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What's next for the Trop? St. Pete City Council will get an idea after damage report

So far, more than $6 million is being spent for clean-up and prevention of water damage.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Nearly one month after Hurricane Milton shredded the roof of Tropicana Field, city council leaders are continuing to plan the next steps for the stadium.

On Thursday, council members approved requesting a report on the damage the stadium sustained from the Category 3 storm. So far, the city approved spending $6.5 million for clean-up, waterproofing, and to prevent further water damage. 

It was a scene that ripped the hearts of baseball fans and left city leaders with a mess to clean up.

"I questioned what are they going to do?" baseball fan Jon Farris asked.

That multi-million dollar question remains unanswered. However, some fans believe it's game over.

"It'll never happen there. Nope. Too much money. Not enough time. So, it's going to have to be somewhere else," baseball fan Tim Chesser said.

Other fans said it may not be worth it given the stadium will be replaced with a new state-of-the-art $1.3 billion stadium by 2028 as part of the multi-billion dollar redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District. 

"It's pointless to put money into it if you're going to tear it down," baseball fan Robert Ziehm said. "It's all about the Rays. The city's got a contract with them."

Some city council members acknowledged hesitancy with millions being spent for clean-up, which is coming from the insurance deductible, without knowing the full scope of the damage. However, the majority felt it was better to act fast rather than pay more later if more damage isn't mitigated.

Other baseball fans believe the investment is worth it. 

"I think baseball is a part of the city. It has been for years. It's an outlying field. It needs to stay here. The city's grown, so it's going to feed off of that," Farris said. 

Some council members admitted to having reservations during last week's meeting given far too many people have also lost their homes amid back-to-back hurricanes.

Ziehm was among those living elsewhere now after water flooded his home.

When asked what the city should be investing in more, he said clean-up efforts are among the areas worth focusing on. 

"I think it's more of a safety issue for the stadium itself," Farris said. "As long as it's ready to go, do it. If not, start somewhere else and then come back here."

Regardless of what happens, recovery for the city remains a long road ahead for those on and off the field. Residents and business owners are still picking up the pieces at home and recovering financially. 

"Business is a little tight right now. It's not what it used to be. Hopefully, it comes back."

Council members are expected to have the report ready during its Nov. 21 meeting.

Overall, the city of St. Pete estimates $75 million in damages to public infrastructure from Hurricane Milton. The Trop accounts for just under $50 million of the estimated damages. 

If the Trop isn't ready by next year, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred has expressed a desire to keep home games within the region.

“We can make it work in a minor league park,” Manfred said. “I think there’s probably some flexibility in terms of what we do with the big league schedule.”

Several minor league ballparks are in the Tampa Bay area, including the spring training homes of the Philadelphia Phillies (Clearwater), Toronto Blue Jays (Dunedin), New York Yankees (Tampa), Pittsburgh Pirates (Bradenton) and Detroit Tigers (Lakeland).

Other options might include the Rays’ own spring training complex in Port Charlotte, about 85 miles (136 kilometers) south of St. Petersburg, and the ballpark at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports complex near Orlando.

Major League Baseball wants to find a 2025 home for the Tampa Bay Rays by Christmas.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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