New-look MLB ballpark savaged ahead of 2026 season despite $60m renovation: ‘Trash can’
Tropicana Field is ready for the return of the Tampa Bay Rays.
The 25,000-capacity ballpark sat unused for the 2025 MLB season, after sustaining serious damage from Hurricane Milton.
When that storm ripped through Florida in October 2024, the iconic fiberglass roof of the Trop — which was set to house first responders in St. Petersburg — was shredded.
The Rays were forced to play their home games at Steinbrenner Field last year, as the city made around $60 million in repairs to the stadium — despite the fact the team will soon be moving to a $2.3 billion ‘forever home’ in Tampa Bay.
Earlier this year, aerial photographs showed that good progress had been made ahead of the upcoming baseball season, and that the Trop will soon be back to its former glory.
It has been reported that crews racked up an impressive quarter-million man hours to replace the roof, while repairs have also been made to areas where water came in.
The Rays are set to host their home opener on April 6, against the Chicago Cubs.
And with spring training to begin in the coming days, fans have now been given a new look back inside the building.
Tropicana Field roof replaced but fans savage renovations
During a recent media tour of the ballpark, St. Petersburg officials confirmed that most of the major repair work has been completed, and new turf has been installed.
There are still a few jobs to finish, which include refurbishing both clubhouses, and improving some luxury seating areas.
Images show a pristine field under the new roof — but that new structure has caught the eye of fans.
After young Rays star Tre’ Morgan shared a picture from inside the Trop on social media, some were quick to point out that the roof panels appear alternately colored, giving the stadium a ‘circus tent’ feel.
John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times reports that the darker panels were the last ones installed, and are expected to be bleached white by the sun in the coming weeks.
By opening day, it is hoped the roof will have a uniformed appearance.
Fans, though, were quick to criticize the current aesthetic — and some savaged the Trop’s renovation on X.
“Kudos to the Rays for embracing environmental sustainability. It appears the new roof at Tropicana Field is a repurposed circus tent,” one joked, sharing the photo Morgan posted.
“God this stadium is disgusting,” another said.
“Temu sells dome roofs? Who knew?” a third joked.
“The hurricane was a prime opportunity to build a new stadium and instead they’d rather play in this trash can,” a fourth wrote.
“Yikes, looks awful,” a fifth concluded.
While the Trop’s appearance might still need to win plenty of baseball fans over, the Rays are just excited to be back home.
At Steinbrenner Field last season, the team posted a 77-85 record, and missed the playoffs as they finished fourth in the AL East.
The Rays hosted their annual Fan Fest this past weekend, with a block party theme outside the Trop along 16th Street S.
“It’s great to be back,” CEO Ken Babby said.
“When our fans walk in here on April 6, we want that experience to be really, really special.
“We’re committed to that and confident that’ll be the case.”
The Rays have three seasons left at the Trop, and regardless of how the roof looks right now, attention will soon turn to how the team is performing on the field underneath.
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