Tickets go on sale for Rays' return to St. Pete

Driving the news: The new ownership courted Rays fans at a meet-and-greet this week to drum up interest in the 2026 season at Tropicana Field, with Opening-Day tickets on sale since Thursday afternoon.

• Patrons at the St. Petersburg bar Ferg's heard from CEO Ken Babby, who said only three more roof panels need to be installed.
• He also previewed upgrades fans can expect, like redesigned suites and a new sound system.

The intrigue: Perhaps the most notable change, however, is the ticket prices.

• More than two-thirds of seats at Tropicana Field are, on average, 15% cheaper than in 2024, and $10 tickets are available for all home games next season.

What they're saying: "We are excited to return home to Tropicana Field in April," Babby said in a statement, "and to once again join our fans and neighboring businesses ... in celebrating the return of Rays Baseball."

Yes, but: Uncertainty over the club's future casts a shadow on the otherwise bright return. Its contract with the Trop expires in 2028, and St. Petersburg will soon seek pitches to redevelop the site and surrounding area.

• With an eye on 100-plus acres for a new stadium, and reported interest in relocating to Hillsborough County, Babby faced many questions but provided few answers.
• "We're doing feasibility analysis on a bunch of sites throughout the region," he said, per the Tampa Bay Times. "We're absorbing information. We're understanding what's possible."

What's next: Opening Day is still a few months away, on April 6, but fans who buy a single-game ticket between now and Sunday will receive a code for a free ticket to any April or May home game.