The City of St. Petersburg has approved $22.5 million to replace the roof of Tropicana Field, securing its suitability for Major League Baseball after Hurricane Milton destroyed the stadium’s iconic dome in October 2024. The damage forced the Tampa Bay Rays to move their home games to George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.

Beth Herendeen, St. Pete’s manager of special projects, highlighted the need for swift action. “We’re contractually obligated to ensure the stadium meets Major League Baseball standards and is playable,” she told Fox 13 Tampa Bay.

If construction progresses as planned, Tropicana Field could be ready by Opening Day 2026, with the new, more resilient roof completed by the end of this year. This timeline would enable the Rays to return to St. Petersburg for the 2026 season. In the meantime, the team is exploring long-term options, including potential investors and sites for a new ballpark in the Tampa Bay region. The Rays’ lease at Tropicana Field, extended due to the hurricane’s impact, now runs through the 2028 season.

The city’s investment guarantees that baseball will return to St. Pete for at least the next few years. For now, fans can watch the Tampa Bay Rays play across the Howard Frankland Bridge throughout the current season.

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(Image credit: Alexis Muellner/Tampa Bay Business Journal)

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