October 9, 2024, 8:30 P.M., St. Pete, still weary and damaged from Hurricane Helene, prepared for the heavy wall of wind and torrential rain that would accompany Hurricane Milton as it grazed the city from the south. Whether evacuated miles from home or hunkered down in the heart of the storm, residents watched in horror as winds up to 105 mph ripped the roof off a steadfast establishment in the community: Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays.

     The St. Pete skyline is a mosaic pieced together by meaningful landmarks. One of the most notable is Tropicana Field, symbolizing the city’s transition from a beach town to a major league city. “Tropicana Field represented a point of pride, with many feeling like the stadium and Major League Baseball team meant the city had come of age,” said former St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman in an interview in 2024.

     The destruction of the beloved stadium devastated much of the Tampa Bay and Shorecrest communities. “The beautiful stadium that I’ve had my whole life is gone,” said sophomore Beau LeCain, an avid Rays fan. “It’s just sad going downtown and seeing a roof blown off […] it’s not the same.”

     Freshman Ella Jane Gillis and her family evacuated to a hotel in downtown St. Pete during the storm, witnessing the tragedy firsthand: “You could feel the wind going around the building,” she said. “We started to see the Tropicana roof fly off in little chunks, then they got progressively bigger and bigger, and it was really nerve-wracking.”

     As Tropicana Field is such an integral part of St. Pete’s identity, residents wonder: when will it be repaired? Currently, the answer to that is complicated.

     The plan to finance the restoration efforts involves a system of bonds. The cost to repair the stadium at its latest estimate is almost $57 million, but the current mayor, Ken Welch, estimates that insurance and Fema would cover much of that. 

     However, the money to rebuild the stadium could also help other restoration projects across the city and county, as the Rays were in the process of developing a new stadium before the hurricanes hit. Kriseman said, “I expect there to be a great deal of discussion by both Council and the commission on whether to go forward with issuing the bonds in light of infrastructure needs.” 

     On Thursday, the city delayed the vote on the bonds and voted no on repairing the Trop at this time, but are continuing to gather more data.  

     Even without their home field, the Rays will continue to play the 2025 season at an interim home, George M. Steinbrenner Field, the New York Yankees spring training facility. The Rays’ spring training will continue at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte.

     The turmoil surrounding the Rays leaves fans worried the team may relocate, taking away an integral part of the community. Since the Rays decided to play the coming season in Hillsborough County and not Pinellas, the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners is now delaying its decision regarding funding for the new stadium. If the deal currently in place does not get approved, the Rays will have to find a new place to play following the end of Tropicana Field’s lease in 2028. Sophomore Austin Stone said, “I would really miss the Rays if they leave, and I really hope they stay.”

     This disaster leaves St. Pete at a crossroads, as officials must decide how to prioritize relief efforts amidst the devastation. The stadium’s place in the landscape of St. Pete and the ongoing process of developing a new ballpark leaves residents doubtful about the repair timeline.

     While they look forward to the eventual building of a new stadium, fans can still experience the 2025 season at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.