“Just open a new one” – Fans react as reports suggest Rays’ Tropicana Field repair could cost $55 million

A report from Tampa Bay Times suggest that the cost of repair of Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, could cost $55 million.

“Just open a new one” – Fans react as reports suggest Rays’ Tropicana Field repair could cost $55 million

Tropicana Field (Image via CNN)

The Tampa Bay Rays did not have the best times in 2024, finishing the year with a negative 80-82 record. To make matters worse, their home stadium, Tropicana Field got damaged by Hurricane Milton. A new report has now emerged which highlights the total cost of repair.

The roof of the Tropicana Field was blown away by the strong winds generated by the Hurricane in early October. As per reports of Marc Topkin from the Tampa Bay Times, the total repair cost of the stadium is estimated to be nearly $55.7 million.

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The St. Petersburg City Council members sent an assessment report on Tuesday. According to this report, Hurricane Milton caused a total of $39 million in damage and an additional $16 million in costs such as design, permitting, insurance, inspection, staffing, and construction contingencies.

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Given the damages, the repairing of this stadium could be completed by 2026. The Rays will have to find a temporary home for the 2025 season.

This development also comes at a time when the Rays have been planning to build a new ballpark by 2028. The St. Petersburgh council will now decide whether to pay for his repair or continue working towards building a new stadium.

The MLB wants the Rays to stay in Tampa despite this damage. As a result of this, the team could play their home games in the spring training park of the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees. The team’s training ground in Port Charlotte has also emerged as a possible destination for the 2025 season.

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Social media reacts to Rays’ Tropicana Field $55 million repair plan

Fans on social media were quick to react to the report of Tropicana Field’s total repair cost. Many of them suggested that the team should not consider this, and instead, save money.

Tropicana Field
Rays’ Tropicana Field (Image via Sports Business Journal)

In the past few years, the Tropicana Field has come under the spotlight after several fans compared their experience to watching the game here with other ballparks. Some users on X joined in on the discussion and claimed that the Tampa Bay Rays should just tear the place down.

Check out some of the top reactions regarding this on X below:

Where will the Rays play next year, nobody knows for now. Despite facing this huge challenge, the team has emerged as one of the shocking contenders to join the sweepstakes of Juan Soto.

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As per reports, they are one of the seven teams who are interested in bringing Soto to their side when he enters the free agency. Will they be able to afford him though is something many are wondering as his contract could range up to $600 million, which might be a little bit out of budget for the Rays.