Tampa Bay Rays Return Home to Tropicana Field With Win

Rays defeat Cubs 6-4 in emotional home opener after playing 2025 season at Steinbrenner Field

Apr. 7, 2026 at 2:26am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in bold navy blue, powder blue, and gold colors, breaking down a Rays baseball game at Tropicana Field into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes, conceptually representing the team's emotional homecoming.The Rays' triumphant return to their home stadium Tropicana Field is captured in a vibrant, cubist-inspired illustration that captures the energy and excitement of the day.St. Petersburg Today

The Tampa Bay Rays celebrated their return to Tropicana Field with a 6-4 win over the Chicago Cubs in their home opener on March 31. The game marked the team's first at the Trop since October 2024 after the stadium sustained major damage from Hurricane Milton. The festivities included appearances by Tampa mayor Jane Castor, St. Petersburg mayor Ken Welch, and Florida governor Ron DeSantis, as well as a national anthem performance by country music star Eric Church.

Why it matters

The Rays' return to Tropicana Field is a significant moment for the franchise and the Tampa Bay community after the team was displaced for over a year. The home opener showcased the community's support and excitement for the team's homecoming, as well as the hard work that went into repairing the stadium.

The details

The Rays played the 2025 season at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa after Hurricane Milton caused major damage to Tropicana Field in October 2024. Monday's home opener marked the unveiling of the renovations to the Trop, allowing the team to return to their home stadium. The Rays defeated the Cubs 6-4, with home runs from third baseman Junior Caminero and first baseman Jonathan Aranda.

  • The Rays' last game at Tropicana Field before the 2025 season was in October 2024.
  • The Rays played the 2025 season at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.
  • Monday's home opener on March 31, 2026 marked the Rays' return to Tropicana Field.

The players

Jane Castor

The mayor of Tampa.

Ken Welch

The mayor of St. Petersburg.

Ron DeSantis

The governor of Florida.

Junior Caminero

The Rays' 22-year-old third baseman who hit a solo home run in the third inning.

Jonathan Aranda

The Rays' 27-year-old first baseman who hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning.

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What they’re saying

“I thought it was done really, really well. A lot of credit to Ken in putting this together. It is an important day for baseball and certainly an important day for Rays baseball. It was unique. Teams don't go through what we have gone through the last year and a half. Very well done. It was cool.”

— Kevin Cash, Rays Manager

“When I walked into this building for the first time, I myself wondered if baseball would ever be played here again. For our staff, for the city, for the community and for our fans, this is a true homecoming.”

— Ken Babby, Rays CEO

“I felt really comfortable the second I walked in. Obviously, we played at Steinbrenner last year and we were thankful for the opportunity the Yankees gave us. But this is our home. Tropicana has always been our home, so it's super exciting for every single one of us to be here. We are grateful to be back.”

— Junior Caminero, Rays Third Baseman

“It was just great to feel the fans and have them here. With everything that the stadium went through, obviously, it was just a great feeling. Just to hear the roar, have them here, have their support and have their love, it makes things great for us.”

— Jonathan Aranda, Rays First Baseman

What’s next

The Rays will continue their homestand with a three-game series against the Cubs, followed by a seven-game road trip to Boston and New York.

The takeaway

The Rays' emotional return to Tropicana Field after over a year of displacement showcases the team's resilience and the strong community support in Tampa Bay. The home opener's festivities and the team's on-field performance demonstrated the Rays' readiness to compete in their familiar home stadium.