Tropicana Field isn’t just home to the Tampa Bay Rays—it’s a hub for numerous events. Now, with storm damage forcing the stadium to close for repairs, over 50 scheduled events, including high school graduations, are relocating.

St. Petersburg Council Member Copley Gerdes revealed during a recent Tourist Development Council meeting that 40 to 75 events will be impacted this year. Among them are about 20 high school graduations, the Gasparilla Classics gymnastics competition, and a two-day event featuring the Savannah Bananas, known for their entertaining “banana ball” style of baseball.

These events would have brought substantial tourism revenue to Pinellas County. Visit St. Pete-Clearwater spokesperson Jason Latimer estimated that the Gasparilla Classic and the Savannah Bananas alone each generate around $10 million in economic impact.

Some events will stay within Pinellas County, such as 12 high school graduations moving to BayCare Sound in Clearwater, according to Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector. However, other events are shifting further afield. Northern county schools, for instance, are relocating graduations to the Yuengling Center at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

The Savannah Bananas will play at Raymond James Stadium, marking their first game in an NFL venue. Rector noted the team has benefited from the stadium’s larger capacity, selling more tickets than anticipated. “A lot of those attending events at Raymond James Stadium will still stay over in Clearwater Beach,” Rector said, helping offset some economic losses.

Tropicana Field sustained at least $56 million in damage after Hurricane Milton tore off its roof last October, resulting in severe water damage. The Rays hope to complete repairs by the 2026 season, though St. Petersburg officials recently informed the team there’s no set deadline, potentially delaying the reopening.

During the 2025 MLB season, the Rays will play at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, typically the spring training home of the New York Yankees. Eventually, Tropicana Field will be demolished to make way for a $1.3 billion stadium as part of a $6.5 billion redevelopment project.

Last year, negotiations between county commissioners, the St. Pete City Council, and Rays ownership finalized funding for the deal, paving the way for the ambitious redevelopment plan.

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(Image credit: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Rays)