A detailed assessment of the hurricane damage to Tropicana Field concludes that the home of the Tampa Bay Rays is structurally sound and can be repaired for about 55.7 million in time for the 2026 season.
The 412-page report released Tuesday by the City of St. Petersburg, which owns the building, found that the basic structure of the domed stadium "does not appear to have been adversely affected" by Hurricane Milton's winds, which shredded most of its fabric roof.
"The primary structure is serviceable and capable of supporting a replacement tension membrane fabric roof," said the report by Hennessy Construction Services.
Eighteen of the ballpark's 24 fabric panels failed when Milton roared ashore Oct. 9, the report found. There was also damage to interior parts of the Trop, as it's known for short, from rainwater and other storm-related causes. The ballpark opened in 1990 and has been the Rays' home since their inception in 1998.
Tropicana Field is already scheduled to be demolished when a new, 1.3 billion ballpark is finished in time for the 2028 season. With unforeseen costs to the city and Pinellas County from two hurricanes - vast amounts of debris removal, damage to parks and infrastructure - two of the main financial sources for the new ballpark could reconsider those plans or decide not to repair the Trop at all.
