ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The sound of cowbells filled the air as Bryan Baker celebrated striking out Pete Crow-Armstrong, capping off a memorable homecoming for the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
Playing at home for the first time in 561 days following Hurricane Milton’s devastating damage to their stadium, the Rays defeated the Chicago Cubs 6-4 on Monday before a capacity crowd of 25,114 fans.
“It felt pretty good to say the least,” Baker said of his reaction to the final pitch. “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.”
The massive storm struck downtown St. Petersburg on Oct. 9, 2024, requiring nearly $60 million in repairs to replace the damaged roof and restore the facility.
Powerful winds tore away portions of the original roofing structure, leaving the stadium exposed to rainfall for several months. The resulting water infiltration led to mold growth and significant harm to electrical, audio, and broadcasting equipment.
Workers completed installation of the replacement roof last August while the team spent their 2025 season playing temporary home games at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, which serves as the New York Yankees’ spring training facility.
Construction crews installed the final roofing section on Nov. 21. The renovations also included improvements to luxury boxes and the stadium’s video display system. Team members praised the updated artificial playing surface and appreciated enhancements such as fresh clubhouse flooring and new lockers.
“It was an important day for Rays baseball and unique for what we’ve gone through,” manager Kevin Cash said. “Very well done.”
While the Rays typically struggle with attendance, Monday marked their 20th straight sellout for a season opener, not counting 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions prevented fan attendance.
“It was great. Shout out to the city of St. Pete and the fans for showing up for us after everything they’ve been through,” said Chandler Simpson, who had two hits and two stolen bases.
Tampa mayor Jane Castor and St. Petersburg mayor Kenneth Welch delivered ceremonial first pitches, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis attended the game.
The victory marked the first home win under the franchise’s new ownership. Real estate developer Patrick Zalupski led an investment group that acquired the Rays for $1.7 billion last year. Zalupski and executives Ken Babby and Bill Cosgrove are working toward constructing a new stadium in Tampa, located near the Yankees’ spring training facility and across from Raymond James Stadium, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play.
The team remains committed to playing at Tropicana Field through the 2028 season under their current lease agreement.
“The fans’ support was amazing,” said Junior Caminero, who hit one of three home runs for Tampa Bay. “It was exciting to be back at Tropicana.”
The team also unveiled the renovated “Cownose Clubhouse,” featuring seven cownose stingrays from The Florida Aquarium that survived Hurricane Milton. Following the storm, the marine animals temporarily relocated to The Florida Aquarium before moving to TECO’s Manatee Viewing Center at Apollo Beach in January, and finally returning to their permanent Tropicana Field habitat before the season opener.
