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City approves emergency contracts and preconstruction work to restore Tropicana Field roof and stadium systems
Summary
Council unanimously approved two emergency contract items for global rope access work and a preconstruction agreement for non‑roof repairs at Tropicana Field, while staff and the Rays continue weekly coordination on roof design and MLB requirements.
The City of St. Petersburg on Feb. 5 approved a series of emergency and preconstruction contracts to stabilize and restore Tropicana Field after storm damage, city engineering staff told council.
Council approved a $55,000 change order to Global Rope Access to complete removal of loose and damaged roof materials and other emergency rope work, and separately approved a construction-manager-at‑risk preconstruction services agreement (about $896,000) to scope and price repairs to non‑roof systems, including interior cladding, audiovisual systems and broadcast infrastructure. Both items passed unanimously.
City engineering director Raul Quintana told council Global Rope Access completed the immediate rooftop abatement safely and that the $55,000 amendment is a close‑out change order to cover additional hours required during the emergency response. Quintana also outlined a two‑track restoration approach: a near‑term replacement of the fabric roof (design, permit, GMP, fabrication and installation) and parallel preconstruction work to scope multiple bid packages for interior and systems work.
Quintana said the team expects to bring a guaranteed maximum price for the roof replacement to council in the March timeframe if permits and engineering reviews go as projected. He described an installation window beginning in August with fabrication and delivery in late summer and a roof installation through November to get the building “dried in.” He said Major League Baseball and the Tampa Bay Rays are participating in weekly design and review meetings and that MLB technical staff and specialists are engaged on acoustics, lighting and playability requirements.
Council members pressed staff for specifics about what would be required to make the stadium “suitable” for home games under the current use agreement with the Rays. City staff and legal said the city’s obligation focuses on making the field and stadium playable for home games; office build‑outs for Rays’ staff are not required by the use agreement. Several council members also sought a clearer, itemized list of the non‑roof repairs that would be brought forward as GMP packages, and said they expected firm, MLB‑driven requirements documented before construction commitments beyond the preconstruction phase.
Councilmember Gina Driscoll asked whether legal counsel attends the weekly technical meetings; Quintana said legal advice is provided outside those weekly project coordination sessions and that the city is coordinating with Rays and MLB staff. Councilmember Brandy Gabbard and others expressed support for the contracted preconstruction work but stressed they expect the administration to return with precise lists, cost estimates and MLB signoffs before authorizing large construction GMPs.
The council’s approvals fund immediate contract closeouts and preconstruction services; subsequent votes will be required for individual GMPs and construction packages once scopes and firm prices are developed.
