The World Series returns to Tropicana Field just 2 years after Hurricane MiltonTwo teams, neither with a World Series title. One of them is about to change that, in a stadium that couldn’t be played two years ago. The Brewers and Rays meet for Game 3 on Monday at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay, where a repaired dome now protects from the weather. Milton’s Damage On October 9, 2024, Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, as a Category 3 storm with 120 mph winds. The storm’s powerful winds tore apart Tropicana Field. roof in St. Petersburg, Florida, leaving the interior of the stadium exposed to the weather. (MORE: Hurricane Milton 2024 Recap) Hurricane Milton blew the roof off Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Oct. 10, 2024. (The Washington Post/Getty Images) The damage forced the Rays to move for the entire 2025 season, playing their home games at an open-air stadium in Tampa. Get more of our news on GoogleSet The Weather Company as a ‘preferred source’ for faster access to the news you value. Meanwhile, Tropicana Field underwent a multimillion-dollar restoration, including a new roof designed to withstand winds of up to 165 mph, compared to the reported 115 mph wind rating for the original roof. 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. A tale of two climates The World Series opened in Milwaukee over the weekend, where the fall weather was settling in. Now the series heads south to Tampa, where it’s much warmer and wetter. The two cities have very different weather at the end of October. Even when thermometer readings appear similar, Tampa’s humidity makes the air feel muggier, while Milwaukee’s air is colder and drier. But here’s the twist: Both teams play in stadiums with roofs. Milwaukee’s American Family Field has a retractable roof, while Tropicana Field has a permanent dome, so there will be no rain delays 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 may not 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 one of the 2026 World Series at American Family Field on October 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images) One Series, One New Champion The Brewers’ only previous appearance in the World Series was in 1982, and they lost. The Rays came up short in 2008 and 2020. No franchise has won it all, but this year, one team will claim its first World Series title. For Tropicana Field, the journey from the hurricane-ravaged stadium to baseball’s biggest stage is a comeback story in itself. Faiza Mohammed is an intern meteorologist at Weather.com. He studied geography and worked with the Weather Dawgs team at the University of Georgia. He also received his master’s degree in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
