Hurricane damage, election may cloud future of new Tampa Bay Rays stadium deal

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — No longer shaded by Tropicana Field’s dome, the famous Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill sits right outside its non-existent roof.

“We’re looking to maybe pivot and do some more concerts, do some fundraisers, have more music. We’ll figure something out,” Owner Mark Ferguson said, adding baseball is a big driver for business.

RELATED: Cost to repair the Trop tops $55M; Rays wouldn’t be able to play until 2026, report says

A new damage assessment on the hurricane-ravaged stadium shows between planning, permitting and repairs, the total cost to get the stadium in game shape for the 2026 season would cost a little more than $55 million.

“We anticipate that the majority of the repair costs incurred by the city will be covered by insurance and FEMA reimbursements, making this approach both beneficial for community spirit and fiscally responsible for our community,” St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch said in a statement.

As St. Pete City Council gets set to discuss next week whether the price is worth a few more years of baseball at Tropicana Field, Ferguson is hoping they do what they can.

“Yeah, two or three years [at the Trop] that would be great if we could do that. But let’s keep everything going as it was supposed to go,” he added, referring to the other plans.

 A multi-billion-dollar redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District and a new stadium for Tampa Bay’s baseball team, thought to be a done deal may now be clouded by recent events.

RELATED: ‘Build it, because we are here’: Pinellas leaders, Rays developers celebrate stadium deal approval

“The city plans to meet its obligations to ensure that the Rays can play in St. Pete, and the redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District and the construction of a new stadium move forward. As such, the city is implementing repairs to Tropicana Field with the hope that it will be ready for play for the 2026 season,” Mayor Welch added.

Ahead of the city council meeting, the next major decision lies in the county’s hands.

Last month, Pinellas County commissioners delayed a vote on issuing bonds to leverage the hotel bed tax and pay their $312 million portion of the deal. Commissioners laid out concerns following widespread hurricane damage and wanting to hear from the Rays about their plans for next season.

Commissioners meet again next week where a bond vote is tentatively on the agenda, but there will be new faces, adding new dynamics to the future of the deal.

Two of the initial supporting votes on the 5-2 decision to move forward with the stadium project over the summer will not be there. Commissioner Charlie Justice (D) lost his reelection bid and Commissioner Janet Long (D) retired.

Commissioners-elect Vince Nowicki and Chris Scherer, both Republicans, will be sworn in before the meeting.

“You’re really looking at almost $600 million [including financing] — is that really the most fiscally conservative thing to do right now? With the state of our beaches, with the state of our infrastructure and all the other issues that we’re facing here in the county,” Nowicki said in an interview with 10 Tampa Bay.

RELATED: MLB wants the Rays to stay in the area if Tropicana Field is unfit for play after Milton

Nowicki made his position clear, saying he would vote against the deal if/when a vote happens, and that money could be used to repair damaged beaches.

“I think it really needs to go back to the city of St Pete and be renegotiated. I always thought it was a terrible deal from day one. It really hurts the residents and the taxpayers of the city of St Pete, and you’ve had very few people really come up and say that,” he added.

A decision could be punted until March without putting the project at risk of falling through. It appears a vote is less likely to happen at the county level next week.

“There is a lot of unknown elements that have to still be determined between the city and the team. Until we have more information, it would be my desire to take a little more time on that decision,” said Chair Kathleen Peters, who supported moving forward with the project over the summer.

On Thursday, the Rays announced plans to play at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, miffing county commissioners who already were sour about the proposal and called for more transparency from the Rays during a workshop session ahead of the announcement. 

Commissioner Chris Latvala told 10 Tampa Bay, “I will be a no on the bonds if they are not playing in Pinellas.” Latvala was one of the dissenting votes during the July meeting. 

Vice Chair Brian Scott, who supports the deal, is sticking by it, telling 10 Tampa Bay, “I would have preferred the Rays play in Pinellas County, however it will be a positive they are staying local.” 

Adding, “I stand by my vote to support the County’s portion of a new stadium, which is one component of a long term vision to improve the quality of life in Pinellas.” 

Commissioners could effectively punt any decision over the next several months, with a deadline for the deal slated in March. 

County officials say money generated from the bed tax can only be used in specific ways, on projects targeting tourism, beaches, museums and sports facilities.