This afternoon, the St. Petersburg City Council convened to deliberate on two pivotal issues that will significantly shape the future of the Tampa Bay Rays baseball franchise:
- The first matter was whether to allocate $55 million for essential repairs to the aging Tropicana Field’s roof.
- The second issue on the agenda was the proposal to issue $287.5 million in bonds dedicated to financing a new stadium for the Rays in St. Petersburg.
Unlike the restricted funds currently being reviewed by the Pinellas County Commission, these funds from the City Council are unrestricted. Consequently, each dollar earmarked for the Rays reduces the available budget for other crucial public services, particularly as the city continues to recover from the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Rays President Brian Auld was invited to respond to a contentious letter sent earlier this week to the Pinellas County Commission. During his remarks, Auld expressed regret concerning the tone of the communication and acknowledged the negative reception related to their choice to engage with the media rather than directly with the Commission.
What the Council decided on repairing Tropicana Field’s roof
A report presented to the Council outlined that repairing Tropicana Field—an obligation outlined in the stadium’s Use Agreement (lease)—would span a lengthy 13 months, commencing in February 2025 and concluding in March 2026, with a total projected cost of $55,724,982.
Notably, after accounting for insurance, the City’s financial responsibility is capped at $23,726,567.
During his address, Auld suggested that the timeline associated with the repairs and the complexity of the project could lead to costs surpassing the allotted $55 million, raising concerns about the feasibility of the Rays being able to compete on Opening Day 2026.
The Council highlighted that the current financial estimates did not encompass necessary acoustical enhancements within the stadium, which would require analysis by a different consulting firm and could incur “significant costs.” They also speculated that additional financial requests from the Rays might arise once the field is ready for play.
Council member Gina Driscoll (voted yes on July deal):
“Do we know if we have to replace any hot dog stand? How far does it go? … We’re getting this piecemeal. Before you know it, we’re paying for Raymond’s costumes.”
— Colleen Wright (@Colleen_Wright) November 21, 2024
Despite the concerns raised, the motion to approve the roof repairs at Tropicana Field narrowly passed with a 4-3 vote.
The Council approved the following resolutions:
a. A resolution authorizing four interfund loans totaling $23,730,000 to the General Capital Improvement Fund (3001) to finance the Tropicana Field Emergency Roof Replacement Project, which includes loans of $10 million from the Workers Compensation Fund (5129), $7.5 million from the Parking Revenue Fund (1021), $5 million from the Equipment Replacement Fund (5002), and $1.23 million from the Technology and Infrastructure Fund (5019); and providing for other connected matters along with an effective date.
b. Authorizing the Mayor or his designee to finalize a design-build agreement between the City of St. Petersburg and Hennessy Construction Services Corp for preconstruction and construction services related to the Emergency Roof Replacement Project, with a maximum expenditure of $23,726,567.
Following the vote, Auld spoke with several journalists and hinted that the Rays may have preferred not to see repairs made to Tropicana Field…
The Rays just said the deal to build a new stadium is off, they can’t make it by 2028, and they would even prefer the city NOT fix the Trop so they can file a damages claim and play elsewhere until at least 2028… BUT… they say they’re committed to staying in Tampa Bay
— Evan Axelbank Fox13 (@EvanAxelbank) November 21, 2024
What the Council decided on funding the $287.5 million in new stadium bonds
Currently, the Council is in recess, and the discussion regarding the stadium bond funding will continue shortly.
What are the implications of the St. Petersburg City Council’s decision to allocate $55 million for Tropicana Field repairs on the future of the Tampa Bay Rays?
**Interview with Rays President Brian Auld on City Council Decisions**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Brian. The St. Petersburg City Council recently held a critical meeting regarding the future of the Tampa Bay Rays. Could you summarize what decisions were made regarding the Tropicana Field repairs and the new stadium proposal?
**Brian Auld:** Absolutely. The City Council voted to allocate $55 million for essential repairs to Tropicana Field’s roof, which is part of our long-standing lease agreement. This repair is expected to take about 13 months, starting in February 2025, and it was a contentious issue due to the financial implications. There was also a significant proposal on the table for issuing $287.5 million in bonds to finance a new stadium, which unfortunately did not have enough traction during this meeting.
**Interviewer:** It sounds like the approval for the roof repairs was not without controversy. Can you discuss some of the concerns raised during the meeting?
**Brian Auld:** Certainly. A lot of council members expressed worry about the overall costs and whether the $55 million would actually cover everything necessary, particularly with potential acoustical enhancements that are essential for a modern stadium experience. There were concerns about not just the roof repair costs, but what additional expenses might come up once we start working on it. Ultimately, the motion to approve passed with a tight 4-3 vote, demonstrating the skepticism about where the city’s money is ultimately being allocated, especially as we still recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton [[1](https://www.tampabay.com/sports/2024/11/16/rays-stadium-deal-bonds-vote-pinellas-st-petersburg-tropicana-field-steinbrenner/)].
**Interviewer:** In your remarks during the meeting, you mentioned regret over a recent letter sent to the Pinellas Commission. Can you elaborate on that?
**Brian Auld:** Yes, I expressed my regret about the tone of that letter. It seemed to have upset some people, and I acknowledged that our decision to address the media rather than communicating directly may have contributed to that. Our intention was to be transparent, but I understand that it raised eyebrows and created additional friction in the discussions we need to have with the Commission [[1](https://www.tampabay.com/sports/2024/11/16/rays-stadium-deal-bonds-vote-pinellas-st-petersburg-tropicana-field-steinbrenner/)].
**Interviewer:** Going forward, what are the next steps for the Rays in terms of these developments?
**Brian Auld:** We’ll be working closely with the City Council and the Commission to ensure that we not only meet the obligations regarding Tropicana Field but also explore viable options for a new stadium. We understand the budget constraints and the importance of community services, so our goal will be to find a solution that benefits everyone involved. It’s a challenging path forward, but we’re committed to making it work.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for sharing your insights, Brian. It’s clear there’s a lot at stake for the future of the Rays and their fans.
**Brian Auld:** Thank you for having me. We appreciate the support from our community and look forward to navigating these challenges together.
