The City of St. Petersburg has finished installing the final roof panel at Tropicana Field, marking a major milestone in the repairs needed after Hurricane Milton damaged the stadium in 2024. The work keeps the Tampa Bay Rays’ return on schedule for the 2026 season.
The news comes as the Rays’ new ownership group outlines its plan for a future fixed-roof stadium and a mixed-use district spanning more than 100 acres. With construction timelines tight and Tropicana Field repairs now ahead of schedule, the city and the team are entering a critical stretch.
What happened
The City of St. Petersburg completed the final roof panel earlier this week. The roof was damaged during Hurricane Milton in October 2024, and the city is responsible for restoring the stadium so it can safely host home games. All repairs remain scheduled for completion by April 2026.
Mayor Ken Welch praised the progress.
“I want to thank our City team and our contractors for their diligent work in getting the roof installation completed ahead of schedule,” Welch said. “This project was a massive undertaking, but we have an outstanding team working on it and making sure we are prepared for opening day.”
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Welch also spoke with TBBW and added more detail.
“I drove by last night. They put the last panel in,” he said yesterday. “We believe this can be done. All the facts and data say we can do this.”
City Council has approved $59.6 million for remediation and repair costs.
Next up are interior projects including turf replacement, audio and visual upgrades, sports lighting and other operational repairs.
Repair timeline
July 2025: Mobilization
August 2025: Roof replacement begins
November 2025: Roof replacement complete and interior work starts
December 2025: Audio system work, backstop netting, outfield padding
January 2026: Turf installation
March 2026: Substantial completion
What’s happening now
The Rays’ new ownership group is pushing forward with its search for a long-term home. Managing partner Patrick Zalupski said this month the goal is to build a fixed-roof stadium on a site with at least 100 acres and anchor a mixed-use district similar to The Battery Atlanta.
The Rays say they are looking at locations across Hillsborough County and Pinellas County and have meetings scheduled in both Tampa and St. Petersburg. The project will require a public-private partnership.
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Mayor Welch said the city is open to a short-term extension at Tropicana Field if needed, although the Rays maintain that their goal is to open a new ballpark in 2029.
Key takeaways
- The Trop repairs are ahead of schedule, which keeps the Rays in St. Pete through at least 2028
- The city is investing almost $60 million in upgrades, which ensure the building remains usable while the new ballpark plans develop
- The Rays are now actively scouting sites and meeting local officials across the region
- A new stadium district could reshape development patterns and attract mixed-use investment across either county