Workers installed the 18th panel out of 24 on Tropicana Field’s roof Friday. The $60 million Hurricane Milton repair project stays on schedule to wrap up by the Tampa Bay Rays’ opening day in April. This new roof withstands winds up to 165 mph.
An international team created the panels, led by the Serge Ferrari Group from France, who helped design the membrane. At a German facility, workers wove fiberglass yarns and applied a PTFE coating to the membrane. They shipped massive spools to a fabricator in China.
“We weave with the fiberglass yarns, the membrane,” said David Peragallo, the specifications manager for U.S. projects for the Serge Ferrari Group, according to Fox 13 News. “Then, we had to coat the membrane to protect it with PTFE, and then we make these jumbo rolls, so large and heavy rolls.”
The Chinese fabricator cut and welded the material using engineering patterns, then shipped finished sections to Tampa. The Teflon-like coating shields the membrane from wear and tear. Each panel weighs roughly 5,000 pounds. It takes six days to pull, clamp and attach one panel.
“We are talking about the top product of the market right now to cover a sports venue, not only in the USA, also we have stadiums in Spain, like Atlético Madrid in Spain, the Munich Stadium, the Olympic Stadium in Germany,” Peragallo said.
Repairs and renovations present different obstacles than new construction does. Workers must attach the PTFE panels to the existing structural roof, which demands careful planning and precise execution.
Reaching the structure proves difficult. The design prevents boom lifts from being used. Crews rely on rope access technicians working at dangerous heights. The drop from the cupola to the floor measures 210 feet.
“It is a full-circle career moment for a few of us,” Douvlos said. Several team members worked on the original roof design and installation.
Panels start out beige when first installed. Sun exposure turns them white. UV light triggers a reaction in the membrane, making it more transparent while maintaining the proper balance between letting light through and providing shade.
Peragallo said the new roof should last over 20 years. St. Pete officials say roof work finishes by year’s end, allowing crews to begin other repairs. The city must pay for the repairs by law.