Tampa Bay Rays Complete Tropicana Field Roof Restoration Following Hurricane Damage

The Tampa Bay Rays baseball franchise has completed restoration of the roof at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, in time for the 2026 MLB season home opener. The stadium's roof was severely damaged by Hurricane Milton in October 2024, requiring extensive repairs. During the 2025 season, the team temporarily relocated to George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa while an international team of consultants worked on the project. A joint venture between AECOM Hunt and Hennessy Construction Services led the design-build roof replacement in coordination with the City of St. Petersburg. The new roof system features 24 panels of high-performance fibreglass composite membrane manufactured by German company Serge Ferrari Group, with each panel weighing approximately 5,000 pounds. Enclose Tensile Structures assembled and installed the panels, while Geiger Engineers oversaw architectural engineering and structural integration. The roof was engineered for 20-year durability and resilience against severe weather. In addition to the roof replacement, the stadium received interior upgrades including new artificial turf, improved sound systems, video board enhancements, and repairs to seating, lighting, and clubhouse facilities. This restoration project coincides with announcements about a proposed new stadium for the Rays, designed by Gensler and Populous, which would open in 2029 at an inland location to reduce future storm risks.