While the Tampa Bay Rays’ new ownership group must determine a long-term stadium solution, Tropicana Field remains on track to host Major League Baseball by Opening Day 2026.
Contractors have installed six of the hurricane-damaged stadium’s 24 roof panels, and that number should increase to eight by the end of this week. Rays and MLB officials have also reviewed and approved interior finishes, according to a memo from City Development Administrator James Corbett.
Corbett provided St. Petersburg City Council members with an update on the repair process Sept. 19. His memo came just three days before MLB announced that it approved the $1.7 billion sale of the Rays to a group led by Jacksonville developer Patrick Zalupski.
“I’m glad we’re on track to welcome our Rays back home for Opening Day,” Councilmember Gina Driscoll told the Catalyst. “With a repaired stadium and new ownership, it’s a fresh start for baseball in St. Petersburg.”
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Stakeholders expect the team’s sale to close by Friday, and that Zalupski’s group will prioritize finding a permanent home in Tampa. However, the Rays are legally obligated to play in St. Petersburg through the 2028 baseball season.
The city has allocated roughly $60 million to repair the Trop since Hurricane Milton shredded its roof in October 2024. Bresjesh Prayman, engineering and capital improvement director, said in early August that the extensive project could now cost approximately $75 million.
Councilmember Richie Floyd noted that “ownership doesn’t change anything about the contracts we have with the organization.” He also appreciates the repairs remaining on schedule, and hopes to see the same sense of urgency “with every project we do in the city going forward.”
The $75 million estimate could continue increasing as the domed stadium was not designed to drain water. Corbett wrote that city staff are monitoring for “additional damage caused by extreme weather,” including an Aug. 23 storm that dumped four inches of rain on the area.
He said officials are coordinating with the project’s lead contractor, AECOM Hunt, to amend the scope “as necessary.” Subcontractor BMS Cat “remains onsite performing daily cleaning, remediation and protective measures to preserve work completed to date.”
“MLB continues active participation in weekly project meetings and is working directly with AECOM Hunt on baseball specialty item approvals, including netting and outfield wall padding,” Corbett wrote. “All repair milestones remain on schedule.”
The bright white fabric used to cover the Trop was manufactured in Germany and assembled in China. Corbett’s memo states that AECOM Hunt has assigned a representative from its Shanghai office to monitor the process.
Crews should have the roof installed by the end of the year. Hurricane season officially ends Nov. 1.
“We’ve already seen some cost escalation on this project, but I think we prepared from the get-go for rain inundation in the stadium … how to mitigate any sort of damage that would happen from weather,” Floyd said. “But you’re never going to be able to block out things when there’s four inches of rain.
“So, it’s just an ongoing concern, really.”
Corbett wrote that project architects and engineers have submitted interior repair permit drawings for review. The Rays and MLB have approved new flooring, wall coverings and paint selections.
Insurance representatives and the city’s risk management team toured the stadium Sept. 15 to “review progress.” Corbett said staff from multiple departments continue working with Thompson Consulting, the Florida Department of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to identify “potential reimbursement opportunities.”
In August, City Attorney Jackie Kovilaritch said the only reimbursements would come from insurance and FEMA. She added that there is no guarantee St. Petersburg would receive the latter funding.
ALSO READ: Photos: See the progress as Tropicana Field roof repairs have begun
In March, the Rays’ current owner, Stuart Sternberg, exited a long-negotiated deal for a new $1.37 billion ballpark to anchor the $6.7 billion Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment at the Trop site. The team spent its 2025 season at Steinbrenner Field, a minor league stadium in Tampa, while navigating the far-reaching effects of an unprecedented hurricane season.
At the time, Rays president Brian Auld, who will remain with the team in an advisory role, noted that “two hurricanes, the elections local and nationally, changed things.”
“Every single significant real estate development and business deal has been altered by those things,” Auld added. “It shouldn’t be stunning that this one has, too.”
Floyd said Monday that he “never felt any animosity towards the old ownership outside of the annoyance of them wasting our time on the (stadium) project.” He recognized that they were “operating in a business capacity,” which prioritized profit margins.
“I don’t anticipate that philosophy changing with the new ownership; maybe a style change is possible,” Floyd continued. “I’m going to continue to do everything I can to make sure the city’s interests are protected, no matter who owns the team.”
This content provided in partnership with StPeteCatalyst.com
