Florida officials face $55m dilemma on Tropicana Field after Rays' stadium was damaged by Hurricane Milton

Spending $55 cardinal connected stadium repairs is 1 thing.

Paying 8 figures to hole a operation that's lone a fewer years distant from the wrecking shot is thing other entirely, arsenic the St. Petersburg City Council and Pinellas County commissioners are present discovering.

Tropicana Field, the domed ballpark of MLB's Tampa Bay Rays, tin beryllium repaired successful clip for the 2026 play aft Hurricane Milton caused $39 cardinal damage with an further $16 cardinal successful different expenses, according to a study financed by the city.

But the projected repairs won't bash thing to assistance the Rays for the 2025 play arsenic the nine continues its hunt for an interim home. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred antecedently said helium hopes to spot the Rays enactment successful the Tampa Bay area, which includes a fig of outpouring grooming and insignificant league facilities.

And arsenic for the Rays' imperishable home, Pinellas County commissioners approved backing successful July for a caller ballpark scheduled to unfastened successful downtown St. Petersburg successful 2028. Only now, the $1.3 cardinal task is being enactment successful jeopardy arsenic St. Petersburg and Pinellas County officials conflict to header with hurricane harm crossed a portion that was precocious slammed by 2 large storms.

Votes connected bonds to wage for the task were initially delayed due to the fact that of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Now, though, St. Petersburg's metropolis assembly and Pinellas County request to curse successful caller members pursuing past week's predetermination earlier different ballot tin beryllium called.

The metropolis and region person until March 31 to contented caller bonds to wage for the project, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

The determination connected whether oregon not to repair the damaged extortion astatine Tropicana Field volition beryllium difficult. The city's 412-page 'Facility Damage Assessment and Remediation Recommendation Report' was optimistic that the gathering wouldn't contiguous immoderate information to fans arsenic agelong arsenic it's decently repaired.

'Overall, the stadium appears structurally dependable and would beryllium a viable campaigner to proceed to service the City [should they truthful decide] successful providing continued work pursuing hurricane harm repairs,' work the information of the study published by the Tampa Bay Times.

As the stadium landlord, St. Petersburg is liable for repairs astatine Tropicana Field. The metropolis has reportedly filed an security claim, though the argumentation includes a $22 cardinal deductible and lone $25 cardinal successful coverage.

In March, St. Petersburgh made the fateful determination to trim premium payments to prevention $275,000. Had the metropolis not made that move, it would person $100 cardinal successful security sum for the repairs.

The City Council has already voted to wage $6.5 cardinal to region the remaining extortion debris and damaged turf.

The gathering opened its doors successful 1990, but wouldn't person a large tenant until the enlargement Devil Rays moved into the dome successful 1998.