Florida Construction News staff writer
With extensive damage to Tropicana Field from Hurricane Milton last month, the Tampa Bay Rays will play their home games at Steinbrenner Field, the Spring Training home of the New York Yankees and the Single-A Tampa Tarpons, for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
The Rays’ home ballpark, located in St. Petersburg, will not be fully repaired until 2026, according to a detailed damage assessment report received by the city this week.
The 412-page “Facility Damage Assessment and Remediation Recommendation Report” from Hennessy Construction Services, submitted to St. Petersburg officials on Tuesday, states that while the ballpark is structurally sound, significant repairs will be required. The estimated cost of repairs is $55.7 million, with the majority of the work expected to be completed by March 2026, in time for the 2026 MLB season.
The report notes that the primary roof structure, which was partially damaged when 18 of the 24 Teflon-coated fiberglass panels were ripped off during the storm, remains intact. The largest expense will be replacing the roof, which is expected to cost about $23.6 million. The assessment states that the existing roof structure is still capable of supporting a new tension membrane fabric roof.
“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,” the report concludes.
The city of St. Petersburg has committed to funding the repairs, with the majority of the costs anticipated to be covered by insurance and FEMA reimbursements. St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch emphasized the importance of keeping the Rays in the community while repairs are underway.
“We believe having our hometown team play in St. Petersburg as soon as possible is important for our community,” Welch said in a statement. “The City plans to meet its obligations to ensure that the Rays can play in St. Pete, and the redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District and the construction of a new stadium move forward.”
The city council is scheduled to discuss the damage report on Nov. 21, and the council previously voted to allocate $6.5 million for immediate cleanup and protective measures at Tropicana Field, which includes waterproofing exposed areas and addressing damage to the roof and turf. These costs are part of the overall $55.7 million estimate for repairs.
Rays president Matt Silverman issued a statement acknowledging the need for ongoing discussions with the city as they work to move forward with the repairs and the eventual transition to a new ballpark.
“While we are focused on the immediate future and ensuring the team has a suitable home for the next few seasons, we remain committed to the long-term vision of building a new stadium in the Historic Gas Plant District,” Silverman said.
The Rays are scheduled to break ground on the $1.3 billion ballpark in early 2025, with plans for the new facility to open in 2028.
According to the city’s original 1995 use agreement with the Rays, if Tropicana Field is deemed unsuitable for home games due to damage, the agreement is suspended and extended by one season for each season the ballpark is unavailable. The agreement also stipulates that the city must assist the team in finding a temporary location during that time.
