While Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon and other supporters of the Triangle region’s effort to land an expansion Major League Baseball franchise in the next few years are just getting off the ground, the Triangle could get a “trial run” of Major League Baseball for a few games or even a few seasons due to Hurricane Milton, according to published reports out of Florida.
The Tampa Bay Rays are scrambling after severe damage was done to Tropicana Field, the home field of the Tampa Bay Rays. The stadium had its roof ripped to shreds by the force of Hurricane Milton as the storm marched across much of Florida.
The Durham Bulls are the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.
“Replacing the custom tarped fiberglass roof alone would be a major undertaking on its own. But under the dome, the stadium may have suffered structural damage, and will require a thorough inspection by engineering experts to assess the stability of the entire building,” according to SB Nation’s Tampa Bay Ray’s news site.
The site added: “Then will come the process of completing the evaluation with the insurer, something people are facing across the state of Florida after the damaging floods of Helene and winds of Milton.”
What is known at this point is Tropicana Field will not be repaired for the beginning of next year’s baseball season in late March.
“Where the Rays play, how long they are displaced and what repairs beyond a new custom roof are needed to return to Tropicana Field — until the planned 2028 opening of their new stadium on an adjacent site — are among myriad things they don’t know,” says Rays beat writer Mark Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
Topkin further adds: “The Rays have to get a sense on whether they are looking for a temporary home for a few months, for a full season or for all three years.”
Topkin lists several options for the Rays including ballparks in the area primarily used for spring training. However, that region is saturated with summer and fall rain, and none of those stadiums have roofs like Tropicana.
Topkin then writes: “The Rays could end up out of state, though ideally they would stay in the Eastern Time Zone for TV purposes. Expect to hear suggestions that include Durham, North Carolina, home of their Triple-A team, and near Raleigh, which is hot for an expansion team…”
Sports Illustrated added: “The Rays could play in Durham for the season and utilize their Triple-A facility (Durham Bulls) while displacing the Bulls somewhere else. That ballpark has a capacity of 10,000. The Blue Jays also played a portion of 2021 in Buffalo in their Triple-A facility, so there is precedent.”
Centennial Authority Chairman Phillip Isley says a temporary relocation of the Rays to Durham could be a huge boost to the Triangle’s expansion franchise hopes.
“It would be an excellent opportunity to showcase fan and corporate support for major league baseball in the Triangle,” said Isley in an interview with CJ.
Isley says Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon is “all in” on bringing MLB to the Triangle, and that any opportunity to highlight what the region has to offer “would be welcome.”
Dundon who has pledged to spend millions developing an entertainment district around Lenovo Arena, would favor building a MLB park near the arena between Raleigh and Durham.
Placing the Rays in Durham for a time would further connect Capital Broadcasting and Durham Bulls owner Jim Goodmon to the expansion bid. Goodman’s broadcasting empire and his personal support are seen as key in a successful expansion bid.
Besides playing in Durham, the Rays could potentially play some games in Zebulon at 5 County Stadium in the eastern outskirts of the Triangle. The stadium is the current home to the Carolina Mudcats. However, the Mudcats are currently building a new stadium in Wilson for relocation.
Ashlee Adams owns the event center the Sutherland in Wake Forest, as well other hospitality ventures. She says MLB would bring important economic opportunities to the hospitality industry, who in turn is ready to meet the needs of the highest level of baseball.
“I think the Triangle would welcome the opportunity to show some hospitality to the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team and all of their fans,” Adams, who is also a state Senate candidate, told CJ. “This would create jobs and have an economic impact that will help every county in the region. I know that there have been efforts to bring a professional baseball team to the area, and I look forward to helping those efforts.”
State Sen. Mike Woodard, a respected pro-business Durham Democrat, told CJ he thinks it would be a great idea.
“I have no doubt Durham could step up to the plate,” Woodard said. “The Bulls have built a great franchise and a great fan experience, before during and after the games. It would be wonderful to showcase that on a Major League level. Sign me up!”
Republican state Rep. Erin Pare of Wake County agreed.
“If the Rays were to come to the Triangle, even for a little while, I have no doubt we would welcome them with open arms,” Pare told CJ. “It would be a good opportunity for the Triangle to put its best foot forward and show how we can and will support Major League Baseball. A trial run with the Rays would be a good test of community support, and, like we see with our local colleges and the Carolina Hurricanes, we would ace that test.”
