Tropicana Field Reopens After Hurricane Recovery

0:00It's April 3rd, you're listening to MLB News today, AI-powered MLB coverage. Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg is back in business after back-to-back Hurricanes wrecked its roof last year. Seven Count No Stingrays from the Florida Aquarium crashed there during Hurricanes Milton in October 2024, then bounced around before, settling into a new spot right outside the stadium. The rays are reopening the dome for their home opener against the Cubs this Monday at 4-10pm Eastern Time, 561 days after. Their last game inside. Hurricanes, Aline and Milton flooded the area and shredded the roof just weeks apart in 2024. The city showed out nearly $60 million to fix it on time and on budget, using high-tech fabric panels shipped from Germany and China. Crews hoisted them up with ropes and winches, wrapping it up by late November, then added a fresh field and upgrades funded by the team's new owners. Ray's CEO Ken Babby called it a heroic effort, saying fans will see the place looking sharper

1:04than it has in decades. Players like Manager Kevin Cash are pumped to return to the picture-friendly dome, with a built their best teams on strong arms and tight. Defense. After sweating through an outdoor season, everyone's feeling that home vibe again. Meanwhile, the team played all last year at Georgian Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, dodging rain-outs despite brutal heat and humidity. They even borrowed some of those amenities for their revamped clubhouse back at the trap. Long-time players missed the cool, controlled air and that signature raise edge indoors. Now with the trap locked in for at least three more seasons, the rays are eyeing bigger plans in Tampa while cherishing this history since their reign. 1998 debut. It's more than a ballpark, it's the heart of the fanbase ready to roar again.