7<\/p>\n The roof of Tropicana Field was destroyed by Hurricane Milton in 2024Credit: Getty 7<\/p>\n Repair work has been on going in the 15 months sinceCredit: Getty 7<\/p>\n A new roof has been installed ahead of the team’s return to the TropCredit: Getty<\/p>\n The deadly Category 3 storm caused major damage in Pinellas County and its largest city of St. Petersburg, where the ballpark is located.<\/p>\n Tropicana Field was initially set up as a refuge for first responders and cleanup crews dealing with the wreckage, but a large part of its fiberglass roof was shredded by wind gusts.<\/p>\n As a result of the hurricane, the Rays were forced to play their home games for the 2025 MLB<\/a> season at Steinbrenner Field, and the city footed a bill for almost $60 million in repairs.<\/p>\n During their time away from the Trop, Tampa Bay posted a 77-85 record, and missed the playoffs as they finished fourth in the AL East.<\/p>\n READ MORE ON BALLPARKS<\/p>\n Now, though, they are preparing for a return home, and are set to play their first game back in St. Petersburg against the Chicago Cubs<\/a> on April 6.<\/p>\n Tropicana Field unrecognizable in exciting new footage<\/p>\n Ahead of that date, the Rays shared a video on social media, which featured drone shots of the ballpark’s now-repaired dome.<\/p>\n The video was promoting their annual Fan Fest, which will take place outside the Trop on Saturday, February 14, and ring in the new baseball year.<\/p>\n Last year, it took place away from the stadium at the St. Pete Pier, and it will have a ‘Block Party’ feel this time around with final touches being put to the building.<\/p>\n “The Fan Fest Block Party is our first chance of the year to bring fans together and reconnect with the team ahead of the upcoming season, and we\u2019re thrilled to welcome everyone back to Tropicana Field in April,” Rays CEO Ken Babby said in a statement.<\/p>\n Admission will be free, but fans must claim a ticket to attend — and when they’re finally back inside the Trop, there will be a few differences.<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n The roof of Tropicana Field has been replaced after it was torn off in 2024Credit: X: Tampa Bay Rays 7<\/p>\n Changes have also been made inside the ballparkCredit: Getty<\/p>\n The new roof is made of a fiberglass composite membrane, and is complete by 24 panels, each weighing approximately 5,000 pounds.<\/p>\n According to a report by Facilities Dive, the new membrane has been engineered for long-term durability, and has an expected service life<\/a> that exceeds the 20 years requested by the city.<\/p>\n On top of repairs to the roof, new turf has been installed, while the ballpark will also boast a new audiovisual system and lighting.<\/p>\n The Rays, though, might not stay at Tropicana Field for long.<\/p>\n Are the Rays owners looking to relocate?<\/p>\n There has been plenty of uncertainty around the franchise, which is under new ownership.<\/p>\n In October, a group led by Florida-based real estate developer Patrick Zalupski purchased the team from Stu Sternberg for $1.7 billion.<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n The Rays are under new ownership, and are looking to relocate from the TropCredit: Getty<\/p>\n Sternberg had owned the Rays for 18 years, and had long sought to find the team a new stadium<\/a>.<\/p>\n That will also be a priority under Zalupski, and the new ownership is said to have locked in on a ballpark site back in Tampa.<\/p>\n Per Front Office Sports, the board of trustees for Hillsborough College in Tampa is set to hold a special meeting on Tuesday, January 20, for a ballpark proposal at the Dale Mabry Campus.<\/p>\n That site is near Tampa International Airport, Raymond James Stadium — which is home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a> of the NFL<\/a> — and Steinbrenner Field.<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n The Rays are locked in on a site close to Raymond James Stadium in TampaCredit: Getty<\/p>\n The agenda for the meeting calls for a vote to enter a nonbinding memorandum of understanding with the Rays<\/a> in which the team would use a portion of campus land for a stadium.<\/p>\n If approved, it would set in motion more formal negotiations towards building a new ballpark, as well as a mixed-use development.<\/p>\n The Dale Mabry Campus is said to have around 108 acres and available space for the vision that Zalupski and the Rays have.<\/p>\n Critical details, such as funding for the stadium and the future of the college, are yet to be finalized.<\/p>\n Read More on talkSPORT<\/p>\n That means the Rays will return to Tropicana Field in 2026, but they might not be sticking around much longer.<\/p>\n Stay up to date with the latest from MLB across all platforms – follow our dedicated\u00a0talkSPORT USA Facebook page<\/a>\u00a0and subscribe to our\u00a0talkSPORT USA YouTube channel<\/a>\u00a0for all the news, exclusives, interviews and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Tropicana Field has been repaired ahead of the 2026 MLB season, and looks unrecognizable from the hurricane-ravaged 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