ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – The St. Petersburg City Council has approved a significant expenditure of $22.5 million to initiate repairs on Tropicana Field, the potential future home of the Tampa Bay Rays. This decision came during a council meeting on Thursday, where the council voted 7-1 to begin work on a new roof following damage caused by Hurricane Milton.
The upcoming repairs aim to have Tropicana Field ready for the 2026 baseball season. The damage from Hurricane Milton, one of the strongest hurricanes recorded in the Atlantic basin, necessitated immediate action. The hurricane made landfall on October 9, packing winds of up to 125 mph (200 kph), which shredded the existing roof. Consequently, the Rays have relocated their home games this season to Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the spring training facility for the New York Yankees.
Despite previously withdrawing from a proposed $1.3 billion stadium deal, the city remains contractually obligated to restore the Trop. Council member Lissett Hanewicz emphasized the legal necessity to proceed with the roof repairs to enable subsequent restoration work. She stated, "We need to go forward with the roof repair so we can do the other repairs."
The repairs are projected to cost a total of $56 million. Initial efforts will focus on installing a membrane roof, which is expected to take approximately 10 months to complete. This roof will be uniquely fabricated in Germany and assembled in China. However, city architect Raul Quintana has raised concerns regarding potential impacts from President Donald Trump’s new tariffs on project costs. The new roof design is engineered to resist hurricane winds of up to 165 mph (265 kph).
Under the existing agreement with the city, the Rays are obligated to play three additional seasons at Tropicana Field once repairs are completed, extending through 2028. The future of the franchise remains uncertain, as it is unclear whether the Rays will commit to a long-term residency in St. Petersburg or seek to relocate to Tampa or another location for a new stadium. Major League Baseball has prioritized keeping the team within the Tampa Bay region, having played at Tropicana Field since its inception in 1998.
In light of the mounting costs associated with both the repairs and previous stadium proposals, the Rays recently withdrew from a plan to construct a new $1.3 billion ballpark near the current Tropicana Field site. This undertaking was part of a broader $6.5 billion redevelopment project known as the Historic Gas Plant District, aimed at revitalizing a once-thriving Black neighborhood that was demolished for the original stadium's construction.
The city council anticipates future votes on additional funding requirements for the ongoing repairs. Council member Brandi Gabbard reflected on the situation, stating, "I’d much rather be spending that money on hurricane recovery and helping residents in the most affected neighborhoods. These are the cards that we’re dealt."
As the council moves forward with plans to repair Tropicana Field, the situation underscores the complex interplay between city obligations, the economic realities of maintaining a major sports venue, and the long-term prospects for the Tampa Bay Rays in a shifting sporting landscape.
