ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Opening Day 2026 marked more than the start of a new baseball season for the Tampa Bay Rays. It also marked the return of baseball to Tropicana Field , more than 18 months after Hurricane Milton ripped apart the stadium's roof during one of the storm's most memorable moments.
Erik Waxler is a reporter and multi-media journalist at ABC Action News. With a focus on culture and society, sports, and real estate, he has covered a wide range of topics including the housing market and social interest stories, while also reporting on major sporting events like the Super Bowl and the Olympics. Erik's work has been featured in KZTV 10 (CBS), NewsBreak, WRTV, and ABC Action News.














