MLB Tropicana Field loses roof to hurricane
- Thread starter LadyStanley
- Start date
LadyStanley
Registered User
Some nice video/still shots of damage. How much might they spend for a few years before new stadium completed?
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The Marquis
Moderator
No domed stadium is built with drainage are they?
Might not be worth saving if the damage is really bad.
Could see the rays having to play elsewhere in 2025.
sneakytitz
Registered User
Well the good news for the Rays is that Florida is full of baseball stadiums, albeit it at reduced capacities. The Rays actually own one of them (Charlotte Sports Park) but I don't know if that place was wrecked by Milton, either. I would bet the expansion groups in Orlando/Nashville/Carolinas are reaching out to them to host games to help their case that they can support a team.
jetsmooseice
Up Yours Robison
- Feb 20, 2020
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Is putting in some type of rudimentary "good enough" drainage feasible here? It seems crazy to build a new roof for just a few years before the place is decommissioned as opposed to using it as an outdoor venue for a short while.
LadyStanley
Registered User
52" annual rainfall. 30" June to September (rainy season).
Could be lots of delays/scheduling due to weather.
Could be lots of delays/scheduling due to weather.
sneakytitz
Registered User
In addition to the rain, most of Florida has these random thunderstorms that pop up all the time so you'd get lightning (hence the Tampa Bay Lightning) delays non-stop. Tampa is called "the lightning capital of the world".
Takuto Maruki
Ideal and the real
If anything, what happened with Tropicana and the roof reminds me a lot of what happened to BC Place when it had the soufflé top roof. Got damaged because of snow and ice in 2007, ripped a *single* portion of the roof and left it flapping in the wind and got deflated as a precautionary measure. The roof was already going to be replaced for the Olympics in 2010, the damage to the roof just accelerated things and rubber-stamped the process of PavCo and the provincial government getting the retractable roof they wanted. The rest is history.
Wouldn't be surprised if this just makes getting a stadium, after all the drama, a significantly easier process now that the Rays have a valid reason to go to government figures and plead their case.
Wouldn't be surprised if this just makes getting a stadium, after all the drama, a significantly easier process now that the Rays have a valid reason to go to government figures and plead their case.
They already have their new ballpark deal signed. Groundbreaking is supposed to be in a couple of months and set to open in 2028. They don't need to ask government for anything, as they've already got it.
The only question is what to do in the interim. The roof at the Trop is structured like an umbrella, and it appears that the fabric (a Teflon-coated fiberglass fabric) is shredded, but the underlying frame is intact, though a closer inspection to see if it was in any way bent or twisted by the fabric being ripped away is needed. If they got lucky and the frame is ok, they could just put new cloth (or EFTE) on it, though that might take a bit longer than to the beginning of next season. Too soon to say.
LadyStanley
Registered User
Re: Insurance. Not knowing what coverage there is on the building, realize that the WIND was the cause of losing the roof, but WATER may be the main cause of damage inside the building.
They may or may not have flood insurance which would cover the water damage, but the roof (replacement) may be (partially) covered (less any deductible).
They may or may not have flood insurance which would cover the water damage, but the roof (replacement) may be (partially) covered (less any deductible).
KevFu
Registered User
Couple of things...
#1 - When the Blue Jays played 2020 in Buffalo because of COVID, they had to spend like $40m on Buffalo's Triple A stadium making it good enough. And that was with "back of house" media stuff not being a big factor because media wasn't traveling; and anything for FANS not being a factor because they weren't allowed in.
#2 - The original roof -- which BTW, has been there since 1990 survived until the 112th Tropical Storm or hurricane to hit Florida -- took five months to install. Five months from now is March.
#3 - The City of St. Pete owns the Trop, and has to decide what it's future is post-Rays.
Take those things together, and the Rays aren't going to sink $50m into playing in a minor league park somewhere else for three years, they're just going to work with the city to get the roof replaced by April.
#1 - When the Blue Jays played 2020 in Buffalo because of COVID, they had to spend like $40m on Buffalo's Triple A stadium making it good enough. And that was with "back of house" media stuff not being a big factor because media wasn't traveling; and anything for FANS not being a factor because they weren't allowed in.
#2 - The original roof -- which BTW, has been there since 1990 survived until the 112th Tropical Storm or hurricane to hit Florida -- took five months to install. Five months from now is March.
#3 - The City of St. Pete owns the Trop, and has to decide what it's future is post-Rays.
