After spending a season away from St. Petersburg, the Tampa Bay Rays are back home.

A sold-out crowd of 25,000 fans greeted players on April 6 as the Rays returned to Tropicana Field for the 2026 home opener against the Chicago Cubs.

The day marked a new chapter for the franchise and provided fans with an opportunity to once again cheer on their team under the dome. The Rays rewarded that enthusiasm with a 6-4 victory.

For Rays Chief Business Officer Bill Walsh, the return was about more than baseball.

“The return to Tropicana Field this year, on April 6, was really emotional and really powerful,” Walsh said. “The community has been through so much.”

It all started on Oct. 9, 2024, when Hurricane Milton tore through Tampa Bay. As the storm stretched across the area, its strong winds ripped off the stadium’s roof and left it open to the elements.

The Rays were left without a home.

Along with the damage it caused to the Trop, Hurricane Milton precipitated the selling of the team and cancellation of plans to build a new stadium and redevelop the area around the it. The team was sold to new owner Patrick Zalupski and is expected to relocate to Tampa.

In 2025, the Rays temporarily relocated to Tampa and played at the New York Yankee’s spring practice location, George M. Steinbrenner Field. It was the first time that the Rays would play home games outdoors.

The season proved to be difficult for the team and for fans. The Rays had their highest loss total since 2016, and the team failed to make the playoffs.

Meanwhile, across the bridge repairs began in August to prepare the stadium for the 2026 season. The City of St. Petersburg, which owns the Trop, spent more than $56 million to restore the roof and repair the stadium.

New roof panels were installed and completed in November as crews continued to replace what was damaged inside the stadium. Computers and technology vital to instant replays and videography of games were highly damaged and needed to be replaced.

“The windows blew out and there was water on the front portion,” Rays video engineer and control room operator Joe Clatch said.

Before the stadium reopened, fan interest in the Rays was high. An estimated 50,000 people turned out to support the Rays in February at Fan Fest, which included autograph signings from players and other activities.

With the return to St. Pete and Tropicana Field, the Rays have brought the community back together. An estimated 50,000 people turned out to support the Rays at their Fan Fest, which included autograph signings from players and other activities.

“We really make it a priority to engage with community organizations throughout the region,” Walsh said.

The Trop has been updated to improve the overall fan experience.

New grab-and-go technology allows fans to purchase concessions at the redeveloped outfield concourse without the need for a cashier and high-tech boards for projections and colorful lights that amaze fans throughout the game were installed. DEX Imaging Home Plate Club ticket holders can now access a new speakeasy-type bar and candy room.

Karen Jones, ticket manager for the Rays and longtime employee, said that the team wants fans to feel like they are back at home at the Trop, making it a priority “for the customer to feel like they were wanted here.”

The Rays are matching the stadium improvements with their play on the field. They are in first place in the AL East division and have one of the best records in baseball.

Despite the organization looking at other ballpark locations, the Rays is committed to making the most out of the Trop for as long as the team is there, Walsh said.

“Even though our ballpark might move across the bay, the community shouldn’t notice, they shouldn’t feel that,” he said. “We should be as much of a presence here as we’ve ever been.”

With additional reporting from Avery Dorman, Cole Domeier, Ella Keith, Noella Provost and Josiah Adams