CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Rays’ sponsored jersey patch this season will come with a bit of extra meaning.
The Rays announced on Thursday that Webull, an online investment platform, will serve as their first-ever corporate jersey patch partner. In a unique and meaningful twist, each Webull jersey patch will have a piece of the original Tropicana Field roof sewn into it.
The commemorative patches will be worn on the field by Rays personnel all season, starting on Opening Day, and they are available for purchase at The Bay Republic Team Store while supplies last. Jersey patch sponsorships were introduced to Major League Baseball ahead of the 2023 season, and the Rays were believed to be the final club to implement one on their uniforms.
“We’re proud to announce Webull, an organization that shares our commitment to excellence and innovation, as our jersey patch partner ahead of the 2026 season,” Rays chief business officer Bill Walsh said in a statement. “This partnership also reflects our shared belief in creating meaningful experiences on and off the field and will help us to continue investing in our fans and the future.”
The inclusion of the Tropicana Field roof fabric is meant to convey the Tampa Bay area’s resilience as the Rays return to their home ballpark this season. The Trop was unavailable last season, forcing the Rays to temporarily relocate to George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, after back-to-back hurricanes devastated the region in late 2024.
Hurricane Milton ripped off most of the Trop’s roof in October 2024, and the ballpark became a recognizable symbol of the destruction that saw neighborhoods flooded, property destroyed and families displaced from their homes.
Now, as the team said in materials accompanying the jersey patch announcement, they hope the Trop is a reminder of the area’s “strength and the determination to rebuild.”
Webull relocated its United States headquarters in November 2022 to St. Petersburg, the Rays’ home since their inaugural season in 1998. The company has expanded its local presence in recent years, including a partnership with the Rays that began last year.
In the wake of the 2024 storms, the Rays and Webull supported hurricane relief efforts throughout the area, including the donation of a portion of funds from Webull accounts opened by Rays fans. As of the end of last season, that initiative had generated $20,000 for local relief efforts.
“This partnership represents more than just a logo on a jersey. It is a commitment to the community,” Carlos Questell, Webull’s head of strategic partnerships, said in a statement. “Since establishing our U.S. headquarters in St. Petersburg, we’ve focused on building meaningful connections with the Tampa Bay community. Our collaboration with the Rays allows us to engage with fans in a way that reflects the resilience and energy of this region while continuing to expand awareness of Webull’s platform.”