Thrive
Mayor plans to pay Trop’s $55 million damage bill
Editor’s note: This story was updated with new information.
The Tampa Bay Rays could open the 2026 season in Tropicana Field if St. Petersburg city officials commit over $55 million to repair the storm-damaged stadium.
Mayor Ken Welch announced his intention to foot the bill Tuesday afternoon. While officials continue reviewing a comprehensive damage assessment, the mayor believes “having our hometown team play in St. Petersburg as soon as possible is important for our community.”
“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,” Welch said in a prepared statement. “As such, the city is implementing repairs to Tropicana Field with the hope that it will be ready for play for the 2026 season.
“We anticipate that the majority of the repair costs incurred by the city will be covered by insurance and FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) reimbursements, making this approach both beneficial for community spirit and fiscally responsible for our community.”
A 412-page report obtained by the Catalyst details $55.275 million in repairs. The total does not include all expenses but did account for the $6.5 million city council members recently approved to keep the stadium from further deteriorating after Hurricane Milton shredded its roof.
St. Petersburg-based Hennessy Construction and several subcontractors completed the estimates as part of its “Facility Damage Assessment and Remediation Report.” The company’s summary noted the damage caused Oct. 9 could have been worse.
“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,” states the report. “Building mechanical systems appear to be minimally affected (HVAC, fire protection, plumbing) and, in general, would need modification in connection to repairs.”
Speakers dangle from Tropicana Field’s catwalks.
However, Hennesy stressed that all inspections were visual. The company advised that “more specific component testing will be required during any refurbishment and commissioning of the facility.”
In an email accompanying the report, Samantha Bequer, the city’s public information officer, wrote that the assessment lacks cost estimates for “replacing the acoustical roof membrane, which was part of the original stadium’s design to enhance sound quality during events.”
Bequer said city administrators have requested the additional cost estimate and will incorporate it into an amendment. The city council must ultimately approve any contracts.
Replacing the roof would take over nine months, and Hennesy wrote that a “robust system of temporary building temperature control and continued installation of temporary protection is advised.” Council members voted 6-2 on Oct. 31 to begin waterproofing the once-domed Trop and remediate water damage.
They must now decide if committing over $55 million to the 34-year-old stadium is worth two years of Rays baseball in St. Petersburg. Hennessy estimated a 15-month project timeline, placing completion around February 2026.
Barring any post-storm changes, the Rays will move into a new ballpark at the site by April 2028. However, Pinellas County Commissioners have expressed concern over where the team will play in the interim and new hurricane-related costs.
The commission will welcome two new members before voting on the agreement’s bond issuance Nov. 19. The city council must approve a bond issuance for its share of a new stadium Nov. 21.
St. Petersburg owns the Trop and is responsible for repairs. After paying a $22.5 million deductible, the most the city could receive from insurance is $22 million.
The report lists roughly $39.1 million in repairs and $16.6 million in additional costs and fees. Hennesy also highlighted $4.9 million worth of stadium “content damage.”
Water damage ruined audio and video production equipment.
The work includes installing new roof, advertisement and acoustic panels, and sound and lighting systems in the dome’s catwalks. The Trop also needs a new playing field and video screens.
“Finishes in general remain intact throughout the club, suite, concession and service levels,” states the report. “The administrative areas that house the baseball team are affected by wind and water damage. Audio and visual systems are affected throughout the facility. These systems will need to be powered on and fully tested …”
Administrator Rob Gerdes said Oct. 31 that officials would stop the remediation work if a structural report showed the stadium is a total loss. The city has cleared that bar.
“The exterior of the facility was mostly intact, with the main damage observed with fabric roof and portions of the exterior metal panel system,” wrote Hennesy. “The main electrical system appears intact, with portions of the roof catwalk system and field level in question.”
The stadium will also need a new playing field.
Billy Niller
November 14, 2024at6:17 pm
Why can’t we get some blue FEMA tarps and call it a day.
Steve D
November 13, 2024at9:25 pm
Of course, most of the commenters are speaking for themselves, pretending to represent the majority of taxpayers….Sigh….Go Rays!
Christopher
November 13, 2024at7:43 pm
Why are taxpayers paying for new advertising tech when we get no benefit? Taxpayers demand that Rays stay in the Trop for an extra year and this very bad lopsided deal be renegotiated in favor of taxpayers. Spend $55 million and tear it down in 2 years???? Tell your. Council members to vote NO on stadium bonds. on 11/21.
S. Rose Smith-Hayes
November 13, 2024at6:37 pm
NO,No, N0, please No. We the Taxpayers cannot afford it. Please No!!!!!!
Mike C
November 13, 2024at6:23 pm
Blowing more money on this money pit makes no sense… in fact it’s nonsense. There are minor league parks in the area.. go play there. Stop wasting tax payers funds.
This is Welch’s vanity project, same with most on the council. What you think will be your admirable legacy will actually live on as St Pete’s leadership incompetence.
VLHeraty
November 13, 2024at12:21 pm
Thank you Jazz, Alan, Hal and Peter for articulating so well the problems and expenses we residents are saddled with. And trust me, it’s going to be a lot more than the 55 million. A LOT MORE. Just look at the current pier as an example of estimates and budgets. The pier, small by example, went at least 60 million over budget or double what the original estimate was.
Jazz Thomas
November 13, 2024at7:10 am
Hopefully the travesty that is the Ken Welch poor decision making display ends in 2026 when St Pete voters back his opponent. He’s running the City from his living room, not communicating with his Council, and spending every penny of our money financing emotional decisions & chasing billionaires.
Alan DeLisle
November 13, 2024at6:20 am
Just keep throwing good money after bad. First, the Mayor throws away the best and neutral developer for the project, then he negotiated the worst baseball/development deal ever, then he orchestrated a sell-out from five irresponsible Council members, now he’s going to spend well over $55 million for a one year return. OMG. When does this travesty end for St Petersburg?? A great city being dragged to its knees.
HAL FREEDMAN
November 13, 2024at1:20 am
Since the hurricanes, all we’ve gotten from the Rays is $1,000,000 (far less than the Lightning or Bucs have given) for hurricane relief and…crickets! When will our city administration realize the Rays and their owners don’t give a hoot about St. Petersburg. All they want is a shiny new stadium to make the team more valuable to sell, and a bargain-priced land grab of possibly the most valuable piece of urban real estate in the country?
John Donovan
November 12, 2024at10:45 pm
Call Elon. Seriously.
Pete Thomas
November 12, 2024at5:55 pm
“We anticipate that the majority of the repair costs incurred by the city will be covered by insurance and FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) reimbursements, making this approach both beneficial for community spirit and fiscally responsible for our community.” Fema will say no ur insurance will cover the cost But since u lowered ur insurance to save money Fema will not cover anything. Better start a bake sale for your stadium that will be torn down in 2 years. Doesnt make any sense and most of us do not care where they play. We r tired of paying more so u get to waste money on a stadium while allowing us to foot the bill for waste water stuff and other billion dollar costs. Taxes go up fees go up for what?