A rare glimpse inside storm-ravaged Tropicana Field

The St. Petersburg City Council is set to vote April 3 on a $22.5 million proposal to replace the hurricane-damaged roof of Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays. The decision comes after delays and mounting repair costs following Hurricane Milton’s destruction last October, which left the stadium exposed to the elements. City officials recently provided a rare glimpse inside the stadium, revealing extensive damage and ongoing efforts to mitigate further issues. Raul Quintana, St. Petersburg’s city architect, explained, “You will see some of the waterproofing that has been done to protect the areas behind the bowl, the field, and the seating. We know it’s going to take us a while to get the roof back up.” Tarps, sandbags and pumps have been deployed to manage water intrusion in areas lacking drainage systems. Beth Herendeen, a city spokesperson, detailed additional repairs needed: “Any of the drywall, flooring, carpeting, the field netting — all of it will be replaced. Dugouts will be refinished.” Despite these efforts, restoring Tropicana Field remains a significant challenge. Quintana expressed cautious optimism about meeting deadlines: “By getting started when we start, it builds possibly the leeway — an opportunity to get it done in time.” If approved, the roof replacement will use stronger materials manufactured in Germany and assembled in China before arriving in Florida. The city contract has built contingencies for weather delays and potential tariff increases into its budget.