Take those things together, and the Rays aren't going to sink $50m into playing in a minor league park somewhere else for three years, they're just going to work with the city to get the roof replaced by April.
Headshot77
We saw him heading straight for the mountains
Tropicana is not gonna be ready by next season no matter what and a roof replacement would go into the $100mil+ range. Offices got messed up as well. The Rays have likely played their final game in the Trop and will need to find a temporary home while their new ballpark gets built.
I feel like Montreal might be the answer since they were so close to doing that half season thing a few years back. Although a local spring training facility makes more sense
KevFu
Registered User
Intriguing. I still think the Trop is their best choice for the bulk of the next three years... because the cost of a multi-year stay somewhere else is ALSO going to be like $100m or more, but the biggest reason is WHO'S $100m these options cost.
The Trop is the City's $100m. (And they might get it from FEMA).
Spring in Fialta
A malign star kept him
Montreal is currently rebuilding the roof of the Olympic Stadium so not sure if it could be an option or if the stadium is even fit for any baseball at this point (last exhibition game was in 2019) and/or if they could turbo boost the roof in time for the MLB season. I don't know anything about that stuff or baseball stadiums so I'm just speculating out of my ass.
I don't think it's going to happen but it'd be pretty cool for the city to get baseball back for 1-3 years.
I don't think it's going to happen but it'd be pretty cool for the city to get baseball back for 1-3 years.
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LadyStanley
Registered User
Insurance might have to payout, assuming building is covered for wind damage. City would probably prefer team local for income from visiting fans/sponsors than in Montreal.
Team (offices) losses may not be covered if related to water damage. Might be that team pushes building owner to pay for those damages.
KevFu
Registered User
I was going to say... isn't Montreal doing something with THEIR roof, too?
I was also thinking that maybe MLB could flip-flop some series, like "Play the first series in the Bronx, and the second in Tampa instead of the other way around..."
But they open their season hosting Colorado and Pittsburgh, teams they only play one series again (Yet another reason I hate Manfred's schedule change).
ponder719
M-M-M-Matvei and the Jett
I can think of an open stadium and a fanbase eager to crap all over someone's attempt to take their team away, albeit quite a distance from the Rays' actual fanbase...
The Marquis
Moderator
I know NOTHING of Florida baseball teams except in MLB so this option may be impossible, but I doubt it with the number of stadiums in the area. The Rays don't draw very well as is, so they could probably add a couple 3,000 seat temporary bleachers to the left and center field areas of Steinbrenner Field for a few million dollars (including current structural demo and rebuild something to replace) to be able to play there and if they sell it out, would outdraw 9 out of their last 10 seasons at the Trop.
It's going to be really tricky regardless. I think the coolest option with Montreal's roof being an issue would be to play in either Puerto Rico or Omaha for the year. Big enough stadiums and they would probably sell way more tickets in Omaha than they do in Tampa.
It's going to be really tricky regardless. I think the coolest option with Montreal's roof being an issue would be to play in either Puerto Rico or Omaha for the year. Big enough stadiums and they would probably sell way more tickets in Omaha than they do in Tampa.
LadyStanley
Registered User
I've seen clickbait site headlines saying team is heading to Oakland to play next season, but nothing from Yahoo Sports.
LadyStanley
Registered User
Rays' hurricane-damaged stadium can be fixed for $55M, but it won't be ready until 2026
The Rays' stadium can be repaired — but will it?
sports.yahoo.com
Price tag for repair is $55m. Insurance has $22m deductible.
Not a high priority for repair. Won't be available until 2026. Looking to use nearby spring training facility.
But that may be out of county and commissioners not happy about that. Vote coming next week. Two newly elected folks incoming. May block bond issuance for new stadium.
Headshot77
We saw him heading straight for the mountains
Absolutely no reason to repair the stadium if it can't be ready for 2025. That $55 mil should be used to demolish the stadium.
LadyStanley
Registered User
County changed insurance this past spring so instead of $100m coverage for wind, it was reduced to $25m. (Saving $275k in premium costs.)
$6.5m just for clean up.
MLB requesting plans for next season by Christmas.
Mightygoose
Registered User
Local but not in Pinellas County. Might have issues with the politicians.
LadyStanley
Registered User
Tampa Bay Rays will reportedly play 2025 home schedule at Steinbrenner Field, spring training stadium of the Yankees
The repairs to Tropicana Field will cost $55.7 million and would not be finished until after the 2025 season.
sports.yahoo.com
Yahoo Sports story of the same.
