To be honest, I don’t quite remember all the details so it’s entirely possible I’m way off. I’m just guessing that’s what the previous comment was about.
**they. Ignore the word “that”
As much as I hate Houston, I think we should’ve let them come to Texas for a classic Lone-Star rivalry instead of playing in terrible Tropicana.
Montreal haha
Makes sense. The Yankees wouldn’t let the Red Sox use their park. Hurricane or not.
The roof of Tropicana Field was made of Teflon coated fiberglass, a process that would no longer pass code.
The company that makes Fluon ETFE that is being used on soccer stadium’s to allow them to have a roof and still have natural grass is saying that it will cost between $60-70 million and take 9-12 months to produce the materials for the roof and to install it. That does not include the cost of engineering assessments to make sure the facility is structurally sound, repairs to the structure of the roof, and the time and associated costs since its a municipally owned facility.
Geiger Engineers, the group that originally installed the roof, said that they estimated putting a new roof on with technology that meets current building codes would cost $150-170 million, but that any estimates were premature since there had been no engineering assessment of the damage yet.
They are in planning stages of building another stadium at the same location that would open in 2028-2029. Will they just move the Rays, tear down the Trop, and start building the new stadium instead of spending upwards of $100 million to fix that place?
Would it not be covered by insurance? Surely ballparks have insurance to cover damage from natural disasters, right?
JV, You would hope so. I don’t know. Its hard to get property insurance in Florida.
It’s definitely covered by insurance.
Seems like a great opportunity for Flex Seal to come to the rescue
We are hearing from St Petersburg officials that the roof could not be insured because it was past its 25 year expected life. I think repairing it will come out of taxpayer pockets.
@JV91
Yes, insurance on the building will cover (some of) it. If you have ever actually made an insurance claim, the amount the insurance pays out never matches the actual cost of the repair. Chances are it will pay to replace what was used originally, but not the cost of a building code required upgrade. It may pay for the material, but not the labor. Insurance companies are very precise and tricky in the details.
This will be true for the people living in the effected areas as well. If you are able to help, please do so. Getting back to whole just isn’t one of the options for them.
If you purchase replacement cost, are fully co-insured (usually 80%) and have inflation adjustments, you have a better outcome. But I doubt a company would offer that generous coverage without substantial premium. And the direct writer might find it harder to purchase reinsurance. Indeed, an aging structure with an arguably obsolete roof is problematic.
I wouldn’t be too sure of that.
Why would Rangers care?
“Oh hell no, we’re moving in with the A’s and Rivercats. We’re used to playing on astroturf.”
It’s not the worst idea
Similar attendance between the two teams.
RD that’s actually a great idea! I bet they’d draw a lot more fans!
I’m sure there’s hundreds of reasons to block it however.
I can already imagine how whiny Yankees fans and management would be… “we have to fly to Oakland X times!”
@ckc12537
More reason to do it.
Oh, I’d totally be in favor.
@RangerDanger19
that’s hysterical. how funny would it be for the City of Oakland to give the Rays a sweetheart lease deal to thumb their nose at Fisher?
Worth a chuckle and makes a bit of pragmatic sense.
Ultimately, you have to figure that would be a killer for the Rays travel wise. I’m sure a cheapo organization would rather save the jet fuel and stay away from the extra lethargy constant cross country travel may induce during a long season.
Go from the worst stadium to the next worse? Why not (if have to) use an AAA, or college field within the state and not like isn’t a multitude of quality ST facilities in Florida. Why go thousands of miles, to the wrong coast and play in some 60yo hybrid stadium about to be flattened??
FWIW.. State was hammered, we took a hit ourselves, luckily not 1 of the 4m in the state who didn’t lose power, even tho the eye of the storm went directly overhead.
To piggyback off Long John- I’m sure the Rays could find an amenable MiLB or Spring Training facility in FL to call “home” for a bit, if necessary
Gwynn – Only thru May. It’s not just the heat, it’s the tropical weather that would prevent playing outdoors through the summer in Florida.
