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Tampa Bay Rays Return Home With Win After Hurricane Damage
Eric Church performs national anthem as team plays first game at Tropicana Field in nearly 600 days
Apr. 8, 2026 at 3:07pm
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The Tampa Bay Rays returned to their home stadium, Tropicana Field, for the first time in nearly 600 days after Hurricane Milton caused extensive damage to the facility in 2024. Country music star Eric Church performed the national anthem in a duet with Joanna Cotten to welcome the team and fans back, and the Rays went on to defeat the Chicago Cubs 6-4 in the game.
Why it matters
The Rays' return to Tropicana Field after the hurricane damage represents a significant milestone for the team and the Tampa community, which was heavily impacted by the storm. The national anthem performance by Eric Church symbolizes the resilience and community spirit of the city as it recovers from the devastation.
The details
Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, was severely damaged when Hurricane Milton ripped through the area in 2024, causing nearly $60 million in repairs. The baseball stadium, which has a canopy roof, was no match for the powerful storm. After nearly 600 days of playing on the road, the Rays finally returned home to Tropicana Field on Monday to a sold-out crowd of 25,114 fans.
- Hurricane Milton caused extensive damage to Tropicana Field in 2024.
- The Rays played their home games on the road for nearly 600 days following the hurricane.
- The Rays returned to Tropicana Field and defeated the Chicago Cubs 6-4 on Monday.
The players
Eric Church
A country music star who performed the national anthem in a duet with Joanna Cotten to welcome the Rays and fans back to Tropicana Field.
Joanna Cotten
A singer who joined Eric Church in performing the national anthem at the Rays' homecoming game.
Bryan Baker
A Rays pitcher who recorded the final out of the game, sealing the 6-4 victory over the Cubs.
Ken Babby
The Tampa Bay Rays' Chief Executive Officer, who expressed excitement about the team's long-awaited return to Tropicana Field.
What they’re saying
“It felt pretty good to say the least. I think that was an encapsulation of how everybody felt getting back in this building and playing in front of these fans. To get out there and seal the deal for the boys was really fun.”
— Bryan Baker, Rays Pitcher
“This is a special moment for our team and our community, and we are excited to welcome 'The Chief' to Tropicana Field to celebrate our return and this magnificent moment for the community. The impact of the hurricane kept us on the road, so being back home and celebrating with an artist like Eric Church brings an extra level of excitement and emotion to this long-awaited return.”
— Ken Babby, Rays Chief Executive Officer
What’s next
The Rays will look to build on their homecoming win as they continue their season at Tropicana Field, aiming to make a strong push for the playoffs after being displaced for nearly two years.
The takeaway
The Rays' return to their home stadium after the devastating hurricane damage represents the resilience and community spirit of Tampa, as the team and its fans celebrate this long-awaited homecoming with a victory and a powerful national anthem performance by Eric Church.
