In the wake of Hurricane Milton, Tropicana Field saw extensive damage. The home of the Tampa Bay Rays lost large sections of its roof, exposing the field, seats and offices to the elements. Now, weeks after the hurricane, the first estimates are coming in as to the cost of repairing Tropicana Field.
According to Insurance Journal, “recent estimates put the total damage to the stadium at more than $47 million.”
That hefty price tag is not made easier when considering that the city of St. Petersburg reduced its insurance policy on Tropicana Field just seven months ago from $100 million to $25 million. At the time, officials agreed to the reduction because it saved the city $275,000 in premium charges. Now, they face a $22 million deductible. The insurance company had warned St. Petersburg of higher deductibles for their account because they, “expressed concerns about the durability of the stadium roof in high winds, and indicated higher premiums were necessary.” When the city lowered the insurance coverage, WFTS TV reported, “Computer modeling used by city officials also suggested that a major storm probably would not cause significant damage to the roof.”
Related: Tropicana Field 'Unlikely' to be Repaired for Rays' 2025 Home Opener
Once the city’s insurance claim is approved, they plan to use $6.5 million to waterproof Tropicana Field. This will include a drainage system never before seen in at the field, so that the Ray’s could play as an open-air park for the remainder of their time there.
Rob Gerdes, the city administrator said, “We need to act quickly to protect the building from further damage.”
Despite all the insurance claims and cost negotiations, there is still a chance that the field could be declared unsalvageable during the cleanup process. As repairs and cleaning crews continue to work, the team and the city will receive clarity on the extent of the damage.
Complicating the financial decisions for the city of St. Petersburg is the new stadium the city is building for the Rays that is scheduled to open in 2028. The total cost of that project is estimated to be $1.37 billion. The county is contributing $312.5 million from the tourism tax dollars fund and the city is contributing $287.5 million.
In a meeting, the city’s risk manager, Blaise Mazzola said that the drainage system planned for Tropicana Field should, “help mitigate further losses and help the city comply with its duties under its insurance policy.”
Repairs to the field have slowly started over the past few days, but the Rays are still hunting for a location to open their 2025 season.