— it’s the tropical weather that would prevent playing outdoors through the summer in Florida—
Fever, That is the part a lot don’t get and a big knock on using a ST facility. Summer weather in FL? It can often be sunny and no clouds at say.. 6pm and massive thunderstorms 1hr later, then everything clear an hr after that.
FSL games? Play around with delays, or have multiple DH’s, reschedule games earlier in the day, before most of the summer storms appear, but the way MLB operates? Like trying day-night DH’s, where can get 2 entrance fees, insisting on all night games, not wanting to play, unless field is 100% perfect? those could all lead to problems, unless the league would (for once) get flexible.
For instance.. I imagine even the Rays could go a long way towards filling any ST venue.. Playing early afternoon/evening games which start no later than say 4pm and NO day-night DH’s.
Alright, shoot… dance around rain delays and play at Raymond James?!? Possible or plausible?!? If not, what about giving Nashville a nibble? First Horizon seats 10k and it’s already pretty nice. The “requisite” upgrades would make it top-shelf!
If you’re going to play at an open air spring facility why not just keep the Trop open air for 3 years and continue to play there?
Gwynn – Not sure about RJ, but Nashville? Yes!
Mr – Because of the aforementioned lack of drainage.
The Trop clearly has drainage….all the water that comes off the roof goes somewhere.
The field in the Trop does not have water draining functionality since it was designed to always have a roof. When it rains the field will simply flood and only evaporation will dry it.
MTG – Exactly. And in St Pete the rain is often very intense, and accompanied by the most active and violent lightning in the country. So even if it’s not raining, there would be lengthy delays as fans shelter while waiting for thunderstorm warnings and watches to pass by. It’s simply not feasible to play in an open air stadium in the Tampa/St Pete area during the summer.
That is so incredibly incorrect. There’s an entire minor league in Florida as well as another minor league team in Jacksonville. Those teams play over 130 games each…in Florida…in the summer…outside…9 inning games.
Huck – Jacksonville is part of Florida last time I checked ;O)
The additional challenges that MLB games would pose playing outdoors in Florida have already been discussed here. To which Florida league are you referring?
For instance the Florida Complex League goes early May thru July. They know better than to schedule during the peak August-September hurricane season. And look up how many delays and doubleheaders they have because of the weather, not to mention substandard field conditions because of rain. MLB wouldn’t want to deal with it, and neither would the union.
No drainage. It wasn’t needed for turf and a dome. The field would not be playable.
Would mess with travel plans quite a bit. Might have to adjust the current schedule a little to make it possible, but I think its a great idea.
There are a bunch of minor league stadiums that would love to host them. Plus, they would probably have increased attendance, except for early bird special games
It’s Florida – half the teams in the MLB have MLB-worthy stadiums. We know that Dunedin can be made TV-ready, and I’m pretty sure Clearwater, Port Charlotte, and especially Tampa could work if needed.
That said, the Rays’ stadium is a distant backseat to making sure everyone is safe and secure in the Tampa Bay area.
Kje – And throughout Florida.
The highest death toll is in Ft Pierce, on the opposite side of the state.
Could the rays go to hard rock stadium? That hosted the marlins for 20 years but idk if it can still fold or not
Hard Rock had major renovations since the Marlins left. Probably not, even if that wasn’t lunacy to put 2 teams in MLB’s worst market
Obviously there are jokes here about attendance levels, but I’d make the bold assumption that the largely intelligent readership here will just pray for that area of the country right now.
Many blessings for those in the path.
Not me. I’m a jackass.
Seek employment.
The deep state used their hurricane machines to target the Rays because Florida is a bastion of real Americans.
Typical reply from an idiot, during the 2 hurricanes that has killed hundreds and devasted families…what a loser
Shhh, the normies aren’t ready to take the HAARPpill 😉
The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) is not controlling the weather and certainly not steering hurricanes. The high frequency radio frequencies that HAARP is able to transmit are not absorbed in the troposphere or stratosphere which is where the weather we experience happens.
But what they are doing is fascinating. My brother was on the JH AP lab team that used HAARP to bounce a HFradio signal off the ionosphere of Jupiter with the goal of having it be received at the New Mexico site. They got more info on what the ionosphere of Jupiter consists of from that experiment than all the probes we have sent to Jupiter combined. Like I said, fascinating stuff.
