Following the approval of a $23.7 million expenditure by the St. Petersburg City Council to repair Tropicana Field in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, a subsequent vote saw the decision reversed.
The council’s shift came after opting to “delay consideration of revenue bonds for a proposed new $1.3 billion Rays ballpark,” as reported by the Associated Press.
The city had been optimistic that the repairs, including a new roof, would enable the Rays to return to Tropicana Field for the 2026 season. Should the stadium be repaired, the team is obligated to play there for three more seasons.
The primary damage sustained by Tropicana Field was to the fabric roof panels, which were torn off by the storm. Eighteen out of 24 panels failed due to the high winds of Hurricane Milton, allowing rain and wind to cause further interior damage.
Following the initial vote, team president Brian Auld expressed uncertainty about the timely completion of the planned repairs. This uncertainty would necessitate the establishment of a contingency plan for an alternate home location, requiring additional funds.
“Our certainty is actually greater if the decision is made not to repair Tropicana Field, because I don’t believe we’re going to have a firm answer on whether it can be done for a very long time,” Auld said. “Based on the conversations we’ve had with our engineers, I believe we’re looking at a ‘26 situation where the city is trying to have the stadium ready, and we have to make alternative plans, and all the costs that come with that, that is actually more problematic for us. That’s why we’ve been working on trying to get to a settlement.”
The Rays have confirmed that any repairs will not be completed before the commencement of the 2025 MLB season, necessitating their home games to be played at Tampa’s Steinbrenner Field, the minor-league complex and spring training home of the New York Yankees.
As discussions and negotiations continue, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred remains open to allowing all parties involved sufficient time to devise a solution.
“We’re committed to the fans in Tampa Bay,” Manfred stated at a recent owners meeting. “Given all that’s happened in that market, we’re focused on our franchise in Tampa Bay right now.”