St. Petersburg approves $6.5 million to clean and protect Tropicana Field after Milton

The city of St. Petersburg will spend approximately $6.5 million to clean up and protect from further damage Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team. heavily damaged by Hurricane Milton.

The ballpark’s translucent fiberglass dome was torn apart by the Oct. 9 storm, raising questions about whether it can be repaired in time to open the 2025 season. Major League Baseball wants the Rays to do that play home games in the area if the ballpark isn’t ready yet, probably at one of several local spring training sites.

The Saint Petersburg City Council voted Thursday to approve two contracts with firms to clean the sections of roof that litter the ballpark, remove damaged turf and waterproof numerous areas, including the scoreboard, seating areas, suites and press box, according to city documents. The ballpark does not have a drainage system and without a roof could sustain additional damage throughout the structure from rain.

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

Ongoing analysis will determine what it will take to fully repair the Trop, as it is known locally, including the cost and timeline for completion. Complicating matters is the city’s plan to build a new $1.3 billion ballpark that would open in 2028, as part of a much larger project. urban renewal project that was approved earlier this year. Under that deal, the Rays commit to remaining in St. Petersburg for another 30 years.

“Is this building, which will only be in use for three years, worth the investment we are making?” said Councilwoman Brandi Gabbard.

The two cleanup and mitigation contracts are for $3.9 million for BMS CAT and $2.5 million for Hennessy Construction Services Corp., according to city documents. The money would be part of an expected $22 million deduction the city has with the Trop’s insurers, who will insist the building be protected from more damage.

Some city council members wanted to postpone Thursday’s vote until more information is available about the stadium’s future. But that effort failed in a tied vote and some council members said it was essential to stop further destruction.

“This is about stopping the bleeding. It sounds like pay now or pay later, and pay more later,” said council member Gina Driscoll.

Suggestions for a temporary Rays home include local spring training sites used by the Phillies, Blue Jays, Yankees, Pirates and Tigers. A little further away is the Rays’ own spring training complex in Port Charlotte, about 85 miles south of St. Petersburg. Another option could be the ballpark at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports complex near Orlando.

The Rays’ staff has already moved into nearby office space.

MLB wants to have a 2025 plan ready by Christmas.

“We can make it work in a minor league park,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said during the World Series: which ended on Wednesday with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ victory over the New York Yankees. “I think there’s probably some flexibility in terms of what we do with the big league schedule.”