St. Petersburg, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rays are back at Tropicana Field for World Series Game 3, greeted by a sellout crowd of more than 40,000 fans. The concrete‑capped dome, known for its quirky appearance, may lack the classic charm of older ballparks, but it has become a fortress for the Rays.
From hurricane damage to a new era
When Hurricane Milton ripped through downtown St. Petersburg on Oct. 9, 2024, it shredded the stadium’s roof and left the future of the franchise in doubt. Nearly $60 million was spent to replace the roof and repair the facility, allowing the Rays to return 18½ months later. During the 2025 season the team played its home games at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the New York Yankees’ spring‑training site.
Ownership changes and future plans
While the stadium was being rebuilt, the Rays were sold to a group led by real‑estate developer Patrick Zalupski. The new owners have secured county approval for a $2.3 billion financing plan to build a 31,000‑seat “forever home” in Tampa, adjacent to the Buccaneers’ stadium. The mixed‑use entertainment district is slated to open in 2029, and the organization hopes a World Series banner will soon hang there.
World Series outlook
The Brewers lead the series 2‑0 and are two wins away from their first championship. The Rays must win four of the next five games to claim their first title in the franchise’s 29th season. Second baseman Richie Palacios said, “We love playing at the Trop. We played so well at the Trop all year. It’s exciting to go out there and put on a show for our fans.”
Fan experience and unique stadium features
Despite finishing 28th in attendance with 1.4 million fans during the regular season, the Rays have drawn massive crowds for the postseason. Fans gathered for watch parties at the stadium while the series moved to Milwaukee’s American Family Field. The venue also offers a rare attraction: a 10,000‑gallon touch‑tank housing seven cownose stingrays, a novelty that even Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby found surprising.
Historic quirks
Tropicana Field’s catwalk system—four steel rings suspended beneath the non‑retractable roof—has produced memorable moments, such as a Yankees fly ball that bounced off a catwalk and was caught by Victor Mesa Jr. Ground rules dictate that balls striking the lower catwalks are home runs, while those hitting the upper catwalks remain in play.
Rays manager Kevin Cash praised the fans, noting, “These Milwaukee fans have been really loud. I know our fans are going to be really loud and excited to see us come back and kind of reset ourselves a little bit.”
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
