Rays Return to Tropicana Field After Roof Repairs

Celebration marks MLB's return to downtown St. Petersburg and the resilience of the Tampa Bay community.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 12:05pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the baseball game at Tropicana Field, with the players, stadium, and crowd broken down into overlapping geometric shapes and planes of vibrant colors, capturing the energy and excitement of the Rays' homecoming.The Rays' return to their longtime home stadium in downtown St. Petersburg celebrates the resilience of the Tampa Bay community after recent challenges.St. Petersburg Today

The Tampa Bay Rays made their return to Tropicana Field on Monday, beating the Chicago Cubs 6-4 in their first game at the stadium since 2024. The game marked MLB's return to downtown St. Petersburg and celebrated repairs to the Trop, the team's home for the previous 28 seasons, as well as the strength and resiliency of the Tampa Bay community.

Why it matters

The Rays' return to Tropicana Field is a significant milestone for the team and the Tampa Bay region. After playing last season at Steinbrenner Field in front of smaller crowds, the Rays are excited to be back in their longtime home stadium and reconnect with their passionate fan base. The celebration also highlighted the community's resilience in recovering from back-to-back hurricanes in 2024.

The details

Pre-game ceremonies included a presentation of the flag by roof repairers, first responders and team staff who worked on the project, a national anthem by country singer Eric Church, and first pitches by St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. After the game, Rays owners, executives and team ambassador Brett Phillips joined Governor Ron DeSantis at a local sports bar to celebrate with fans.

  • The Rays made their return to Tropicana Field on Monday, April 6, 2026.
  • Tropicana Field had been closed for repairs since the 2024 season.

The players

Tampa Bay Rays

The professional baseball team that plays in the American League East division of Major League Baseball.

Ken Welch

The Mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida.

Jane Castor

The Mayor of Tampa, Florida.

Ron DeSantis

The Governor of Florida.

Patrick Zalupski

A lead owner of the Tampa Bay Rays.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.