Rays' future remains murky amid Tropicana Field discussions

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred acknowledged that, while Tropicana Field is expected to be ready for the 2026 season, the Tampa Bay Rays' long-term home remains uncertain.

The St. Petersburg, Fla., City Council voted in April to approve $22.5 million for a new Teflon-coated fiberglass roof to replace the one shredded by Hurricane Milton in October. Manfred said Wednesday that the goal is to have the Rays playing in Tropicana Field on or near Opening Day next season.

The team plays this season's home games at the Yankees' spring training facility, George M. Steinbrenner Field. However, the Rays are averaging an MLB-low 9,850 fans per game, which adds an additional wrinkle to resolving the franchise's long-term locale.

The team in March walked away from a deal with the city and Pinellas County to build a $1.3 billion stadium, claiming it could not move forward because of the project's shifted timeline and cost overruns.

"The big contingency (for next year) is what happens with the (2025) hurricane season. There's not much you can do about that besides keep your fingers crossed," Manfred said. "Long-term, they're going to honor their lease (at Tropicana Field) through 2028, but I don't really have anything to add beyond that."

The city was contractually obligated to provide the Rays with a playable home, and the council voted 7-1 in April for the new fiberglass roof despite concerns.

"I'd much rather be spending that money on hurricane recovery and helping residents in our most affected neighborhoods," council member Brandi Gabbard told the Tampa Bay Times, "but this is our obligation."

A community discussion moderated by the Tampa Bay Times earlier this week discussed the future of the Gas Plant District -- where Tropicana Field is located -- now that the new stadium deal is dead. Among the ideas raised were additional hotel space, a park, or an area similar to Boston Common in New England.

--Field Level Media