Just a few short months ago the Tampa Bay Rays appeared to be in striking distance of getting a brand new ballpark in St. Petersburg- on the Tropicana Field site.

Then, in October, Hurricane Milton roared into town, tearing the roof off Tropicana Field.

This was no leaking roof: the storm destroyed the massive fabric top of the stadium. That led to a cascade of new problems for the talks already 18 years old.

The city council needs to address repairs to the existing stadium. And newly elected Pinellas County Commissioners less friendly to the stadium deal were sworn in And delays caused by the hurricane are threatening to drive up the cost of the $1.3 billion dollar project.

So are the hopes of the Rays- and St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch- for a new stadium in tatters like the roof of the beloved Trop?

Colleen Wright who covers St. Pete for the Tampa Bay Times joins Florida Matters to bring you up to speed-- and to help explain what the community could expect.