ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The as soon as and probably future house of the Tampa Bay Rays will get a brand new roof to substitute the one shredded by Hurricane Milton with the objective of getting the ballpark prepared for the 2026 season, metropolis officers determined in a vote Thursday.
The St. Petersburg City Council voted 7-1 to approve $22.5 million to start the repairs at Tropicana Field, which is able to begin with a membrane roof that have to be in place earlier than different work can proceed. Though the Rays pulled out of a deliberate $1.3 billion new stadium deal, the town continues to be contractually obligated to fix the Trop.
“We’re legally certain by an settlement. The settlement requires us to fix the stadium,” mentioned council member Lissett Hanewicz, who’s an lawyer. “We’d like to go ahead with the roof restore so we will do the opposite repairs.”
The hurricane injury compelled the Rays to play house video games this season at Steinbrenner Field throughout the bay in Tampa, the spring coaching house of the New York Yankees. The Rays went 4-2 on their first homestand ever at an open-air ballpark, which seats round 11,000 followers.
Beneath the present settlement with the town, the Rays owe three extra seasons on the Trop as soon as it is prepared once more for baseball, by means of 2028. It is unclear if the Rays will keep a long-term dedication to the town or look to Tampa or someplace else for a brand new stadium. Main League Baseball has mentioned conserving the staff in the Tampa Bay area is a precedence. The Rays had performed on the Trop since their inception in 1998.
The staff mentioned it will have an announcement on the vote later Thursday.
The general value of Tropicana Field repairs is estimated at $56 million, mentioned metropolis architect Raul Quintana. After the roof, the work contains fixing the taking part in floor, guaranteeing audio and visible electronics are working, putting in flooring and drywall, getting concession stands operating and different points.
“This can be a very complicated undertaking. We really feel like we’re in a great place,” Quintana mentioned on the council assembly Thursday.
Beneath the proposed timeline, the roof set up will take about 10 months. The distinctive membrane system is fabricated in Germany and assembled in China, Quintana mentioned, including that officers are analyzing how President Donald Trump’s new tariffs may have an effect on the associated fee.
The brand new roof, he added, will probably be ready to face up to hurricane winds as excessive as 165 mph (265 km/h). Hurricane Milton, one of many strongest hurricanes ever in the Atlantic basin at one level, blasted ashore Oct. 9 south of Tampa Bay with Class 3 winds of about 125 mph (200 km/h).
Citing mounting prices, the Rays final month pulled out of a take care of the town and Pinellas County for a brand new $1.3 billion ballpark to be constructed close to the Trop web site. That was a part of a broader $6.5 billion undertaking often known as the Historic Fuel Plant district to carry housing, retail and eating places, arts and a Black historical past museum to a once-thriving Black neighbourhood razed for the unique stadium.
Town council plans to vote on extra Trop restore prices over the following few months.
“That is our contractual obligation. I don’t prefer it greater than anyone else. I’d a lot moderately be spending that cash on hurricane restoration and serving to residents in essentially the most affected neighbourhoods,” mentioned council member Brandi Gabbard. “These are the playing cards that we’re dealt.”
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