With Tropicana Field sustaining damage from Hurricane Milton, the Tampa Bay Rays are searching for a field where they can play their 2025 season — and Walt Disney World is on the shortlist.
Tampa Bay Rays Considering Walt Disney World for 2025 Season
According to a report from the Tampa Bay Times, the Rays are considering several locations for their temporary home, including the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World. The team previously played two regular-season series there and held part of spring training at the complex in 2023.
Hurricane Milton “shredded” the roof of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, leaving the team unable to open their 2025 Major League Baseball season at home on March 27 as planned. The team is currently displaced for an unknown period of time as the damage is assessed and repairs are made — at least until 2028, when their new stadium opens on an adjacent site.
Tampa Bay Rays officials have not shared any public comments about the situation or condition of Tropicana Field since October 10, but shared in a memo to staff last week that an update is planned for this week.
With the 2025 opening day just 162 days away, the Rays have to decide whether they are looking for a temporary field for just a few months or all three years until the new field opens. The team is reportedly considering a list of 50 locations.
Out of all the possible options, Disney “would require the least upgrades, but could present scheduling challenges given the high number of youth events already booked throughout the venue.” Both players and staff will need to be relocated, whichever venue is ultimately chosen.
Do you hope the Tampa Bay Rays choose ESPN Wide Word of Sports to host their 2025 season? Let us know in the comments and on social media, and stay tuned for updates.
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I hope the Rays Re at WDW through to the opening of the new gas plant district stadium.
Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports would be the ultimate place for the Ray’s 2025 season. It would be a win-win situation for tourists, the surrounding community and Disney.
Could you imagine the revenue generated in the Orlando area
that has desired a baseball team for years ?? It’s the only sports venue we don’t have ! Talk about an injection to the economy.
Disney and the Rays need to capitalize on this opportunity
BIG TIME !!!
Cha-Ching. $$$$$$$$$$
Neils Larsen ,
Believe it or not there are tens of thousands of Rays fans right here in Pinellas County. I have attended 20-30 games every year since there conception. I definitely would be Pee-Ode if the Ray’s move to WDW and I wouldn’t attend any more games ever. It’s not all about the money, what about the fans. Clearwater has a very nice ballpark and they could put in another 5,000 seats in the burn area. That way the ownership would keep their fan base and not let some other area reap their financial gains. Orlando doesn’t need the $$$$ . If they move to WDW it’s all because of lousy ownership. Ca Ching !!!
But the Threshers play there all season. Us locals would love for the Rays to stay in Pinellas (or Hillsborough or Sarasota even) but I don’t believe them playing the first half or so of the season in Kissimmee would be that bad. I would actually try to go up and watch them there. Just like when the Blue Jays played some MLB games in Dunedin I went to see a Rays game there.
The Rays + Orlando = AWESOME! The Orlando Dream is the forever answer! Keeping the Rays at Tampa or St Petersburg is absolute stupidity! RELOCATE ~ ORLANDO!