Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, has regained its original form.
The Rays said on their official social media on the 22nd (Korea Standard Time) that the last piece of the Tropicana Field roof panel was installed the day before.
Tropicana Field’s roof was damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton in October 2024. The damaged roof has finally been restored. The Rays described it as “a huge step forward.”
사진 확대 Tropicana Field roof repair work has been completed. Photo = Lace Official X
Ken Welch, the mayor of St Petersburg, where Tropicana Field is located, also said on his Facebook page, “We did it. The installation of the new Tropicana Field roof was completed earlier than scheduled.
“Last year, the old roof of the trope (tropicana field’s nickname) was a symbol of how much damage Hurricane Milton had done,” he said. And a year later, after a little change, the beautifully repaired roof shows the resilience and determination of our city,” he said, explaining the meaning of roof restoration.
Mayor Welch said he will now focus on restoration work inside the stadium. He explained that the construction will be completed by April, when the opening game of the 2026 season will be held.
Tropicana Field, which will be newly opened in 2026, will be reborn as a better stadium than before with a new electronic board and sound system.
Ken Bobby, the club’s new chief executive, said on his social media: “I would like to thank the city of St Petersburg and (construction company) AECOM for their first significant milestone in April to allow us to play our home opener.”
He previously predicted that the new Tropicana Field would “look a lot better than before.”
Tampa Bay’s stadium restoration work has been going smoothly so far. Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred also said at a recent press conference, “I’m very satisfied with the progress.”
The restoration was carried out when the city of St. Petersburg approved a $59.7 million budget. The Rays have extended their existing lease by one year and signed a lease through 2028.
[KIM JAE HO, MK Sports Reporter]