St. Petersburg Completes Tropicana Field Roof Repairs for Rays’ 2026 Return
- Petersburg, Florida, has completed the restoration of the Tropicana Field stadium roof, enabling the Tampa Bay Rays to return to their home ballpark for the 2026 season.
- The stadium's original fabric roof was shredded during the hurricane, which exposed the interior to months of rainwater and caused extensive internal damage.
- The restoration project involved the installation of 24 roof panels.
The City of St. Petersburg, Florida, has completed the restoration of the Tropicana Field stadium roof, enabling the Tampa Bay Rays to return to their home ballpark for the 2026 season. The final roof panel was installed in November 2025, marking the completion of a critical phase of repairs following catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Milton in October 2024.
The stadium’s original fabric roof was shredded during the hurricane, which exposed the interior to months of rainwater and caused extensive internal damage. Because of this, the Tampa Bay Rays were forced to play their home games during the previous season at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the spring training home of the New York Yankees.
Roof Restoration and Technical Specifications
The restoration project involved the installation of 24 roof panels. The final panel was placed on Thursday, November 21, 2025, which Mayor Kenneth T. Welch stated was ahead of schedule. The new roof is constructed from a thicker, stronger fiberglass membrane designed to withstand winds of up to 165 miles per hour.
The procurement and assembly of the roof involved an international supply chain. The materials were manufactured in Germany, assembled in China and air-freighted through Alaska before arriving in St. Petersburg. The installation process began in August 2025 and involved hoisting 5,000-pound panels into place.
Last year, The Trop’s tattered roof quickly became a symbol of Hurricane Milton’s impact. One year and some change later, the beautifully repaired roof represents our city’s resilience and determination.
Mayor Kenneth T. Welch
Interior Remediation and Budget
Following the completion of the roof, city contractors shifted their focus to internal repairs. The City Council approved a total of $59,699,513.82 for the remediation and repair expenses. The interior work was necessary to address water damage and restore the stadium’s functionality.
The internal restoration efforts include several key projects:
- Installation of more than 137,000 square feet of new artificial turf, including the playing surfaces and base paths.
- Repair and replacement of audio-visual systems.
- Installation of sports lighting.
- Replacement of backstop netting and outfield wall padding.
- Removal of compromised drywall and rebuilding of interior finishes.
By February 16, 2026, city officials reported that the stadium lights were back in place and the new turf had been laid. Beth Herendeen, the city’s Administration and Finance Managing Director, noted that while some smaller tasks such as aiming lights and painting field lines remained, the major structural and installation items were complete.
Timeline for Return to Play
The city followed a strict timeline to ensure the stadium was ready for the 2026 Major League Baseball season. Mobilization for the roof replacement began in July 2025, with the roof installation itself starting in August 2025 and finishing in November 2025. Interior repairs continued through the winter, with turf installation occurring in January 2026.
Substantial completion of all repairs was scheduled for March 2026, with all stadium repairs intended to be finished by April 2026. The Tampa Bay Rays scheduled their 2026 home opener against the Chicago Cubs for Monday, April 6, 2026.
The completion of the project allows the team to return to downtown St. Petersburg after a year of displacement, restoring the stadium’s signature tilted white roof and returning the franchise to its permanent home.