The Tampa Bay Rays baseball team is working to secure a new stadium for game day after their home field, Tropicana Field, was destroyed in Hurricane Milton.
An assessment released Tuesday by the city of St. Petersburg estimates it will cost about $55.7 million to complete the renovations by 2026. Associated Press.
“The main structure is serviceable and capable of supporting a replacement tensile membrane fabric roof,” said the report, written by Hennessy Construction Services.
The report detailed water and storm damage and said three-quarters of the roof's fabric panels were missing.
The St. Petersburg City Council recently approved a $6.5 million waterproofing project to protect areas such as the scoreboard, press box and seating, according to reports.AP. The city also received a $22 million insurance deduction to cover the cost of repairing the damage, but it does not cover all losses.
On November 21, the council will discuss a new report assessing damages.
“There are so many needs across the city,” City Councilwoman Brandi Gabbard said at last week’s meeting. “I love the Rays. I love Tropicana Field. It's not that I don't want to do this. It's a matter of balance of priorities.”
While the Rays await final answers on how to move forward with their city plans, Major League Baseball officials have urged the team to continue playing closer to its fan base for the time being. Several stadiums are being considered as temporary venues for matches.
In 2028, the Rays will begin playing in a newly constructed ballpark with greater funding.$6.5 billion projectIt is known as the historic gas works district.
In addition to restaurants and bars, the plan would include an affordable housing building and a Black History Museum in the area.
The project aims to preserve the history of the Black community, which was uprooted after the original ballpark opened in 1990.
