ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – The Tampa Bay Rays marked their return to Tropicana Field with a 6-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs, igniting cheers from a sellout crowd of 25,114. This event occurred 561 days after Hurricane Milton caused significant damage to the stadium, including the destruction of its roof.
Fans welcomed the team back home on Monday, with Bryan Baker striking out Pete Crow-Armstrong to seal the win. The Rays had not played in their home stadium since the hurricane swept through St. Petersburg on October 9, 2024, leading to extensive renovations that cost nearly $60 million.
Stadium Renovations and Upgrades
The hurricane inflicted severe damage, ripping off sections of the original roof and allowing rain to infiltrate the stadium for months. This resulted in mold and damage to the electrical, sound, and broadcast systems. The Rays played the 2025 season across the bay at Steinbrenner Field while renovations took place.
The new roof was completed in November 2024, and upgrades included luxury suites and a revamped stadium video board. Players expressed their satisfaction with the new artificial turf and enhancements to the clubhouse, which featured new carpet and lockers.
Emotional Return and Community Support
Rays manager Kevin Cash reflected on the significance of the day, stating, “It was an important day for Rays baseball and unique for what we’ve gone through.” The home opener marked the 20th consecutive sellout for the Rays, excluding the 2020 season when fans were barred due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chandler Simpson, who contributed two hits and two stolen bases, praised the community’s support: “It was great. Shout out to the city of St. Pete and the fans for showing up for us after everything they’ve been through.”
New Ownership and Future Prospects
This game also marked the first home win under the Rays’ new ownership, led by Florida-based real estate developer Patrick Zalupski, who purchased the team for $1.7 billion last year. The new owners are exploring plans for a new ballpark in Tampa, near the Yankees’ spring training complex.
Despite these changes, the Rays remain under lease at Tropicana Field until at least the 2028 season. Junior Caminero, who hit one of three home runs during the game, expressed his excitement about returning to the renovated stadium: “The fans’ support was amazing. It was exciting to be back at Tropicana.”
Cownose Clubhouse and Community Engagement
The Rays introduced the newly renovated ‘Cownose Clubhouse,’ which houses seven cownose stingrays from The Florida Aquarium that survived Hurricane Milton. After the storm, these stingrays temporarily relocated to the TECO’s Manatee Viewing Center before returning to their permanent home at Tropicana Field ahead of the season opener.