{"id":228656,"date":"2026-04-12T13:44:24","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T13:44:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/228656\/"},"modified":"2026-04-12T13:44:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T13:44:24","slug":"rays-return-to-tropicana-field-after-hurricane-damage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/228656\/","title":{"rendered":"Rays Return to Tropicana Field After Hurricane Damage"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"AnThe Rays’ triumphant return to their home field sparks a colorful celebration of community resilience and the power of sports to unite a city.St. Petersburg Today<\/p>\n

The Tampa Bay Rays’ return to Tropicana Field after the devastating effects of Hurricane Milton was a triumph of resilience and community spirit. The team’s victory over the Chicago Cubs, secured by Bryan Baker’s strikeout, marked a significant moment for the franchise and its fans. The $60 million stadium renovation, including a new roof, luxury suites, and improved facilities, enhanced the fan experience and showcased the team’s commitment to excellence.<\/p>\n

Why it matters<\/p>\n

The Rays’ return to Tropicana Field was not just about baseball; it was a celebration of the city’s recovery and the power of sports to unite people. The event’s significance was highlighted by the presence of local and state leaders, as well as the team’s new owners, who are focused on the future with plans for a new ballpark in Tampa.<\/p>\n

The details<\/p>\n

The stadium’s renovation, which cost nearly $60 million, was a massive undertaking. The replacement of the roof, damaged by high winds and rain, was a critical step in ensuring the venue’s safety and functionality. The upgrades, including new luxury suites and a state-of-the-art video board, enhanced the fan experience and showcased the team’s commitment to excellence. The new artificial turf and improved clubhouse facilities further demonstrated the Rays’ dedication to providing a top-tier environment for players and spectators alike.<\/p>\n

The Tampa Bay Rays’ return to Tropicana Field took place on April 10, 2026.The team’s victory over the Chicago Cubs was secured by Bryan Baker’s strikeout.<\/p>\n

The players<\/p>\n

Bryan Baker<\/p>\n

A Tampa Bay Rays player who secured the team’s victory over the Chicago Cubs with a strikeout.<\/p>\n

Jane Castor<\/p>\n

The Mayor of Tampa, who attended the event to celebrate the Rays’ return to Tropicana Field.<\/p>\n

Kenneth Welch<\/p>\n

The Mayor of St. Petersburg, who attended the event to celebrate the Rays’ return to Tropicana Field.<\/p>\n

Ron DeSantis<\/p>\n

The Governor of Florida, who attended the event to celebrate the Rays’ return to Tropicana Field.<\/p>\n

Patrick Zalupski<\/p>\n

The new owner of the Tampa Bay Rays, who is focused on the team’s future with plans for a new ballpark in Tampa.<\/p>\n

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\n What\u2019s next<\/p>\n

The Rays’ new owners, led by Patrick Zalupski, are focused on the future with plans for a new ballpark in Tampa, further solidifying the team’s place in the city’s sports landscape.<\/p>\n

The takeaway<\/p>\n

The Tampa Bay Rays’ return to Tropicana Field was a celebration of the city’s recovery and the power of sports to unite people. The event showcased the team’s commitment to excellence, the community’s support, and the bright future ahead for the franchise.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Got story updates? Submit your updates here. \u203a The Rays’ triumphant return to their home field sparks a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":228657,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[202,204,203,199,201,200],"class_list":["post-228656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-st-petersburg","tag-st-pete","tag-st-pete-headlines","tag-st-pete-news","tag-st-petersburg","tag-st-petersburg-headlines","tag-st-petersburg-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228656","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=228656"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228656\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/228657"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=228656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=228656"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=228656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}