The City of St. Petersburg has decided to invest significant public resources into repairing Tropicana Field, even before receiving its final assessed condition.
On Thursday, the St. Pete City Council approved an expenditure of approximately $6.49 million to initiate the first phase of recovery for the Tampa Bay Rays’ stadium. This decision followed Hurricane Milton tearing off the stadium’s roof and causing severe water damage to the team’s offices.
In a 6-2 vote, council members approved two contracts with Hennessy Construction Services Corp. for waterproofing and BMS CAT LLC for remediation. Councilmembers Richie Floyd and Lisset Hanewicz cast the only dissenting votes. Under the terms of the stadium’s lease, the city, which owns Tropicana Field, is required to make repairs in the event of a hurricane.
“We are financially obligated to maintain [Tropicana Field], and insurance will either approve or deny based on the steps we take to keep our home maintained,” councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders stated.
Mayor Ken Welch’s administration has expressed that not spending the money could pose a greater risk, as the city needs to prove to its insurance adjuster that it’s actively working to save the structure. While the final damage assessment report is expected by November 8, work must begin now to prevent any further harm. Without a drainage system, even a mild rainstorm could have disastrous consequences.
Councilmember Brandi Gabbard voiced initial reluctance about approving the contracts, having toured the stadium with Rays’ executives post-Milton and describing it as “apocalyptic.”
“I’m going to swallow this today, and I’m going to vote yes,” Gabbard said during Thursday’s meeting. “This needs to come back to the city council on the 21st of November with the damage report, and if it turns out we are beyond hope of saving this building, we need to reconsider.”
Shortly after the storm, St. Pete filed an insurance claim for Tropicana Field. The maximum amount the city could receive is $22.5 million. The Tampa Bay Times noted that the city had recently reduced its insurance coverage to save $275,000 in premiums—a costly choice in light of Milton’s damage.
If the cost of repairs exceeds St. Pete’s insurance policy, it could lead to a challenging situation. Besides Tropicana Field, other post-Milton expenses, such as debris cleanup, are estimated at around $100 million. City Administrator Rob Gerdes indicated that St. Pete could potentially bear a significant portion of these costs. There may also be considerable exposure related to other city-owned properties, although the total remains uncertain.
In response to Floyd’s inquiries, city officials acknowledged that the Rays might consider legal action if St. Pete fails to meet its contractual obligations. If Tropicana Field becomes unplayable, the city is also required to assist the team in finding a suitable venue for home games.
The latest contract with Hennessy Construction Services follows an initial authorization of $250,000 in an emergency capacity on October 15. The Rays are planning a move to a new stadium on the same property by April 2028, with the city and county agreeing in July to fund both the new stadium and the surrounding mixed-use district.
Are you on social media? Check out our profile for more local news! Follow @TampaLatest for up-to-the-minute updates in Tampa, Florida.
