The roof of Tropicana Field has been rebuilt after Hurricane Milton shredded it in 2024. The work required a specialised team from across the country. An Oklahoma ironworker, Christopher Torres, posted viral videos of his view from the top during the rebuild.
An Unconventional Construction Project
Torres, a member of Ironworkers Local 48, travelled from Oklahoma City to help restore the home of the Tampa Bay Rays. He realised it wasn’t a standard construction project when he arrived. “I showed up and I was like, ‘What the hell are we doing here?'” Torres laughed. “It’s a tarp. I’ve never done anything that big.”
The restoration of the Trop’s roof was a massive, manual undertaking. It required finesse and physical strength. Torres and his crew spent months nearly 250 feet above the field. They used little more than gloves and ratchet straps to pull, stretch, and secure the massive new fabric.
Views From Above Went Viral
Torres began posting videos of his “office” to Instagram. These videos offered Rays fans a bird’s-eye view of the stadium and the surrounding city. The response from the community was immediate and overwhelming.
“We get a point of view that a lot of people don’t get to see,” Torres said. “I got a lot of messages from the people in St. Petersburg and Tampa… they were inviting us all out to have drinks at the bar for free, go kayaking for free.” Some fans even offered to send the crew money via cash apps, which Torres declined. “We make a good living,” he said. “But we’re proud of our work and we love doing it.”
Lasting Impressions of Florida
Beyond the local hospitality, it was the Florida scenery that left a lasting impression on Torres. “It was the sunsets and the sunrises, man. Especially in the morning,” Torres recalled. “You’ve got the ocean and the sun… you have a perfect view up there. I could’ve taken a date up there!”
As Tropicana Field officially reopens under its restored roof, Torres has returned home. He says a piece of him remains in St. Pete. He understands why the locals were so invested in seeing the dome made whole again.
“It’s a pride thing,” he said. “It’s your state, it’s your city. I’d be happy, too.”