The Tampa Bay Rays are one step closer to returning home as the new roof on Tropicana Field is now complete, but it means more than that.
The last 13 months have presented a mountain of challenges for the Tampa Bay Rays.
The club found itself displaced after damage from Hurricane Milton in October 2024 brought disaster.
The Tropicana Field roof was torn to shreds and 19 inches of rain soaked the interior, rendering the stadium useless for the upcoming 2025 season. The organization paid over $15 million to the New York Yankees to make use of George M. Steinbrenner Field, their Minor League complex in Tampa.
In the meantime, crews worked to seal up the Trop. This week, they secured the 24th and final new panel on the roof.
“St. Pete, we did it!” St. Petersburg mayor Ken Welch wrote on Facebook. “The installation of the new Tropicana Field roof is complete AHEAD of schedule.”
“Last year, the Trop's tattered roof quickly became a symbol of Hurricane Milton's impact,” he continued. “One year and some change later, the beautifully repaired roof represents our city’s resilience and determination. This challenging project was carried out with precision, skill, and teamwork between our City staff, contractors, and international suppliers - and the results speak for themselves.”
In a way, the repair of the Trop became emblematic of St. Petersburg’s continuing recovery from Helene and Milton. Homes were lost, businesses were left in ruin.
“The hurricane decimated our stadium, but it was the whole area that got affected more than us,” Rays right-hander Ryan Pepiot said recently at the Capital One MLB Open.
The city continues to work toward normalcy, as does the work on the stadium.
“So, what comes next?” Welch added. “Contractors will now turn their attention to interior repairs, which are scheduled to wrap up by April. That means the Rays will be ready to welcome fans back to their home field early next season.”
The home opener against the Chicago Cubs is April 6.
“I want to recognize City Development Administrator James Corbett, Finance Managing Director Beth Herendeen, and City Architect Manager Raul Quintana for their leadership and commitment. Their hard work helped make this milestone possible!”
The Rays also underwent a monumental organizational shift as the 2025 season came to a close when Stuart Sternberg, the team’s principal owner for two decades, sold the club to a group led by Jacksonville-based homebuilder Patrick Zalupski. Among the new ownership group is Rays CEO Ken Babby, who has dedicated his time to ensuring that Tropicana Field provides a new and improved fan experience.
“Incredibly thankful to you and your team @StPeteFL,” Babby wrote on X. “Counting down the days until 4/6! #RaysUP.”