St. Petersburg council rejects immediate roof repairs to Rays Stadium after preliminary approval

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The St. Petersburg City Council changed course on whether to spend more than $23 million to repair the storm-damaged roof of the Tampa Bay Rays stadium, initially voting narrowly to approve before reversing course hours later.

The cancellation of Tropicana Field renovations comes after the council voted to delay consideration of revenue bonds for the Rays’ proposed new $1.3 billion stadium. Just two days earlier, the Pinellas County Commission delayed a vote on its share of the new stadium’s bonds, leaving the project in limbo.

“This is a sad place. I am very disappointed,” said council chair Deborah Figg-Sanders. “We won’t get there if we keep looking for ways we can’t.”

The Rays say the lack of progress jeopardizes the new stadium plan and the future of Tropicana Field.

“I can’t say I’m sure of anything,” Rays co-president Brian Auld told board members.

The Trail’s translucent fiberglass roof was torn to pieces Oct. 9 when Hurricane Milton made landfall south of Tampa Bay. There was also significant water damage inside the stadium, with the city estimating total repair costs at $55.7 million.

Major renovations may not be completed before the 2026 season, city documents show. The Rays have reached a deal with the Yankees to play next season at 11,000-seat Steinbrenner Field, New York’s spring training stadium across the bay in Tampa.

Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said MLB wants to give the Rays and Tampa politicians time to determine a path forward given the devastation caused by the hurricane. Assuming Tropicana Field is renovated, the Rays will be required to play there for three more seasons.

“We are committed to the fans in Tampa Bay,” Manfred said at the owners meeting. “With everything that has happened in this market, our focus right now is on our Tampa Bay franchise.”

The original vote was to proceed with the roof repairs. Once that’s done, teams can begin work on laying out a new baseball field, repairing damaged seating and office space, and various electronic systems – which will require another vote to approve money for the remaining restoration.

The subsequent vote to eliminate funding for roof repairs essentially means the city and Rays must work on an alternative in the coming weeks so Tropicana Field can be ready for the 2026 season. The city is required by law to repair the roof.

“I’d like to cut it short and look at what exactly we are required to do,” said Councilman John Muhammad.

The city previously voted to spend $6.5 million to prevent further damage to the uncovered Trail. Before the vote on spending $23.7 million to repair the roof, several council members said the city was contractually obligated to do so.

“I don’t see a way out of this situation. We have a contract in place,” said Councilwoman Gina Driscoll. “We have to do this. We’re going to fix the roof.”

The council voted 4-3 to approve the roof repairs. Members who opposed it said there was not enough clarity on many issues, including how much the stadium’s insurance would cover and how much could be provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

They also noted that city residents who are struggling to rebuild their homes and businesses damaged by Hurricanes Helen and Milton are alarmed to see so many taxpayer dollars being spent on baseball.

“Why are we eager to spend so much money at once when there is so much uncertainty?” Councilman Ritchie Floyd said.

The new Rays stadium, which will likely open in 2029, if at all, is part of a larger urban redevelopment project known as the Gasworks Historic District, which refers to a predominantly black neighborhood that was forced to make way for construction of the Tropicana. Field and interstate spur.

The broader $6.5 billion project will transform an 86-acre (34-hectare) site in the city’s center, with plans to build a black history museum, affordable housing, a hotel, green space, entertainment venues, offices and retail stores in the coming years. space. Thousands of jobs are also promised.

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, the main initiator of the entire project, said it was not time to give up yet.

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