As you have probably figured out, my brother is the smart one in the family. I build stuff. Big stuff, but just stuff. He is more interested in learning how the universe works.
Wow, that is a deep cut for the basis of a conspiracy theory. Those Russian trolls are really doing their homework!
Look up Tesla earthquake machine. It’s what is going on in Antarctica.. Whistleblowers have already given interviews.
Is your tin hat cutting off blood flow to your brain?
There was a UN Treaty signed in the 1970;s concerning weather mods but you’re so smart you already know that, correct dumbo?
You are saying that your tinfoil hat IS cutting off blood flow to your brain then. Thank you for the clarification.
Tinfoil hat boy, ENMOD was enacted to prevent weather modification being developed. It still hasn’t been. My brother worked on HAARP and the things you are claiming are not possible with that technology.
What does any of that have to do with a fictional earthquake machine. Crack kills starting with your brain cells and you have obviously been smoking it a long time.
Its the icecube nutrino machine and the’re are whistleblowers already on record. Just keep watching your MSN “news”s, you’re every bit of the definition of a “dupe”.
You have still not returned from that acid trip in the 70s. Time to cut off your microphone.
“Shoot the messenger” that way you can stay plugged into the matrix.
I’m in Florida and my weirdo neighbor just said that to me as I was boarding my windows.
I heard “seeding the hurricanes” and I just told him to get the he!! away from me.
Do you understand how hurricanes work?
85% of the (bleeping) country is working. The other 15% post here on MLBTR. A playground for the (bleep) (bleep).
Sincerely, Lee Elia
In my defense I usually post while I’m at work.
Maybe they can revive that idea of TB playing half their games in Montreal and the other half in TB and then they have enough time to make the repairs.
Exactly. They already tried to do it anyway
“Rob Manfred controls the weather to push his radical stadium-building agenda!”
This, but unironically.
Is this ^ JD Vance?
Play in Montreal!
They did finally get a new roof on the big O
While it’s not the same 1 to 1 situation, my brother-in-law was one of the workers who helped clean up the Metrodome when its roof collapsed. He said he’d be shocked if they were playing baseball in there before the All Star break.
Montreal
We may have seen the last of MLB games at the Trop. It’s not going to be cost-effective to replace the roof for three seasons of play.
It’s just a tarp that covers the stadium. It’s replaceable.
2 pack tarps at Costco- $15 bucks times… Quick maths… let’s say a thousand… hey! $15,000 before labor. Hit a Home Depot, get a couple guys to jump in your Ray-van… boom, $20,000 project completed.
I’m in if they include beer and pizza.
I’ll bring a couple bilge pumps cross-country and a cooler full of .394, bam! insta-party after my donated 8 hour shift
I don’t follow the San Diego beer scene as closely as I used to, but AleSmith just might be the best brewery in the county
* AleSmith brews .394 Pale Ale, in case this seemed like a random remark
We get Stone Brewing up here in stores and in restaurants in OC. They are a San Diego county brewer.
Stone, Strauss, Mission… all great, but a notch below Ballast Point and Alesmith- IMHO!
Mets – Exactly, the frame is undamaged. And as was pointed out in a much earlier discussion, insurance should cover it.
It was Teflon coated fiberglass. That would not meet code today.
Insurance
What if they just clean up the remnants of the roof, fix the rest of the stadium, and settle for playing in open air for the next 3 years?
Yes, they may face quite a few rain outs and games with high heat indexes, but it may still be the preferred solution.
It wouldn’t work, because the Trop doesn’t have a drainage system in the way outdoor ballparks do (because it was never built for the inside to be rained on), so it would just flood every time it rains.
Depends on insurance I guess. If most is covered they may put a temp roof over the stadium. If not they’ll look to renovate a nearby minor league stadium to accommodate them until the new stadium is built.
Tarp roof. Just like what Montreal did. These problems seem to follow mlb to Florida. Or build a drainage system for outdoor venues
Montreal
The cost/reward for the stadium may be too high. The pictures were very shocking.
Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, seats 18,264 for baseball (or slightly more than the Rays’ average 2024 home attendance of 16,515).
