Tropicana Field cannot be repaired until 2026
Early estimates for repair exceed $55 million.
The Tampa Bay Times has reviewed the report assessing the damage to Tropicana Field, and the prognosis is more positive than previously feared.
According to the report, Tropicana Field can be repaired in time for the 2026 season at a cost of approximately $55 million:
The report, which does not include all items to be repaired, estimates that Hurricane Milton caused $39 million in damage and an additional $16 million in costs.
The most costly item to replace will be the roof, which accounts for about $23.6 million of the bill.
The assessment did not have a detailed review of electronic systems that were impacted by Hurricane Milton, or other stadium enhancements like the “acoustical roof membrane” that improved sound quality at the site. Whether the Rays or the City of St. Petersburg are responsible for such costs is not clear.
In total the City of St. Petersburg would likely be on the hook for $30 million to make Tropicana Field usable for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
The city is the landlord and responsible for repairs to the stadium, and already has filed an insurance claim. The city policy includes a $22 million deductible and $25 million of coverage — reduced in March from $100 million so the city could save $275,000 in premium payments.
It should be noted that this cost is above and beyond the $6.5 million in expenditures ongoing for debris cleanup at the site, bringing the total expected costs to reach at least $37 million to secure the Rays in St. Petersburg for two seasons, a financial outlay that likely exceeds the incremental county tax revenue that would be received from the team playing in Tropicana Field as opposed to a neighboring outdoor venue like Al Lang Field or the Phillies minor league park in Clearwater.