Thrive
Rays: City should consider extending Trop’s lifespan
The Tampa Bay Rays made their feelings on storm-damaged Tropicana Field repairs, and fractured relationships with local officials, abundantly clear during a sports radio segment Thursday night.
The prerecorded conversation with Rays presidents Matt Silverman and Brian Auld aired on WDAE-AM and is part of the team’s “Countdown to Opening Day” podcast. The discussion came nine days after Mayor Ken Welch said St. Petersburg would not pursue a new stadium deal “at any cost” and a week following a city council debate regarding Tropicana Field’s storm repairs.
Auld said the aging stadium is “dear to us” and nobody anticipates its reopening more than the Rays. However, he also expressed frustration at hearing city officials suggest they should complete “only the bare minimum” repairs for the Trop to host baseball games. “That doesn’t synch with what I think our community is all about.”
“We recognize the city has a responsibility to be thoughtful with the dollars spent on repairs at Tropicana Field, and we support that,” Auld added. “The bare minimum is just not how we run our organization, and it’s not what our fans in this city deserve.”
Auld noted the Trop also hosts concerts, graduations, free dental clinics for kids, little leagues and nonprofits, amateur gymnasts and an annual celebration for foster children adoptions. Team and tourism stakeholders planned to hold more large-scale events at the stadium, like World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) Royal Rumble, which generated a $47 million economic impact in January 2024.
The team executives reaffirmed their support for the city’s plan to reopen the currently-roofless stadium in time for the 2026 season. Auld said the Rays would play in the home they “love” through “at least” 2028.
“I certainly think it’s also worth thinking about whether or not it makes sense for the community to, at least, consider whether they want Tropicana Field to be useful for several years beyond (that date),” Auld said. “Our city needs a place for all those special events … and potentially as an emergency staging ground for natural disasters.”
That place was supposed to be a new $1.37 billion ballpark that anchors the Historic Gas Plant’s $6.7 billion redevelopment. The presidents did not say – and were not asked – whether they remain committed to the long-negotiated, 30-year project during the conversation with team broadcasters.
Hurricane Milton caused over $55 million in damage to Tropicana Field. Photo: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Rays.
The Trop has remained exposed to the elements since Hurricane Milton shredded its roof Oct. 9, 2024. Auld said new issues arise daily.
He also believes the reconstruction timeline is feasible. Auld said the team’s skepticism is due to the “respect and understanding we have of the democratic process.”
“Every decision, just about, needs to be run through the city council,” Auld continued. “We have a lot of very responsible, thoughtful community members sitting on that council who need to understand the risks, rewards … the likelihood of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) reimbursement and everything that comes with it – and that can take time.”
He pledged that the team would work to ensure the Rays spend their 2026 season in Tampa Bay, with or without the Trop. While Silverman said staff compiled a list of 50 potential temporary homes in Milton’s immediate aftermath, the goal was always to remain local.
He and Auld reiterated that Tampa’s Steinbrenner Field, a New York Yankees minor league and spring training facility, was the area’s only option for Major League Baseball. Silverman credited the rival franchise’s civic pride for its support.
Pinellas County Commissioners bore the brunt of Silverman’s blame for the team’s uncertain future in St. Petersburg. He noted the Rays acquiesced to several delays during the negotiation process for a new ballpark, and postponing a bond authorization vote in November 2024 “effectively broke” a seemingly done deal in July.
A new $1.7 billion ballpark would anchor the massive Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment project. Renderings: Hines/Rays.
Silverman said county and city administrators understood the timeline’s financial implications for an already risky endeavor. The Rays have taken subsequent insults from politicians and pundits personally. “The emotions have been raw.”
Silverman said they felt surprised, confused, upset and above all, saddened, after committing their “hearts and souls” to a monumental project for the team and area. He believes commissioners reneged on a promise when the organization “needed it the most.”
“We couldn’t justify spending more money on a project whose approval had just been pulled,” Silverman added. “Once you make that decision, you can’t just snap your fingers two months later to restart things.”
He said the team secured the financing needed for its $700 million contribution. The Rays also agreed to cover cost overruns.
However, Silverman questioned if their investment still makes fiscal sense “in the context of Major League Baseball and fielding a competitive team for the next 30 years.” The team has until March 31 to decide.
“We stretched because we really wanted to do this project for us and for St. Pete and Tampa Bay, but when that timeline slipped and when the cost went up, and really when we lost the support our partners at the city and the county – when they said to us not one more cent after they didn’t uphold their end of the timeline – that’s when the reality really started sinking in,” Silverman said.
Ryan Todd
February 14, 2025at8:15 pm
The Gas Plant area was blighted for a multitude of reasons, but today we have 80 acres of blight thanks to one man alone: Ken Welch. The Rays are a bare minimum team at best. They trade away any decent player they have and even brought a pedophile to play in our city. Good riddance to the Rays and Ken Welch.
Sean
February 14, 2025at7:26 pm
Hal: It had an expiration date. If the manufacturer recommends replacing it by a certain date isn’t that supposed to be considered maintenance? Also there was talk a while ago of insurance refusing to cover it because it was essentially worthless because it was past expiration. Just seems like they cost themselves a lot more than they needed to. Which of course ends up being covered by the taxpayers
HAL FREEDMAN
February 14, 2025at7:07 pm
Sean: they had an obligation to maintain, not replace. There is nothing wrong with the roof until 120 mile an hour storm came by. And now, they are under no obligation to do any more than necessary to make it acceptable for MLB playing. They don’t have to spend $.10 more than necessary. The Rays should stop whining.
Sean
February 14, 2025at5:48 pm
If they replaced the roof a decade ago when it went past its expiration date as they are contractually obligated to do then this whole mess wouldn’t have happened because an up to date roof withstands the storm. So neglecting your obligations to save money ultimately ends up cost taxpayers significantly more money because of the damage done inside because water got in. If they don’t spend the money they get sued for the contract violation and I’m sure the taxpayers would be on the hook for that payout. Government incompetence at its finest.
HAL FREEDMAN
February 14, 2025at5:12 pm
There was no timeline slippage per the agreement. If the Rays had wanted a November Commission commitment, it should have been in writing in the agreement. It was not.
If the city decides to spend more on the Trop to extend its life for other events, there is no reason to do that until after the Rays move into their new stadium. The old stadium belongs to the city, and they can do what they want to do to it, when they want to do it.
JOHN BURGESS
February 14, 2025at4:55 pm
“We stretched because we really wanted to do this project for us and for St. Pete and Tampa Bay, but when that timeline slipped and when the cost went up, and really when we lost the support our partners at the city and the county – when they said to us not one more cent after they didn’t uphold their end of the timeline – that’s when the reality really started sinking in,” Silverman said.
“…for us and Tampa Bay…” Ha! This is the worst of the worst boondoggles ever created, not just in St. Petersburg, anywhere. The Rays and all their mouthpieces are interested in only one thing, making money for themselves – at St. Petersburg’s and Pinellas County’s expense. That means taxpayers’ money is being funneled into the pockets of the very wealthy owners in New York.
Ken Welch is 100% responsible for this huge corporate welfare plan, he cannot wait to give them more at every opportunity.
This is the same Ken Welch who tried to get us to vote for a $3.3 Billion train from St. Petersburg to Clearwater, which was voted down by 62% of voters. Of course he did not even consider letting taxpayers vote on this massive spending of OUR money. Yes, elections do have consequences.