I can understand the want of a team in PR, but travel and other issues for a F/T team 81G a year would put that idea to rest,
In air miles San Juan is roughly the same distance from Toronto (1,911) that Seattle is from Houston (1,874).
The Caribbean could be an attractive market for MLB;
Yup and Toronto is worse because of customs. Americans don’t need a passport for PR. Not the worst idea ever.
Can you bring yer guns to PR?
If the Trop is not ready by Mar 27, the Blue Jays stadium in Dunedin makes most sense. It’s in the Tampa metro area and it’s already MLB play ready since Toronto used it already as mentioned in the article.
Sort of. While it is true TD Ballpark hosted major league games with very few fans in 2021, it needed some upgrades that would need to be redone. Primarily, the permanent lighting package is not MLB-caliber for night games.
The Phillies facility in Clearwater may be a better choice. Both seat much less than the usual Rays draw with TD Ballpark’s capacity around 7500 and Baycare Ballpark holding 8500. Parking is an issue for TD Ballpark with the nearest city lot holding ~200 vehicles almost half a mile away. There are lot of residents who charge for parking as is seen during spring training, so there is a way forward
Both parks are very hot even during night games with temps near 90-95 at first pitch at 6:30 PM for the Low-A games.
Tampa might be a better short term option – 11K seats, parking at Raymond James Stadium, and the Yankees probably have it reasonably TV friendly. They host the Yankees in April anyway.
Several have alluded o multiple ST facilities within 35m of Tampa, even the Tigers facility, in Lakeland seats 8500 and just went under a 36m upgrade several years back. seats same as they were at The Trop? new ones at Joker marchent (now Publix Field) as good as/better than what was at St pete last time was there 3y back.
Far – It’s not just the heat. Tropical weather, lots of rain, and that area is the thunderstorm capital of the country.
I know all too well the weather. I live less than three miles from TD Ballpark and have been to every stadium mentioned. We have season tickets for both the Blue Jays spring training and the Blue Jays Low A team. We also joined the 55+ clubs for the Tampa Tarpons and Clearwater Threshers. Most evenings during the season, we are at a ballpark.
I really do not see having the MLB teams play all season here. The day games would be brutal. The Low A teams play Sunday games starting at noon, and the field is easily 110 degrees in the sun.
I have been on the outfield grass in April, and it is hot. If we go to a Low A day game, we stay under the awning on the third base side, so we can get some shade and a breeze. Even during Spring Training in March, people suffer from heat exhaustion and dehydration.
far – Yeah the kids can tolerate playing in those conditions, but MLB players making millions would not.
It is not the players; it is the fans. They will not show up for games there. And, if they did, the stadium holds 7500 people.. Huge loss of revenue compared to the average draw in 2024.
You guys are losing sight of the fact that this would just be a temporary thing. None of us know the timeline for repairs obviously, but my suggestion was going under the assumption that it would only be 1-2 months beyond Mar 27.
Anything longer than that or all season long – sure, you have to look at other options. FL is miserable to be outside in the daytime June-August.
Also, I’m sure they’d adjust the schedule so most games would be at night. Most of them are already except for Sundays and a few randoms.
I don’t think it’s as big of a deal as some of you are making it. Again, assuming it’s not a full season long thing.
Skins – Thru May is fine, it’s June-Sep that we are saying won’t happen.
Steinbrenner Field in Tampa holds 11,026 and has some luxury boxes. Certainly not ideal but usable in a pinch.
I hope the insurance companies got pics of the stadium before the hurricane hit for comparison. Not sure how much more damage the storm could do to that one
It was just a tarp that was ripped off.
They can now play their games outside
As FL being 1 of the 2 spring training states I am sure a location could be found there. It might require some slight alterations. MLB quality lighting etc.
Roof could be fixed but at what cost? Are there plans for use of stadium after 2028? Was it going to be demolished or put to some other use?
The TOR Covid adventure would be a starting point.
The TB area, Montreal Canada hybrid is a possibility but probably not ideal as fairness to the team extra travel and costs. Just day 1, too soon to put a definitive plan together.
Baseball aside I just want to express my deep sympathy for FL and all the other states having to try to deal with Helene and Milton.
