The World Series returns to Tropicana Field just 2 years after Hurricane Milton
Two teams, none with a World Series title. One of them is about to change that, in a stadium that wasn’t playable two years ago.
The Brewers and Rays meet for Game 3 Monday at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay, where a repaired dome now protects from the elements.
Milton’s damage
On October 9, 2024, Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida as a Category 3 storm with winds of 120 mph.
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The storm’s powerful winds tore the roof off Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, leaving the stadium’s interior exposed to the elements.
(MORE: Hurricane Milton 2024 Recap)
Hurricane Milton blew the roof off Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida on October 10, 2024.
(The Washington Post/Getty Images)
The damage forced the Rays to relocate for the entire 2025 season, playing their home games at an outdoor ballpark in Tampa.
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Meanwhile, Tropicana Field underwent a multimillion-dollar restoration, including a new roof designed to withstand winds of up to 165 mph, compared to the original roof’s wind rating reported at 185 mph. The Rays returned to Tropicana Field in April 2026.
Two years later, the Rays are back home with a stronger roof. The same stadium that Milton left in ruins now takes center stage for the World Series.
Tale of two climates
The World Series opened in Milwaukee this weekend, where the fall weather was setting in. Now the series heads south to Tampa, where it’s much hotter and humid.
The two cities have very different late October climates. Even when thermometer readings appear similar, Tampa’s humidity makes the air heavier, while Milwaukee’s air is cooler and drier.
But here’s the thing: Both teams play in stadiums with roofs. American Family Field in Milwaukee has a retractable roof, while Tropicana Field has a permanent dome, so there will be no delays if rain occurs in a state where they are common.
(MORE: Baseball returns to Tropicana Field 18 months after Hurricane Milton)
It’s safe to say that the weather doesn’t have much of a say in what happens on the field, unlike a typical baseball game.
Ben Williamson #15 of the Tampa Bay Rays breaks his bat while hitting the ball during the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the 2026 World Series at American Family Field on October 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
(Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
A series, a new champion
The Brewers’ only previous World Series appearance was in 1982, and they lost. The Rays failed in 2008 and 2020.
Neither franchise has ever won it all.
But this year, one team will win its first World Series title. For Tropicana Field, the journey from hurricane-ravaged stadium to baseball’s biggest stage is a comeback story in itself.
Faiza Mohammed is an intern meteorologist at Weather.com. She studied geography and worked with the Weather Dawgs at the University of Georgia. She also received her master’s degree in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
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