What constitutes a ‘suitable’ MLB stadium?

St. Petersburg has allocated over $9.9 million to a roofless Tropicana Field – without conducting any restorative repairs.

A new schedule shows work concluding by January 2026, about two months before Major League Baseball’s opening day. The city council demanded to know exactly what that entails before unanimously approving another $900,000 contract Thursday.

The new agreements bring the total to nine in the four months since Hurricane Milton’s winds shredded the Trop’s dome. While the city must provide an MLB-approved home for the Rays under the current use agreement, Councilmember Gina Driscoll questioned why administrators included items like suite cabinetry and furnishings.

“I don’t want to spend a dime beyond what we absolutely have to – to meet those requirements,” Driscoll said. “So, please tell me that someone has legally defined ‘suitable.’”

Tropicana Field in Hurrican Milton’s aftermath. Photo by Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Rays.

City Attorney Jackie Kovilaritch said the use agreement does not offer the detail Driscoll requested. In addition, the league has not provided a list of requirements.

St. Peterburg and Rays officials itemized damage during joint tours of the Trop. City Architect Raul Quintana said the city would not fix everything included in administrative documents.

With the council’s approval, Hennesy Construction will conduct further inspections and recommend necessary repairs beyond the roof, which will cost at least $24.7 million. Quintana called that the “easy part.”

Hennessy will inventory interior and exterior damage to walls, ceilings, floors and seating areas, including suites. The St. Petersburg-based contractor will also detail what audio, visual and broadcasting equipment the city must replace.

The 35-year-old stadium has more detractors than supporters. However, the Rays have upgraded Tropicana Field’s game day experience in recent years.

The team installed innovative striped turf that simulated freshly mowed grass before the 2024 season. Tropicana Field was among the first stadiums to feature multiple checkout-free concession areas and other innovative technologies.

In March 2023, the Trop received three new conjoining ultra-high-definition video boards that were 30% larger and brighter than the old jumbotron. While it remains unclear what exposed equipment the city must replace, Administrator Rob Gerdes believes the league prioritized an adequate roof, acoustics, lighting and turf.

“I can’t sit here today and tell you exactly what’s on that list,” Quintana said. “We’re looking at everything.”

The Tampa Bay Rays became Major League Baseball’s first franchise to use a new Safeshell material in their warning track. The product consists of crushed walnut shells. Photo by Mark Parker.

For example, Quintana said Hennessy would inspect seating to determine what is still usable. “I will approve this, but I will tell you that I’m going to have a really hard time if you guys start coming to us with vague requests for funding for these repairs,” Driscoll replied.

“I’m really surprised that at this point in the game, we do not have a definitive list from Major League Baseball on what is required,” she said. “That is the only thing that keeps us from overspending unnecessarily.”

Opening day 2026?

The new agreements bring the total to nine in the four months since Hurricane Milton’s winds shredded the Trop dome. Six enabled emergency remediation and waterproofing work; the remaining three were for planning and design services.

In November 2024, Rays officials balked at plans to repair the roof in time for the 2026 season. They preferred a cash settlement that would have negated the city’s insurance and Federal Emergency Management Agency payouts.

In a Dec. 30 letter, the team said they now “support and expect” the city to repair the Trop under the terms of their use agreement. Rays president Matt Silverman stressed the importance of completing the work by opening day 2026, in mid-March.

In his Jan. 15 response, Gerdes noted St. Petersburg lacks a contractual deadline for repairing the stadium. However, Mayor Ken Welch later told the Catalyst that March 2026 was still feasible.

According to the timeline Quintana presented Thursday, the council will vote on a roof replacement contract March 27. That is four days before the Rays must complete several financing requirements related to a new $1.37 billion ballpark.

Plans for a new $1.37 billion stadium to anchor the Historic Gas Plant District’s $6.7 billion redevelopment are now tenuous, at best. Rendering: Tampa Bay Rays/Hines.

If the Rays opt out of the long-negotiated deal, the city could stall repairs and extend the current use agreement through 2029. That would provide additional time to establish an alternative redevelopment plan for the Historic Gas Plant District.

Quintana said the city must cover the stadium before it can begin repairing electrical systems. Administrators expect that to conclude between August and November.

He also noted that St. Petersburg is not “extending the life” of the Trop. Quintana could not say how long the stadium could host the Rays following repairs.

Councilmember Lisset Hanewicz said the city would know more about the process by the end of March. If all goes according to plan, the Trop will receive new turf – the final step in a complex process – between December 2025 and January 2026.

“We still feel confident that we’re going to get this done within the schedule,” Quintana said.