Rays face 2-0 deficit in front of 40,000 at Tropicana Field

Tropicana Field will host a sellout crowd of more than 40,000 fans on Monday night for Game 3 of the World Series. The Tampa Bay Rays face the Milwaukee Brewers after suffering two one-run losses in Milwaukee. The Brewers currently lead the series 2-0 and require two more victories to claim their first World Series title. The Rays must win four of the remaining five games to secure their first championship in franchise history.

The team returned to their home stadium after an 18.5-month absence. Hurricane Milton struck downtown St. Petersburg on Oct. 9, 2024, tearing the roof from the ballpark. Repairs and reconstruction cost nearly $60 million. The Rays played their 2025 regular-season home games across the bay at Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the New York Yankees, while the renovation took place.

During the closure, a group led by real estate developer Patrick Zalupski purchased the team. The new ownership reached an agreement to construct a 31,000-seat ballpark in Tampa near the NFL's Buccaneers stadium. County officials approved a financing plan for the $2.3 billion project in August. The new facility is scheduled to open in 2029 and is part of a mixed-use entertainment district.

Second baseman Richie Palacios said the team enjoys playing at Tropicana Field, where they posted strong results during the regular season. Manager Kevin Cash noted that the Brewers' fans were loud in Milwaukee and expects the local crowd to provide a similar energy boost. The Rays and Brewers tied for the best home record in the regular season, both going 55-26. Rays fans attended 1.4 million home games this season, ranking 28th in Major League Baseball.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy described the stadium as a unique environment requiring adjustment. First baseman Jake Bauers, who played outfield for Tampa Bay in 2018, cited the roof as a primary challenge. He noted that the ceiling shares the same color as the baseball, making tracking difficult. Bauers said he never found it easy but emphasized the importance of keeping one's eye on the ball.

The stadium features four circular steel rings suspended beneath its roof to stabilize the structure. A batted ball hitting the lower two rings is a home run, while a ball hitting the upper two remains in play. Yankees rookie Spencer Jones hit a flyball off a catwalk in Game 2 of the American League Division Series. Rays outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. made the catch in center field.

Tropicana Field is the only major league park where fans can touch stingrays. Seven cownose stingrays that survived Hurricane Milton reside in a 10,000-gallon tank beyond the right-center-field fence. Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby and second baseman Brice Turang expressed surprise at the feature before Game 3. If Milwaukee wins two of the next three games, the players may pose with the trophy and the rays.