Saint Petersburg approves $ 5 million more for repairs on the Tropicana field

ST. Petersburg – More money flows on Tropicana Field while the city works to prepare the house of the Rays of Tampa Bay in time for the day of opening 2026.

On Thursday, the municipal council unanimously approved about $ 5.3 million more for repairs and expenses to help get there. This represents a total of $ 38.5 million approved to date. The total cost of the project, some of which will be covered by insurance, is still on the right track to reach around $ 56 million, city officials said.

“I look at what we have and what is to come and I worry about this issue ($ 56 million),” said Gina Driscoll, a member of the council, whose district includes too much. “I want to make sure that if it will be more, please manage our expectations in advance.”

The director of engineering and capital improvements, Brejesh Prayman, said that the city was following all its estimates.

“We tend on the right track,” he said. “We keep an eye on everything.”

The Rays are under contract to play too much until the end of 2028, a year later than expected after the Hurricane Milton was snatched the roof last year. Under this agreement, Saint Petersburg is forced to repair too much. The Rays play the New York Yankees Spring Training Stadium, Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, while waiting.

The member of the Council Richie Floyd, who voted not on the repair of the roof because he favored a regulation between the city and the Rays instead, said that he would vote with his colleagues to carry out the project. City officials said they wanted a regulation that would pay a new stadium.

The first 1.67 million dollars approved concerns more sealing and correction until December 31, when the roof should be completed. This includes daily maintenance in the direction of the rainy season: extracting stagnant water, monitoring and maintenance of disclosure and collection basins and cleaning areas and disinfect the affected areas.

This money will also pay approximately 5,000 ceiling tiles to separate air -conditioned spaces, the more the cleaning, sealing and covering of lower level seats.

Additional $ 2.35 million will be used to repair and replace the metal wall panels damaged by the storm inside and outside the stadium.

Once the roof in place, the entrepreneurs Hennessy and Aecom Hunt will work on lighting, electric podiums and protection against lightning, audio and video equipment, fire protection and safety; Game equipment and architectural finishes.

The council also approved $ 284,000 for architectural and engineering plans for non -roof repairs, including mechanical engineering, plumbing and structure for rooms, playgrounds and other repairs.

The city also collects the tab for security costs too much while it is being repaired. City officials said it was a typical practice when the city supposes control of a construction site. The council approved $ 800,000 for all work on workforce, equipment, training and equipment to keep it too much until February 28, 2026.

Rob Manfred said on Wednesday, the major league, said on Wednesday that managers of the “remain optimistic” league that the too much will be ready for or near the opening day. The Rays could open the 2026 season on the road to allow more time to make repairs. The big joker, he said, is a possible delay caused by the hurricanes season.

The advice Expenses approved $ 22.5 million on a new roof in April. The dismay on what to do on the too much happened while an agreement to build a new stadium to collapse. The agreements governing the stadium agreement expired on March 31.

Despite this delay, city officials say they can prepare the dome for next season. Beth Herendeen, City Director of City Development, said on May 20 that 50% of roof materials had been manufactured in Germany with the rest carried out in the next 30 days. She said that the equipment will be shipped to China for the Assembly and that the city plans to receive the first expedition in August.

The city has built $ 100,000 for emergency costs, given the discussions on the prices imposed on imports from China. At this stage, said Harden, the city may have a better idea of ​​how prices can affect the project.

Staff editor Marc Topkin has contributed to this report.