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Tropicana Field
MLB Ballpark

Tropicana Field

Tampa Bay Rays · St. Petersburg

Home Team:Tampa Bay Rays
Opened:1990
Capacity:25,000
City:St. Petersburg

Tropicana Field is the fixed-dome ballpark in St. Petersburg that serves as the Tampa Bay Rays' confirmed home for the 2026 season, reopening April 6, 2026, after roughly $60 million in repairs. The Rays returned here after playing the 2025 season at the Yankees' Steinbrenner Field in Tampa while the dome's hurricane-damaged roof was rebuilt.

Address: One Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33705

History

Tropicana Field opened in 1990 as the Florida Suncoast Dome, a domed venue built in hopes of luring a Major League team to the Tampa Bay area. It hosted hockey, basketball and concerts before the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays finally made it a baseball home in 1998. Renamed for the Tropicana juice brand, the slanted-roof dome with its catwalk-laced ceiling became known simply as "The Trop." Over the years the team closed upper-deck sections to create a more intimate feel. In October 2024, Hurricane Milton tore away large sections of the fiberglass roof, forcing the Rays to relocate for the entire 2025 season. An extensive restoration installed a new roof, a fresh playing surface, an upgraded video board and a rebuilt ray tank, returning the team for 2026.

The Ballpark Experience

Tropicana Field offers a climate-controlled, kid-friendly atmosphere unlike any open-air park. Its most beloved feature is the 10,000-gallon Rays Touch Tank behind the right-center field wall, where fans can pet live cownose rays during games. Cowbells are a signature fan tradition, rung loudly during rallies. A museum near the main gates spotlights Rays history alongside exhibits on the Negro and Women's Leagues, and interactive zones include pitching and hitting simulators. The Budweiser Porch, an open-air patio in center field, gives fans food, drink and a relaxed vantage point. The dome stays in the mid-70s.

Food & Drink

Concessions are anchored by the First Base and Third Base food halls, offering everything from classic hot dogs and nachos to barbecue sandwiches and plant-based options. The Budweiser Porch in center field pairs casual fare with drinks and open-air views.

Visiting Tips

Arrive about 90 minutes early to meet mascot Raymond, tour the museum just inside the gates and let kids try the interactive areas. Bring a light layer since the dome holds steady in the mid-70s. For families, the Rays Touch Tank behind right-center field is a must. Booking tickets and parking ahead of time generally saves money over game-day prices.

Famous Moments

  • 1999 — Hometown star Wade Boggs collected his 3,000th career hit with a home run at Tropicana Field.
  • 2008 — The Rays clinched their first American League pennant with a Game 7 ALCS win, sending the franchise to the World Series.
  • 2011 — Evan Longoria's 12th-inning walk-off home run capped a stunning final-day comeback to clinch the AL Wild Card.
  • 2024 — Hurricane Milton ripped away large sections of the roof, forcing the Rays to play 2025 away from the dome.

Where Fans Stay, Eat & Drink near Tropicana Field

Hotels, bars and restaurants near Tropicana Field — every pick web-researched and source-cited.

Where to Stay

Bars & Pubs

Restaurants

Tampa Bay Rays Rivalries

Frequently Asked Questions: Tropicana Field

Tropicana Field opened in 1990. Tropicana Field is the fixed-dome ballpark in St. Petersburg that serves as the Tampa Bay Rays' confirmed home for the 2026 season, reopening April 6, 2026, after roughly $60 million in repairs. The Rays returned here after playing the 2025 season at the Yankees' Steinbrenner Field in Tampa while the dome's hurricane-damaged roof was rebuilt.

Tampa Bay Rays play their home games at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.

Concessions are anchored by the First Base and Third Base food halls, offering everything from classic hot dogs and nachos to barbecue sandwiches and plant-based options. The Budweiser Porch in center field pairs casual fare with drinks and open-air views.

Arrive about 90 minutes early to meet mascot Raymond, tour the museum just inside the gates and let kids try the interactive areas. Bring a light layer since the dome holds steady in the mid-70s. For families, the Rays Touch Tank behind right-center field is a must. Booking tickets and parking ahead of time generally saves money over game-day prices.

Sources

Planning a trip? See the full St. Petersburg travel guide for where to stay, eat and drink around Tropicana Field.

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