The Tampa Bay Rays will not be playing spring training games at Charlotte Sports Park in 2023 due to damage sustained during the wrath of Hurricane Ian.
“Following a joint assessment of the damage to Charlotte Sports Park caused by Hurricane Ian, Charlotte County, and the Tampa Bay Rays have determined there is not adequate time before the Rays 2023 spring training is scheduled to begin to get the park in suitable condition to host games. Charlotte County supports the Rays efforts to secure alternative accommodations for 2023 spring training,” said the Rays and Charlotte County in a joint statement.
“We are all disappointed for the residents of Charlotte County and the fans there. The community is in the thoughts and hearts of the Rays, and the team will continue to support recovery efforts. The Rays and Charlotte County intend to develop a restoration plan for Charlotte Sports Park in the coming weeks,” said the Rays.
The Charlotte Sports Park was one of the showcase facilities within Charlotte County and a perfect location for special events, corporate functions, sports tournaments, 5K runs, and other recreation activities. This 82-acre park is the Spring Training Home of the Tampa Bay Rays.
This state-of-the-art facility features a 360-degree fan-friendly pedestrian concourse, a luxury hospitality suite level, two outfield berms, a children’s play area, an outfield bar, practice fields, batting cages, a covered pavilion, and meeting rooms. The stadium seating capacity is approximately 7,500.
The Rays have not yet finalized their plans for Spring Training, but they are considering a variety of options.
One possibility could be playing their Grapefruit League games at Tropicana Field, but they would likely need a larger space with more fields to hold their workouts.
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