St. Petersburg is aiming to have hurricane-damaged Tropicana Field ready for the Tampa Bay Rays’ 2026 home opener, now officially set for April 6 against the Chicago Cubs.

Major League Baseball released its schedule on Tuesday, giving the city a firm deadline to finish the ambitious repairs. Roof work is already underway, with the city reporting last week that the installation of the stadium’s new fabric dome is expected to wrap up by December, weather permitting.

That would leave about three months to complete interior projects — including installing a new field, structural upgrades, and electronic systems such as videoboards and lighting.

The Rays will start the season on a nine-game road trip beginning March 26 in St. Louis, giving St. Petersburg a little extra time.

On Friday, city officials shared that the first of 24 high-tech Teflon roof panels was being installed. The panels were manufactured in Germany, assembled in China, and flown to St. Petersburg this month in four large bundles.

Tropicana Field was rendered unplayable last October by Hurricane Milton, forcing the Rays to spend the 2025 season at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. St. Petersburg, which is contractually responsible for the repairs, estimates the work will cost about $55 million. No contingency plan has been announced if the Trop isn’t ready by April.

If all goes as planned, the Rays’ first homestand will feature two fan-favorite opponents: the Cubs and the New York Yankees, who traditionally draw large crowds in St. Petersburg.

The 2026 MLB season will also include the league’s earliest traditional Opening Day, a 14-game slate on March 26, though the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees will open a day earlier in a standalone game.

Philadelphia will host the 96th All-Star Game on July 14 at Citizens Bank Park, part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The Rays will close the regular season Sept. 27 in Philadelphia.

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