The Tampa Bay Rays are reportedly selling pieces of their Tropicana Field roof, which was destroyed by Hurricane Milton last year.
Each piece is being sold to fans for $15, which is a steal when compared to eBay users who collected pieces from the site shortly after the storm and listed them online for upwards of $150!
Photos shared to X show remnants of the roof being sold at Steinbrenner Field, where the team is spending its 2025 season. A sign reads that proceeds from the items will benefit the Rays Baseball Foundation:
What happened to Tropicana Field?
Last October, the roof of Tropicana Field was severely damaged by Hurricane Milton, which made landfall off of Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm. Its high winds ripped off large sections of the Teflon-coated fiberglass roof and scattered debris across the field. The ballpark first opened in 1990 and had been home to the Tampa Bay Rays since their inaugural season in 1998.
What’s next for the Tampa Bay Rays?
With Tropicana Field in disarray, the team is currently playing at the New York Yankees’ spring training facility, Steinbrenner Field. The St. Petersburg City Council approved $22.5 million to start work on repairing the stadium’s roof, with plans to complete it by the Rays’ 2026 season.
According to an assessment report, Tropicana Field repairs are estimated to cost a total of $55.7 million. This not only includes the roof, but also restoration of the playing surface, electronics, and concessions that were also damaged from the storm.
Under their current contract with the City, the Rays are expected to play at Tropicana for three more seasons after it is repaired, through 2028. Until then, there are questions about whether or not the team will remain in the region. This uncertainty stems from earlier this year, when plans for an entirely new $1.3 billion stadium in St. Petersburg were halted.