Overview
- The St. Petersburg City Council approved $22.5 million to replace Tropicana Field's hurricane-damaged roof, with repairs set to begin in August 2025.
- The roof replacement is expected to take 10 months and will use a Teflon-coated fiberglass membrane designed to withstand winds up to 165 mph.
- The Tampa Bay Rays, displaced by Hurricane Milton, are playing their 2025 season at Steinbrenner Field and aim to return to Tropicana Field for Opening Day 2026.
- The Rays' withdrawal from a $1.3 billion new stadium project in March 2025 has left their long-term future in St. Petersburg uncertain beyond their lease, which runs through 2028.
- City officials raised concerns about potential cost increases due to tariffs on imported materials for the roof, which are fabricated in Germany and assembled in China.