Fans push Rays-in-Oakland talk after Tropicana Field hurricane damage originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
With Tropicana Field’s roof devastated by Hurricane Milton, could the Tampa Bay Rays play in Oakland during the 2025 MLB season?
On Tuesday, former MLB GM Jim Bowden highlighted the damages made to the Rays’ stadium and asked followers where they see the organization playing home games next season.
Hurricane Milton damage to the roof at Tropicana Field is a bigger deal than most understand. It would cost 9 figures to replace and moving into new park in a few years doesn’t make sense. #Rays can’t play there with no draining system for rain. Where will they play in 2025?
— Jim Bowden⚾️ (@JimBowdenGM) October 15, 2024
Naturally, MLB X (formerly Twitter) reacted in a way that calls for more baseball at the Coliseum.
How about playing in Oakland, my friend?
— Woody Paige (@woodypaige) October 15, 2024
The Oakland coliseum is available 🤷♂️
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) October 15, 2024
Last month, the A’s left Oakland, their home since 1968, ahead of their move to West Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park — currently the home of the River Cats, the San Francisco Giants’ Triple-A affiliate — for the 2025, 2026 and 2027 seasons. Their proposed Las Vegas ballpark is scheduled to be built in time for the 2028 campaign.
The town is now without representation in MLB, the NBA or the AFL/NFL for the first time since 1959.
With Tropicana Field potentially out of commission for the upcoming season, perhaps MLB baseball returns to the Coliseum.
Evidently, Oakland fans aren’t against the idea.