Tropicana Field is still a "viable candidate" for the Tampa Bay Rays to take the field during the 2026 MLB season despite damage from recent hurricanes. It'll just cost at least $55.7 million to make it playable. That sum is based on a report commissioned by St. Petersburg leaders and released Tuesday. The more than 400-page report details all the damage the Trop sustained due to Hurricane Milton. According to assessors who examined the Trop from Oct. 21 through Nov. 8, the stadium "appears structurally sound" and can continue to "serve the City (should they so decide)" after repairs are made. “The primary structure is serviceable and capable of supporting a replacement tension membrane fabric roof,” the report by Hennessy Construction Services said. Assessors recommended the city move forward with temporary roof protection and building temperature control to mitigate any further potential damage to the stadium because installation of a new roof would still be months away. A timeline draft in the report shows the earliest the repairs could be completed would be in time for Opening Day in 2026. That still leaves the Rays with the decision on where to play for the 2025 season, although there are several options. The sun was already setting for Tropicana Field when Hurricane Milton ripped the special fiberglass roof off the stadium. Eighteen of the ballpark's 24 fabric panels failed when Milton roared ashore on Oct. 9, the report found. There was also damage to interior parts of the Trop, as it's known for short, from rainwater and other storm-related causes. The ballpark opened in 1990 and has been the Rays' home since their inception in 1998. MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/sports/mlb/rays/tropicana-field-repairs-cost-hurricane-milton/67-a7a77ae2-8ad1-46f9-8b33-9ad923609ff3