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St. Petersburg announces the price tag to repair the Trop

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Published  November 12, 2024 5:05pm EST
St. Petersburg
FOX 13 News

Report: $55 million in damages to the Trop

Genevieve Curtis reports

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The City of St. Petersburg now knows the price tag for fixing the roof of Tropicana Field.

A 400-page report details the damage caused by Hurricane Milton and offers a timeline and the cost of repairing the stadium, which was already scheduled to be torn down in 2028. 

Should the city pay the deductible for the chance to play two final seasons at the Trop?               

READ MORE: St. Pete leaders request report on Tropicana Field damage following Hurricane Milton

Hennessey Construction Company says they can have everything done in time for Opening Day in 2026.

Tropicana Field damage report

FOX 13's Evan Axelbank reports on the City of St. Petersburg debate over whether to fund repairs to Tropicana Field after the stadium's roof was blown off during Hurricane Milton.

Pictures in the massive report document every failure of the roof, including the fabric and struts, which were little match for the force of Hurricane Milton. 

"We’ve never had a storm this powerful with winds this strong," St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch said.

But the good news is that much of the superstructure, including the catwalk, is in good shape.

Aside from a few fixes, Hennessey Construction says 24 sections of fabric can be re-tensioned around the support system.

READ MORE: City approves $6.5M to clean up and protect Rays stadium after Hurricane Milton

The bad news? The total repair cost is $55 million.

Ariel shot of the damage to Tropicana Field.

Ariel shot of the damage to Tropicana Field.

"If we were talking about we need to salvage Tropicana Field to last another 10 (years)" said Richie Floyd, a St. Pete City Councilor. "Fifteen years, this starts to become a much more simple conversation."

Tropicana Field is only needed until 2028, when the new Gas Plant stadium is ready.

But, as the report shows on its final page, The Trop repairs could be completed in about eighteen months or just in time for the 2026 season.

The Rays have to play elsewhere in 2025.

READ MORE: Bradenton Beach waterfront restaurant reopens 6 weeks after hurricanes: 'Many hands make light work'

Renderings of Gas Plant Stadium, due to open in 2028.

Renderings of Gas Plant Stadium, due to open in 2028.

The city would have to pay a $22 million deductible to get an additional $25 million from insurance and make up the gap on its own.

"Is this a good use of the public purse and for the amount of time that we're going to get it for?" asked Floyd.

The estimate includes replacing damaged video equipment, but it does not include replacing a layer of film that improves the sound quality and dampens the brightness of the exterior light.

Councilor Floyd says the city is currently determining how far it will go to meet its legal requirement of providing a place for the Rays to play.

"This is the worst timing really possible," said Floyd.

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