The city of St. Petersburg has entered into a massive deal with Tampa Bay Rays to build a new stadium and develop all of the land around it. But two hurricanes later, the current stadium in tatters and no certainty about its future, and the Rays not sure they can afford a new stadium, what is going on? Doesn’t the public and the City Council have a right to know?
In July 2024, the City of St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay Rays reached an agreement to build a new stadium to replace Tropicana Field. Under the deal, the city would contribute $287.5 million, Pinellas County $312.5 million, and the Rays $700 million, with the team committing to cover any cost overruns. However, two hurricanes in late 2024, rising construction costs, and conflicting messages from the Rays have thrown the agreement into question. The city’s lack of communication about the status of both the new stadium deal and the repairs to Tropicana Field has left taxpayers in the dark about critical developments.
Challenges Facing the New Stadium Project
The hurricanes in late 2024 delayed the timeline for the new stadium and dramatically increased construction costs. In November 2024, the Rays wrote a letter to the city stating that the stadium’s completion would be delayed until 2029—one year later than originally planned—and that they could no longer afford to cover the cost overruns, despite their contractual obligation to do so. The city has not publicly addressed this letter, raising concerns about the viability of the project and the impact on taxpayers.
Adding to the uncertainty, the Rays must meet certain conditions by March 31, 2025, to secure the city and county’s funding contributions. One key condition requires the team to demonstrate that all project costs will be covered. With the Rays already declaring they cannot afford the increased costs, it remains unclear how the team or the city plans to resolve this impasse.
Uncertainty Around Tropicana Field Repairs
Compounding the challenges with the new stadium is the issue of repairing Tropicana Field, which suffered significant hurricane damage. Under the existing use agreement, which has three years remaining, the city is responsible for repairing the stadium, and the Rays are obligated to resume playing there once the repairs are complete. However, several developments have raised questions about the feasibility of this arrangement:
1. Conflicting Statements from the Rays:
In November 2024, during a city council meeting, Rays co-president Brian Auld expressed skepticism about the repairs, stating:
“I believe it’s going to be next to impossible for the Trop to be repaired in time for the 2026 season, and it feels to me like a bad use of funds across the entire group.”
Sounds like the Rays are not planning to return to Tropicana Field.
Yet, on December 30, 2024, Rays co-president Matt Silverman sent a letter to the city stating the team’s “support and expectation” for repairs to be completed, but adding:
“If repairs are not made in time for the start of the 2026 season, that would present massive logistical and revenue challenges to the team.”
2. Unanswered Questions:
Despite these developments, the city has not provided key details about the repairs, including:
- Total Cost: The city has not disclosed how much the repairs will cost or whether a funding gap exists that taxpayers might have to cover.
- Fixed Price Bonded Contract: It is unclear whether the city has secured a fixed price bonded contract with a contractor to ensure cost certainty and timely completion.
- Timeline: No information has been shared about whether contractors can realistically complete repairs in time for the 2026 season.
- MLB Approval: The city has not clarified whether the proposed repairs have been approved by Major League Baseball, a critical step for the Rays to resume playing at Tropicana Field.
- Insurance Commitment: The city has not confirmed whether it has secured insurance or to cover repair costs.
- Future Risks: If the stadium’s roof or other structures are damaged again in a future storm, will the city be obligated to make further repairs?
Should there be more transparency?
Despite the public investment of $600 million in the new stadium and the potentially significant costs associated with repairing Tropicana Field, the city has not provided meaningful updates to its constituents. Do taxpayers deserve answers?
- How will the city respond to the Rays’ claim that they cannot afford cost overruns for the new stadium?
- What contingency plans are in place if the March 31, 2025, deadline is not met?
- How much will Tropicana Field repairs cost, and how will they be funded?
- Is the timeline for repairs realistic, and what happens if it is not met?
- What protections are in place to address future damage to Tropicana Field?
Mayor Welch’s Statement
In response to questions about Tropicana Field repairs, Mayor Ken Welch stated:
“We believe having our hometown team play in St. Petersburg as soon as possible is important for our community.”
He also indicated that the city expects insurance and FEMA funds to cover most of the repair costs but did not provide further details.
The Bottom Line
With taxpayers contributing hundreds of millions of dollars to the new stadium and bearing potential costs for Tropicana Field repairs, do St. Pete residence deserve clarity on how their money is being managed?
Should the city:
- Provide regular updates on the status of the new stadium deal, including plans to address the Rays’ inability to cover cost overruns.
- Disclose the total cost, funding sources, and timeline for Tropicana Field repairs.
- Clarify whether MLB has approved the proposed repair plans.
- Confirm the city’s insurance coverage and contingency plans for future damage.
By addressing these issues openly and proactively, would not the the city ensure that the public remains informed about these high-stakes projects?
