Property Owner, Rays, Holds Garage Sale Prior to Handing over Tropicana Field for Roof Maintenance
Yard Sale Fever at the Trop:
A Tampa Bay Rays charity yard sale on a grand scale mirrors the process of a typical spring clean-up, but on a vast scale. Wander through the Trop parking lot and discover an array of items ranging from mugs to shirts and all that lies in between. It's a treasure hunt with unexpected surprises and forgotten memories lurking among the goods.
"Spring cleaning in your house? It's like that, just bigger," says Bill Walsh, the Rays' chief business officer, likening the event to the average home's annual spring clean. Little did he know, they'd be unloading decades' worth of promotional gear and other inventory.
One such item was a Willy Adames bobblehead, originally intended for distribution to fans on May 30, 2020. What a 2020 twist—with a pandemic and no baseball in sight, the bobblehead found a new home at the following season's yard sale. Another example is a set of three shoe charms, showcasing players Yandy Diaz, Zach Eflin, and Josh Lowe, which were intended for the young ones on August 11. Fate had other plans, as Eflin was traded to the Orioles on July 26, leaving the charms to make their debut at the sale instead.
The sale offers a yard-sale-like bargain to attendees, who pay $20 for a bag and an opportunity to fill it to the brim with collectibles. Spill over? Simply pay another $20 for an additional bag. Huddled under tents in the rain-soaked St. Petersburg, fans awaited the chance to take home a piece of history.
New Roof, Who Dis?
St. Petersburg's city hall recently approved $23 million for a renovation project that involves replacing the Trop's roof with a PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) membrane. The scheduled work might achieve visible progress within eight weeks. The project is expected to run until March/April 2026, with a hefty estimated cost of over $55 million.
According to Walsh, the Rays plan to vacate the premises to make way for the repairs. "It's a matter of giving the city the space to work and overhaul our home," explained Walsh. "We've got hundreds of workers descending upon the arena, so we need to clear the decks."
The Cleanout of the Century
The extensive cleanout project began after Hurricane Milton tore through the Trop, resulting in the discovery and collection of more than 75,000 items. Drawers were emptied, cupboards swept, and corners dusted as the Rays took inventory of their hidden gear.
Cranes and crates filled with promotional items, bobbleheads, sweatshirts, t-shirts, tumblers, blankets, and more will captivate fans as they dig through the loot. Whether it's memorabilia from in-state university days or unique theme night celebrations, there's something for every fan.
A flurry of Rays employees worked tirelessly to put together the charity sale, with proceeds benefiting the Rays Baseball Foundation, the team's philanthropic arm. "It all came together in three weeks," Walsh jokes, marvelling at the quick turnaround and teamwork needed to pull off the massive event.
In the end, the charity sale under the tents proved to be a memorable day for Rays fans, allowing them to take home pieces of the club's history in the lead-up to the rooftop renovation.
- "As the 2025 MLB season approaches, fans can anticipate the Tampa Bay Rays' yard sale at Tropicana Field, where they might find baseball related items like bobbleheads from previous seasons on sale for charity."
- "While the Tampa Bay Rays prepare for the 2025 MLB season and the rooftop repairs of Tropicana Field, they are also hosting a yard sale to offload decades of promotional gear, including sports memorabilia such as baseball bobbleheads and clothing."
