St. Petersburg Allocates $22.5M for Tropicana Field Roof Repairs

The city council's decision marks the first step in a $56 million project to restore the stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays' planned 2026 return.

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.