St. Petersburg approves $6.5 million plan to clear Tropicana field of rays after hurricane | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

CHIMCHIME, SAINT PETERSBURG, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES - 10/13/2024: (EDITOR'S NOTE: photo taken by drone) In this aerial view, the dome roof of Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, is torn to shreds from the powerful winds from Hurricane Milton in St. Petersburg. The storm passed through the area on October 10, 2024, making landfall in Siesta Key, Florida as a Category 3 hurricane. (Photo by Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The St. Petersburg City Council voted Thursday to approve a number of cleanup and restoration projects for the Tampa Bay Rays’ Tropicana field in the wake of damage suffered during Hurricane Milton, the city council said. Associated press.

These contracts will cost the city approximately $6.5 million.

“We must act quickly to protect the building from further damage,” Rob Gerdes, city administrator, said Thursday.

Ryan Bass @Ry_Bass

Now that the sun is up, here’s a 360-degree view of the damage Hurricane Milton caused to the roof of Tropicana Field and the inside of the ballpark. Absolutely heartbreaking pic.twitter.com/ZCtPHv6rE9

One of the contracts was awarded to BMS CAT for $3.9 million, and the other to Hennessy Construction Services Corp. for $2.5 million.

The contracts were somewhat controversial, as the city already plans to build a $1.3 billion ballpark by 2028, with some council members unconvinced that this current cleanup plan made sense for a building that has only will be used once for three years. year.

But Major League Baseball hopes to have a 2025 plan in place for the Rays by Christmas, which could include some minor league facilities or the ballpark at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando.

“I have no idea yet, but there is still a lot of work going on – formal and informal – on the ballpark itself,” said MLBPA executive director Tony Clark. told reporters earlier in the week. “A decision will have to be made as to whether or not adjustments to that field can be implemented in 2025, 2026 or later. In the short term, we have to make sure that if the facility is not going to leave the Major League players.” to play in 2025 is not a Major League game, it is Major League quality the moment the players take the field.

The St. Petersburg City Council ultimately decided that it made the most sense to approve the costs for Tropicana Field now, as opposed to potential expenses in the future.

“This is about stopping the bleeding,” Councilmember Gina Driscoll noted. “It sounds like: pay now or pay later, and pay more later.”