Tropicana Field is back. But for a minute there, fans weren't so sure.
Videos by FanBuzz
After getting a brand new roof and reopening following major damage from Hurricane Milton in 2024, the stadium is already making headlines again.
This time, it's a viral video.
A clip posted to social media showed a pair of columns inside the stadium visibly shaking — not exactly the look you want a few weeks after reopening. The video spread quickly and even made its way onto local TV broadcasts.
Naturally, people had questions.
The video came from a fan who attended the April 25 game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins. He said he reached out to the stadium but didn't hear back.
City officials didn't ignore it.
St. Petersburg leadership checked things out in person and met with team officials and engineers. The verdict was pretty simple. It wasn't storm damage. It was maintenance.
Loose bolts.
According to the Rays, those columns are part of movable bleacher systems in the outfield. They're designed to be adjustable depending on the event setup, which means they can shift if they're not tightened properly.
That's exactly what happened here.
The fix was quick. The bolts were tightened. The columns were stabilized.
"Everything is good to go," a city official said.
The Rays also released a statement saying the structure is safe and that the stadium continues to meet all safety standards.
So yes, the video looked a little alarming. But in the end, this wasn't a structural failure or anything tied to the hurricane damage.
Just a reminder that sometimes, even a brand new setup needs a quick tune-up.
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