St. Petersburg council rejects immediate repair to Rays' ballpark roof after first giving approval

The St. Petersburg City Council reversed course Thursday on whether to spend more than $23 million to repair the hurricane-shredded roof of the Tampa Bay Rays' ballpark, initially voting narrowly for approval and hours later changing course.

[@mattimatt4838]

The fan base doesn't show up for games so let the team go to a location that would. The Rays have been a well run, very competitive organization for years. A place like Nashville would probably have close to a sellout every night rather than the ten thousand per usual in Tampa/St. Pete.

[@jamesmay5860]

I love Tampa I come down there all the time to watch the Buccaneers but the Rays need to leave that area and they have no support whatsoever

[@joe4727]

Charlotte, Orlando and other cities would love to have the Rays now is your chance..

[@HunterMaggiacomo]

TAMPA

[@bwtawny]

Has anyone explained to the council that a delay in starting repairs can affect any payment from insurance?

[@miketuttle9319]

It sounds like if the Rays are throwing cold water on the idea of ever playing in the Trop again they won't do any repairs.

[@socaliente2543]

St. Pete doesnt deserve the Rays. Baseball is better with them leaving to another market.

[@HunterMaggiacomo]

TAMPA YBOR

[@fldave612]

0:52 Elections have consequences, these are the people the voters picked, now those who voted that way, don't you dare shed a tear when the Rays are gone along with the a flourishing downtown and many of the businesses such as Fergs are gone too.

[@stphinkle]

This begs the question: 1) What happens to Rays Lease on Tropicana Field? Will it be extended? Terminated? Will St Petersrburg have to buy out the Rays on the remaining years if they are not going to fix the existing Stadium? 2) Will the rays sign a long term lease on another existing facility (e.g. Steinbrenner, Baycare, ESPN World Wide World of Sports, Joker Marchant, JetBlue Park, Charlotte Sports Park, Al Lang, etc)? 3) Will the rays build in another city in the area (Tampa, etc)? 4) Will they look for other funding sources for their new stadium (Maybe get a billionaire, a philanthropist, a company or something to donate)? 5) Will the Rays look for other cities that may want to host them (e.g. Nashville, Charlotte NC, Montreal, Omaha, Oakland, Puerto Rico, Salt Lake City, etc)? But securing a new location, and building a new stadium will take time and will likely need a temporary home for 2026-2029 to say the least.

[@bobjustice8014]

See ya, don't let the door hit you in the outfield. I would be shocked if the overall cost of having them wasn't a loss. St pete will be paying for the existing stadium years after they are gone.

[@matthewshepley8298]

⚾️🇨🇦 Montreal 🇨🇦⚾️

[@York-Isles-63]

What an absolute mess this situation has become

[@sambino2726]

I'm gonna miss the Rays when they're gone. This ain't happening folks

[@caroldavies5832]

Share Learn and Grow ❤❤❤

[@chuckdameron5626]

Fix the hurricane damage first let the rays wait if they can not wait let them leave the owner is worth a billion dollars see if the team can get some other city to pay for half of their ball park the Oakland As having a problem with. Vegas getting the money so if Nashville or Charlotte wants to give 600 million to a billion dollar owner let them

[@LARRY-kp9xm]

rays get out

[@CARWASHCHANNEL.]

Utah will take the rays

[@frankmonte6176]

Bye bye. Screw the RAYS. Let them pay for the stadium

[@HunterMaggiacomo]

St Pete is a shit hole. Only ever went to see my rays. They’ll look great in Tampa

[@smitty5890]

A dark day for St Pete ? The light has never been brighter. The Rays could be gone forever. Bye Bye !

[@RyanRe-rd6wv]

Least I live near Miami n Marlins are worse than the Rays

[@JeffBezosIsSanta]

Perfect example of why no one believed they could survive in St. Pete to begin with.

[@HunterMaggiacomo]

@@JeffBezosIsSantaTAMPA

[@dominicambrosia4984]

GET MY STADIUM FIXED! PUT THE NEW ONE OVER THE SOCCER FIELD! YOU ALL ARE NEW TO THIS! YOU ALL NEED TO BE TOLD WHAT TO DO! MY KIND WANTS TO PLAY SOMEWHERE NICE! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@frankmonte6176]

You'll get nothing and like it!!! Say bye-bye to the Rays.

[@neneshubby]

MLB in Florida had been an abject failure.

[@traincndr1]

saint peterburg council is a joke