St. Petersburg Reverses Decision on Tropicana Field Roof Repairs

City Council initially approved $24 million for repairs but later voted unanimously to pause the project, raising uncertainty for the Rays' future at the stadium.

The St. Petersburg City Council reversed its earlier decision to allocate $24 million for roof repairs at Tropicana Field, which was heavily damaged by Hurricane Milton in October.
The Rays expressed skepticism about the timeline and feasibility of completing repairs by the 2026 season, with team officials suggesting a settlement might provide more certainty.
The city is responsible for repairs under a lease agreement with the Rays, but the hurricane damage has extended the lease term to 2028 due to the inability to play at Tropicana Field in 2025.
A separate new stadium project, initially planned for completion by 2028, is now in jeopardy due to delayed bond approvals and escalating costs, leaving the Rays' long-term future in Tampa Bay uncertain.
The city expects insurance and FEMA reimbursements to cover most repair costs, but additional assessments could raise the estimated $56 million total further, complicating the decision to proceed.