I hope everyone gets help from whatever source quickly, those with and without insurance. Immediate needs so great, for some peace of mind.
This is probably a longshot because wikipedia says capacity is only 8,300 but Rickwood Field in Alabama was just celebrated this year as it was used by the Birmingham Barons of the Negro league.
Maybe some seating could be added and lighting improved.
Just an idea.
.
Many players played there including Willie Mays and Satchel Paige.
It could be a nice tribute and not far from Atlanta. There are many other good choices. A location not far from Tampa might be where MLB would want to give the Rays a temporary home or for the whole season of 2025.
the most common response to the press release was ‘the devil rays are still a thing?’
The devil’s in the details.
Some duct tape and blue tarps and they’ll be good to go in ’25.
I didn’t think it was a big deal until I got to the part about no drainage system. How much is anyone willing to spend to repair it? Would it be better to find a way to speed up the new park?
Cards – You mean like a 3D printer?
I mean like paying extra for an accelerated construction schedule.
Cards – I know, just joking, been a long day with no sleep last night.
If there was drainage system, they could play top off. However, this takes them out of this stadium for at least most of ’25 season. Now, the Rays’ pitching will experience the horrors without the Trop hiding their ERAs.
Maybe they can configure the Buccaneers stadium for baseball. Although outdoor games in the summer could be awfully hot.
Oh no the tarp is blown off maybe the best thing to ever happen to the rays u can’t see a thing in that stadium
Jacksonville or New Orleans might be good options
I bet they have a decent park in Orlando
Buena Vista (ESPN Wide World of Sports) could host games – they hosted Rays games in the past. It’s a heavy time of year for them, with a ton of cheerleader competitions and such, plus colleges doing spring games.
Tinker Field in Orlando was mostly torn down a few years ago in the Citrus Bowl expansion.
Configure Raymond James stadium to accommodate baseball.
Cheap ass $ternberg isn’t going to pony up the repair $$. Rays are going to end up playing 2 seasons in either Dunedin at the Jays spring training home, Charlotte, where their team trains in the spring, or Wide World of Sports complex at Disney. If it is the latter, expect a ton of more fans in the seats.
Karen – He doesn’t own the stadium, and even if he did insurance would cover it.
But why would the city not just take the insurance money and put it towards the new stadium instead of using it to fix something that will be torn down in 3 years.
Kev – Why would the team agree to that? They would lose a ton of revenue over the next 3 seasons, it would be more difficult to compete during those 3 seasons, and they wouldn’t be getting a dime from the insurance.
As tenants, the Rays would get absolutely no benefit from not repairing the roof.
I should’ve realized that. Thanks for pointing that out.
I still think $ternberg should foot some of the bill.
Karen – The Rays do everything possible to squeeze every last dime from others.
For example, every ticket I’ve ever bought to every type of event everywhere has always had the Sales Tax include in the ticket price.
Well those clever, slimy Rays decided to start ADDING the Sales Tax ON TOP OF THE TICKET PRICE right when you’re about to finalize your ticket order.
This is the first time I’ve ever seen this done, just more greed and deception.
maybe they could go to san jose so the giants can collect all the wayward teams in their minor league parks
The return of the Expos….
Paging Montreal
I think they are going to use this to get money out of Florida. The tarp was ripped off. Not the end of the world.
Montreal is the better option. They will get the attendance.
They can play at Legends field in Tampa. its usually 70% Yankee fans at the Rays games anyway
I have to admit, I only came here for the comments. You all did not disappoint!
Can’t just go down to Home Depot and get a new roof for a baseball stadium. IF the team and city act quickly, they probably could get a new roof made in time for the season. That is a big IF. If they dawdle (which seems likely given the circumstances) for weeks then probably the Rays are playing in one of the many MiLB stadiums within a short distance from them. Worse things in the world given the devastation that Florida has seen from not one, but two hurricanes.
It’s not only the roof but the field is water-damaged. The least they have to do is rip up the Astroturf. Who knows what’s happening underneath it. Then it’s a matter of having the manpower since a good-sized portion of FL will need hands to make critical repairs. That’s what happens when an owner builds a stadium for a fraction of the cost of others.
