Approximately 50,000 people claimed free tickets to the Tampa Bay Rays’ Fan Fest Block, held Saturday along 16th Street South. Photos by Mark Parker.
While the 2026 home opener is nearly three weeks away, an area outside of Tropicana Field featured a game-day environment Saturday that stoked excitement for the upcoming season.
Tampa Bay Rays CEO Ken Babby said 50,000 people claimed free tickets to the Fan Fest Block Party. Held in the shadow of a freshly repaired Trop, which sustained significant damage from Hurricane Milton in October 2024, the event shut down a stretch of 16th Street South in St. Petersburg.
The Rays held last year’s Fan Fest at the St. Pete Pier before spending the 2025 season at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. Babby reiterated the new ownership group’s commitment to creating a “world-class experience” throughout what is likely the team’s final three years at the Trop, and believes Saturday’s crowd signified that the “work has already begun.”
“It’s hard to believe we’re not even playing a baseball game today,” Babby said after addressing attendees. “We have 50,000 people here with tickets. It’s incredible. We’re so proud of being back here at Tropicana Field.”
Tampa Bay Rays CEO Ken Babby (right) addressed attendees. Play-by-play broadcaster Neil Solondz served as the moderator.
Babby noted that the Trop has a new roof, sound system, turf, video board, and lighting, and “surprises” remain in store. The city, as contractually obligated, has completed nearly $59 million worth of storm repairs, and the team continues paying for additional upgrades.
The ballpark will “look better than it’s ever looked,” Babby pledged. However, team officials continue sprinting toward opening a new stadium in Tampa by the start of the 2029 season.
Babby said the team is “working really hard” for their return to St. Petersburg. He called celebrating that progress with fans a “huge priority.”
“But at the same time, we’re working really hard to focus on the long-term health of this franchise,” Babby added. “And building that great work, live, learn, play development.”
The overarching goal, he said, is to ensure Major League Baseball remains in Tampa Bay for “generations to come.” Babby believes a “tenacious” ownership group and front office can juggle both priorities by tapping into the “same grit and hard-working culture that fans have already seen from the Rays on the field for many years.”
“We’re proud to do it,” he continued. “I’m proud to do it.”
The players are equally proud of their return to St. Petersburg, as Babby said 40 players attended the event to sign autographs and interact with fans. “That’s a strong statement that this team is committed to its fans.”
Bill Walsh, chief business officer, echoed that sentiment. He said the team has “really been feeling the excitement around the return to Tropicana Field for months.”
Walsh noted a “healthy amount of skepticism” regarding the city and team’s ability to have the Trop ready for baseball by April 6. He believes that “the word has gotten out that it’s actually happening.”
The Rays thought that bringing fans and the team together to see the progress would resonate throughout the community. “And clearly it has – a great, great turnout today,” Walsh said.
“I know our fans are excited; I know our players are excited. All of us are.”
Ray Kennedy (left), co-host of the Tampa-St. Pete Sports Connection radio show, and Neil “Fan Man” MacDonald.
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More Photos
The line for a charity yard sale snakes around Tropicana Field.
Fan Fest coincided with two other major events in St. Petersburg: Localtopia and the Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival.
Attendees participated in several interactive activities, including an athletic challenge hosted by St. Petersburg Fire Rescue.
One fan reminded attendees and the team that “St. Pete is home.”
