St. Petersburg council approves $23 million repair to hurricane-ravaged Tropicana Field roof

SF. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The St. Petersburg City Council voted Thursday to spend more than $23 million on repairs Tropicana Field’s hurricane-shredded roofwith the goal of having the home of the Tampa Bay Rays ready for the 2026 season.

The vote followed a decision earlier this week by the Pinellas County Commission to a postpones vote on revenue bonds until December needed to finance a new $1.3 billion Rays ballpark, a project that is in serious jeopardy, according to Rays executives.

“I can’t say I’m confident about anything,” Rays co-chairman Brian Auld told council members, who were later to vote on their own bonds to pay for their share of the new stadium.

The Trop’s translucent fiberglass roof was torn to shreds on October 9 when Hurricane Milton came ashore just south of Tampa Bay. There was also significant water damage inside the ballpark, with a city estimate of total repair costs pegged at $55.7 million.

The extensive repairs cannot be completed before the 2026 season, city documents show. The Rays made a deal with the Yankees play next season at 11,000-seat Steinbrenner Field, New York’s spring training home across the bay in Tampa.

Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said MLB wants to give Rays and Tampa-area politicians time to figure out a way forward given the disruption caused by the hurricane. Assuming Tropicana Field is repaired, the Rays are bound to play there for three more seasons.

“We’re committed to the Tampa Bay fans,” Manfred said at an owners meeting. “Given everything that’s happened in this market, we’re focused on our franchise in Tampa Bay right now.”

Thursday’s vote was to move on the roof side of the repair. Once done, crews could begin work on laying out a new baseball field, repairing damaged seating areas and desks, and a variety of electronic systems — which would require another vote to approve money for the remaining restoration.

The city previously voted to spend $6.5 million to prevent further damage towards uncovered Trop. Several council members said before the vote on $23.7 million to repair the roof that the city is contractually obligated to do so.

“I don’t see a way out. We have a contract that is in place,” said council member Gina Driscoll. “We are obliged to do it. We’ll fix the roof.”

The council voted 4-3 to approve the roof repair. Members who opposed said there was not enough clarity on numerous issues, including how much would be covered by football internship insurance and how much could be provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

They also noted that city residents struggling to repair homes and businesses damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton are dismayed to see so many taxpayer dollars going to baseball.

“Why are we looking to spend so much money right away when there is so much uncertainty?” said council member Richie Floyd.

The new Rays ballpark — now likely to open in 2029, if at all — is part of a larger urban renewal project known as the Gas Works Historic District, which refers to a predominantly black neighborhood that was forced to make way for the Tropicana construction. Field and an interstate highway spur.

The larger $6.5 billion project would transform an 86-acre (34-hectare) downtown, with plans in the coming years for a black history museum, affordable housing, a hotel, green space, entertainment venues, and office and retail sale. There is also the promise of thousands of jobs.

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, one of the main drivers behind the overall project, said it’s not time to give up.

“We believe there is a path to success,” the mayor said.

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