The vote to approve repairs to Tropicana Field, severely damaged last October by Hurricane Milton, has been postponed until next month.

City Council member Corey Givens Jr. revealed that the delay was communicated via email by the city administrator on Friday, as council members prepared to return from spring break. Givens expressed frustration over the lack of an explanation for the postponement and warned that further delays could complicate plans or escalate costs.

“Kicking the can down the road is going to make matters even worse,” he said. “I’m eager to find out the reasons behind this delay. Transparency and communication are crucial, but they’ve been lacking.”

The estimated cost of the repairs stands at just over $22 million, and the vote is now rescheduled for early April. This pushes the decision past the March 31 deadline, by which the Tampa Bay Rays would have needed to formally proceed with the deal. Although team owner Stu Sternberg announced on March 13 that the Rays do not intend to move forward, the contract officially expires at the end of the month.

Thursday will also mark the first meeting of the City Council since the Rays disclosed their decision to abandon the new stadium plans. While the failed deal isn’t on the agenda, discussions about property insurance for Tropicana Field are scheduled.

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch intends to proceed with redevelopment efforts in the Historic Gas Plant District but remains open to negotiations if a new ownership group emerges. “We’re not going to hold up the development of that land for another 15 or 20 years because of yet another speculative offer,” Welch stated.

Welch also addressed the Rays’ claim that delays at the city and county level had increased the project’s costs. “No, I don’t buy it,” he said. “I’ve repeatedly asked for proof of these cost overruns, but no evidence has ever been provided. If they truly want help addressing the gap, they need to show their partners what that gap is.”

In a statement, Sternberg expressed confidence that the Rays will continue playing at Tropicana Field beginning Opening Day 2026, giving the city less than a year to complete the needed repairs.

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(Image credit: DRaysBay)

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