The Tampa Bay Rays baseball team is working to secure a new stadium for game days after their home base at Tropicana Field was destroyed in the wake of Hurricane Milton.
An assessment released Tuesday conducted by the city of St. Petersburg estimated repairs will cost approximately $55.7 million to be completed by 2026, according to the Associated Press.
“The primary structure is serviceable and capable of supporting a replacement tension membrane fabric roof,” read the report authored by Hennessy Construction Services.
The report detailed water and storm damage, and said three-quarters of the roof’s fabric panels were missing.
Recently, the St. Petersburg City Council approved of a $6.5 million waterproofing effort to protect areas including the scoreboard, press box and seats, according to the AP. The city also received a $22 million insurance deductible to cover the cost of repairing damages, however it will not provide compensation for all losses.
On Nov. 21, the council will discuss the new report evaluating the damages.
“We have so much need across the city,” said council member Brandi Gabbard at a meeting last week. “I love the Rays. I love Tropicana Field. It’s not about not wanting to do this. It’s about a balance of priorities.”
While the Rays await a final answer on how the city will proceed, Major League Baseball officials have requested the franchise continue to play at a site near its fanbase in the meantime. Several stadiums are being considered as a temporary location for games.
In 2028, the Rays will start playing at a newly constructed ballpark funded by a larger $6.5 billion project known as the Historic Gas Plant District.
The plan is set to create affordable housing buildings in the area and a Black history museum in addition to restaurants and bars.
The project is intended to preserve the history of the Black community uprooted after the original ballpark was opened in 1990.
