Photo by Maria Jose Solis | The Crow’s Nest
By Matthew McGovern
After a nearly 18-month long repair process following damage sustained by Hurricane Milton in 2024, Tropicana Field repairs are nearing completion in St. Petersburg.
With a new roof, freshly laid turf, a fresh interior paint job and a handful of newly upholstered seats, Beth Herendeen, St. Petersburg’s city development administration’s managing director, says Tropicana Field should be ready to host the Tampa Bay Rays on opening day in April.
In September 2024, Tropicana Field lost its patented, white-paneled roof and sustained significant interior damage from Hurricane Milton’s 100 mph winds and torrential rainfall.
The new roof was completed in November 2025 with an approximately $60 million contribution from the City of St. Petersburg. It’s an upgrade from the original roof installed in the 1980’s.
“The new roof is designed and engineered for new hurricane standards,” Herendeen said. “The roof material is technically the same… the manufacturer of that process has improved over time, so the roof is a superior product to the original.”
Working in tandem with Rays’ ownership, which has changed since 2024, the City of St. Petersburg oversaw various repairs, including roof replacement, a new sound system and rebuilding of home and away clubhouses.
The Rays will be spearheading its own set of upgrades and repairs, and according to Herendeen, there is no established timeline for the team’s plans.
“So far, we fully anticipate to be ready for opening day and for the Rays to move back in,” Herendeen said.
The Rays will play against the Chicago Cubs on Tropicana Field’s April 6 opening day.