It’s nature’s way of telling MLB that Florida doesn’t work. Move the Rays to Montreal and the Marlins to Oklahoma City.
I got to say I live in between Tampa and Atlanta it’s basically the same distance so when the braves come to Tampa I make the drive down there and it’s not a bad experience. I always felt Tropicana field got a bad rap. But I don’t know how they can recover and really even why since they are going to get an new stadium in a couple of years perhaps they move up to Jacksonville or Orlando in the meantime or they may go to Montreal or Charlotte.
Braves – Nashville.
The National Stadium in Havana.
That’s definitely not happening. You know communism and all
Salaries would go a lot further. However, the players would have to drive cars from the 50s. Always the danger of some defecting to Cuba..
Das vedanya comrade deepseamonster32.
On “positive” side for the rays, if they need to go elsewhere to play, probably that would have a much bigger attendance that what they have no…
They can lease out Yankees Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, it’ll hold the avg draw Tampa got at Trop
Utah baseball club incoming
On a serious note; I feel bad for the people that would lose their jobs….i.e the groundskeepers, concession vendors, ticket guys etc. They may not only have lost their job, but maybe their house, possessions etc.
Hopefully, the team, mlb, players etc. will look after them.
Just tear down the remaining roof. The weather might be unpleasant at times, but no one goes to the games anyway.
The field isn’t designed to get wet. The first rainstorm would flood the field
Their AAA team in Durham has a fantastic ballpark. The Raleigh/Durham is trying to get an expansion team, so this would be a good trial to see if MLB could be supported in the triangle.
Hopefully, they have insurance. Knowing them, they’ll pocket the insurance money and just use high-quality duct tape for the roof.
The Trop is owned by the city of St Petersburg.
The crappiest ballpark in baseball just got crappier.
Mother nature took care of the balls hitting the roof debacle so lets just leave it alone and Play Ball!
OK, hear me out. Have the Rays play in Montreal, until the club figures out whether the Trop can be salvaged (it was 2/3 condemned already), or if it really wants to build in St. Pete. If the club decides Tampa isn’t worth it, as finances have indicated pretty much from the start, then Bienvenue à Montreal! Two problems solved. Local wildlife can have the Trop.
Once more strong winds laid waste to numerous buildings in the country of drywall McMansions and cardboard shacks, you say?
Color me shocked!
I’ll color you clueless.
I don’t think playing outside in Florida all summer is a reasonable option – moving the games to LoanDepot Park and re-arranging the schedule to accommodate it might be the best solution. Given how much Miami-Dade County paid for that stadium and how terrible the Marlins attendance has been causing the loss of return on investment, you have to think that they would approve doubling the revenue generating events.
1. Move the franchise. support is low level.
2. temporarily use minor league/spring training facility,
while working on moving the franchise.
3. Use Miami stadium opposite the Marlins schedule.
I rank these ideas 3, 2, 1 but long term rank 1 as smartest.
Accelerate the rebuilding plans and play the games in one or several of the spring training facilities in the region including Sarasota, Bradenton, Clearwater, Fort Meyers, Lakeland, Port Charlotte. Seating is 7,000 to 10,000. They average around 15,000 so not like a big blow. They can trade another starting pitcher and suspend Wander Franco. Charge a couple dollars more for tickets. Make it a fun regional event. Schedule the spring training sites with the spring tenants. Open new park in 2027 with new fans from these regional site years. Players and admin staff do not have to relocate. Visiting teams have plenty of hotel options in Tampa area. Don’t have to waste $100 million on a roof that will soon be torn down anyway.
There’s probably no acceleration of building plans when dealing with a pantheon of contractors and subcontractors.
Play all their home games in the morning.
There. Done. You’re welcome.
GLAD WRAP. problem solved
The Oakland Coliseum is wide open
Host at the AAA affiliate Durham Bull’s field in NC! We would love some pro ball up here
Disney’s Wide World of Sports is the best option offering the closest amenities of MLB to the players as well as well maintained grounds and it has been said that stands could be added to increase seating. While it is about a 90 minute drive it would be the best option to keep The Rays close by.