The Tampa Bay Rays do not have a house for the 2025 season. Tropicana Discipline was destroyed by Hurricane Milton on Oct. 9, harm that noticed the roof fully shredded to the purpose that it’ll price greater than $55 million to restore. Even the town of St. Petersburg does determine to do this, the stadium will not be reopened till 2026, in accordance with the town council report. Which means the Rays are with out a ballpark subsequent 12 months and presumably 2026 and 2027, with a deliberate new stadium not scheduled to be opened till 2028.
So here is the query: the place do the Rays play now?
Let’s take into account that most spring coaching amenities are utilized by the minors throughout the 12 months and, clearly, use of these parks would require re-working the schedules of the affected MiLB groups. It is a chore, however finally, the MLB product is on the high of the meals chain right here and will get first dibs.
Listed below are some cheap choices.
BayCare Ballpark (Phillies spring coaching/Class A)
The favourite is right here, assuming a deal might be labored out with the Phillies and, usually talking, commissioner Rob Manfred would step in and power a deal if it is in the very best curiosity of baseball.
This ballpark is in Clearwater, which is within the Tampa Bay space, making it a geographic match. The capability is simply 8,500 and the amenities will not be as much as par for MLB gamers, however we’re not going to have full MLB-size stadiums able to be thrown within the combine right here. It is a “take what you will get” situation.
A Tampa Bay Occasions report notes that Pinellas County politicians would favor the Rays keep within the county, making Clearwater the highest choice.
Steinbrenner Discipline (Yankees spring coaching/Class A)
This one truly seats over 11,000 individuals and it is on the Tampa facet of the bay, which we have heard for years would assist attendance. In the event you’ve ever flown over Raymond James Stadium — dwelling of the NFL’s Buccaneers — you have seen this ballpark simply throughout the road.
This in not in Pinellas County, so maybe the individuals footing the invoice for the Rays’ ballpark repairs and new development will not take care of the placement, however in any other case it could be an excellent match.
TD Ballpark (Blue Jays spring coaching/Class A)
We have already seen Main League Baseball right here when the Blue Jays could not play in Canada throughout COVID, earlier than they briefly moved to Buffalo. The ballpark holds 8,500 individuals and could be very near the Trop (solely a contact over 20 miles away). Dunedin is only a bit north of Clearwater and checks off the want for an in-county transfer.
LECOM Park (Pirates spring coaching/Class A)
The Pirates’ spring house is in Bradenton, which is on the south finish of Tampa Bay and a few half hour drive from the Trop, largely over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Maybe a detrimental right here is that this ballpark is extremely previous. It was in-built 1923, although it has been renovated a number of occasions, most just lately in 2013. It seats 8,500 (apparently a very fashionable quantity).
Charlotte Sports activities Park (Rays spring coaching/Class A)
A step down in attendance right here, as this one solely seats 7,670. A giant plus on this ballpark would clearly be that it is the Rays’ spring coaching dwelling, so as soon as they transition to the common season, no transferring is concerned. It’s a lot additional south, although, down within the Port Charlotte space, which is sort of Fort Myers. It is roughly 80 miles from Tropicana Discipline.
Nonetheless, provided that the Rays personal the ability, you’ll be able to’t depend this one out. It’d truly be extra seemingly than LECOM, regardless of how a lot nearer the latter is to Tampa Bay.
ESPN Large World of Sports activities Complicated (Orlando)
The massive plus right here is that is unaffiliated, so there isn’t a sport of minor-league musical chairs wanted. The park is ready up for spring coaching and minor-league motion, too, so it would not be an enormous adjustment to deal with the Rays for the common season on a short lived foundation. The Braves held spring coaching right here from 1997-2019 and the Rays had been simply there for spring coaching in 2023 after Charlotte Sports activities Park suffered hurricane harm. The ballpark is named The Stadium at ESPN Large World of Sports activities and seats 9,500.
That is the furthest place we have talked about from Tropicana Discipline, checking it at round 90 miles inland.
Montreal
Nope.
There’s a big contingent of remaining Expos followers who desperately desire a group again in Montreal and the Rays’ entrance workplace appeared to flirt with the town — together with an insane concept to separate the franchise between two cities to date aside — solely to get a brand new ballpark deal in St. Pete.
So I am certain some would float the thought. It simply does not make logistical sense.
