The Rays released a statement today about “In recent weeks, our beloved city, region and state have been impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton,” the statement said. “We are devastated by the damage so many have suffered. Our priority is supporting our community and our staff. We are fortunate and grateful that no one was injured due to the damage to our ballpark last night. In 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 the police to secure the building. We ask for your patience at this time and we encourage those who are able to donate to organizations in our community that are helping those directly affected by these storms.

Obviously a sports stadium isn’t the top priority in a tragedy of this magnitude, but it’s nonetheless a story with relevance to Major League Baseball that could impact the upcoming season. Drone footage shared on

According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, club officials have begun assessing the damage. Topkin notes that the stadium was built without a drainage system due to the presence of the roof. That means water damage is a problem as long as the roof is damaged and the field is exposed to the elements.

The Rays plan to open a new stadium next to the Tropicana site, but not until the 2028 season. As such, they will have to assess the Trop’s playability for the 2025 through 2027 seasons. They are scheduled to start the upcoming campaign at home on March 27, hosting the Rockies and then the Pirates for three games each.

As Topkin noted, the Rays could temporarily move to another location if necessary. He cites the example of the Blue Jays, who were unable to travel to Toronto at the height 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 obviously depend on the severity of the damage and when it can be repaired. The club will no doubt provide further updates in the coming days and weeks.