Rays Give Out Commemorative Ponchos Celebrating 1st Rain Delay in Franchise History

A Tampa Bay Rays home game has been officially delayed by weather for the first time in franchise history.

The Rays, playing outdoors at Steinbrenner Field following hurricane damage to the domed Tropicana Field, celebrated on Saturday by handing out commemorative ponchos.

The roof at Tropicana Field was damaged in October during Hurricane Milton. Rays leadership has said the club hopes to return for the 2026 MLB season.

Saturday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers was delayed by 27 minutes from the scheduled start time due to rain. The franchise announced the poncho handout after a second delay occurred mid-game.

Play resumed, and the Rays ultimately claimed a 3-2 walk-off win over the Brewers.

Members of the Rays ground crew prepared for the historic moment by practicing tarp pulls with New York Yankees crew members during spring training, according to MLB.com's Adam Berry.

Steinbrenner Field is usually a spring training venue for the Yankees.

The Rays have announced sellouts at 26 out of 27 home games at the field so far this season. The venue has a seating capacity of 11,026, lower than the Rays' average 2024 season attendance of 16,515 per game.

The franchise took a step toward being able to return to Tropicana Field in April, when the St. Petersburg City Council approved $22.5 million in repairs to the damaged stadium.

The City Council said last month that the roof installation is expected by December 2025, followed by turf installation and other interior changes which are expected to be completed by April 2026.

For now, the Rays are playing outside, in a field with matching dimensions to Yankee Stadium. The franchise has celebrated its temporary accommodations in a variety of ways, including a first pregame flyover ahead of Opening Day.