PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — On Thursday, St. Pete City Council members voted to approve funding for the roof repairs at Tropicana Field. This comes nearly six months after Hurricane Milton ripped the roof off of the Trop.
The number on the table was $22.5 million. That is the guaranteed maximum price, meaning they won’t go above it.
WATCH: St. Pete leaders discuss repairs for Tropicana Field
This morning, Council Chair Copley Gerdes said if they vote yes, then they can move forward with ordering the parts needed for repairs.
“This allows us again to put the roof on the Trop, to get that installation done, and once the roof is done that allows us to do everything else inside the building. There's no use in trying to fix the turf and some of the other things that need to be done until there’s a roof on,” Gerdes said.
He explained that $22.5 million is in line with what they expected to pay. The money will come from the commercial insurance fund and the short-term financing note.
Now that it's been approved, Gerdes said we could see construction on the Trop start in May.
“I am anxious to get it going, just like if this were your house, you'd like to see work start. So, anxious to get this going," Gerdes said.
There are a lot of concerns about the roof of the Tropicana Field being repaired during hurricane season, and amid potential tariffs.
"I'd much rather be spending the money on hurricane recovery and helping residents in our most affected neighborhoods, I think that's no surprise to anyone…but this is our obligation," said Brandi Gabbard, City Council member.
Richie Floyd was the only council member who voted no on the proposed project.
He and other council members had questions about potential tariffs that could raise the cost of materials coming from Germany and China.
Project workers said there's $100,000 set aside for those tariffs, but is that enough?
"It's something we are just finding out about as well, so we have a lot of work to do to understand it and to start to ask the right questions," said Raul Quintana, the city's architect.
After the roof's installed by the end of this year, other projects to repair the inside of the Trop would begin.
Council member, Corey Givens Jr., said he only wants to spend the minimum to have the Rays play in St. Pete.
"I want to make sure that we are able to fix the sound system, put lighting in there, make sure the stadium is playable for baseball games…but I'm not interested in replacing chandeliers and fixing granite countertops and all of the other stuff," said Givens Jr.
Council member Floyd also asked the city to talk with the rays about potentially continuing to play after 2028.
It's a question many fans also have.
"I would want to know how long they plan on staying in St. Pete… you know if we are spending $23 million of our money, how long are they going to stay in the stadium?" said Tyler DePergola, who lives in St. Pete.
The previous stadium deal also included affordable housing and many community benefits for the Historic Gas Plant District…it's something Jeremy Beal still wants to see.
"What are they going to do to keep their promise to the people because right now I don't have any faith in them at all?" said Beal.
Despite the unknowns, Beal is trying to live by one question…'what if it all works out?'
"You definitely think it's going to work out, but what does that look like? Even for us, most of us are losing faith and are mentally checked out," said Beal.
Experts said if everything goes according to plan, the Rays should be back in Tropicana Field by 2026.
“The bottom line is this: if we don't see better pricing, we're all going out of business”
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