City report: Tropicana Field can be fixed for Rays’ 2026 season for $55 million

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tropicana Field can be repaired in time for the Rays’ 2026 season for about $55.7 million, according to the damage assessment report sent to St. Petersburg City Council members on Tuesday.

The report, which does not include all items to be repaired, estimates that Hurricane Milton caused $39 million in damage and an additional $16 million in costs.

The most costly item to replace will be the roof, which accounts for about $23.6 million of the bill.

The big question is whether the city will want to spend that much for what could be just two seasons of use, given plans for a new stadium to be built and open in 2028, and how much of the $55 million will be covered by insurance.

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch said the report was good news and raised the possibility of the Rays playing three seasons in a repaired Trop, with the new stadium being delayed a year. According to the original 1995 agreement with the team, the pact is “suspended” if the dome is not suitable for playing home games and shall be extended by one season.

“My initial reaction is that it did fall on the lower-cost side, and the fact that our folks think it could be done quickly is really a best-case scenario for us,” Welch told the Tampa Bay Times.

“It’s an obligation of the city under the existing agreement (to provide a facility). And to me it certainly would answer the question of where the Rays would play in ‘26 through ‘28, if we have to extend that. I think it’s best for all if the Rays are back home for the remainder of the existing agreement.”

City Council member Copley Gerdes, who supported the new stadium, agreed.

“It’s our responsibility to make it playable again,” he said. “The sooner we can get the Trop looking like the Trop, I think our community and our visitors are going to feel like we’re on the road to recovery.”

City Council member Richie Floyd noted that there are still many unknown variables, including the uncertain future of the new $1.3 billion stadium to be built adjacent to Tropicana Field as a key part of the redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District.

Newly elected members of the Pinellas County Commission have expressed reservations about approving the necessary bonds, which could kill the deal. A vote is scheduled for Tuesday but could be delayed.

“This is a lot of money to have a stadium for two seasons depending on what happens with the county and the deal,” said Floyd, who voted no on the new stadium deal.

The Rays had no initial comment on the report.

Since shortly after the storm hit on Oct. 9, the Rays have been looking for an interim home for at least the start of the 2025 season. Based on the report, they would need one for the full season.

The timeline to repair the Trop for 2026 seems tight, with less than 13 months from the start of construction until “final completion” the week before a late March 2026 season opener. (The Rays could ask Major League Baseball to have them open the season on the road to buy an extra week or two.)

Groundbreaking for the new stadium was scheduled for January. Delaying the new stadium a year would allow for resources to be devoted to repairing the Trop and also prevent the projects from being worked on side by side.

The estimates are part of a 412-page “Facility Damage Assessment and Remediation Recommendation Report” prepared for the city by Hennessy Construction Services.

As part of the summary, the report states: “Overall, the stadium appears structurally sound and would be a viable candidate to continue to serve the City (should they so decide) in providing continued service following hurricane damage repairs.”

Some of the assessments, such as of the electrical system, were made by a visual inspection and will require component testing for a final determination of damage and repair costs to the stadium that opened in 1990, so the total price could be higher, potentially substantially.

Also, City Development Administrator James Corbett wrote in a cover letter that the assessment “does not include the cost estimate for replacing the acoustical roof membrane, which was part of the original stadium’s design to enhance sound quality during events,” and will be added later.