Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida on Wednesday night, and it has already affected one of the state's major sports teams.
Tropicana Field, home of MLB's Tampa Bay Rays and a shelter for first responders before a hurricane hits, had its roof shattered by Hurricane Milton's devastating winds.
A video circulated on social media showing part of the dome's roof fully open and flapping in the hurricane's strong winds.
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Panoramic view of Tropicana Field before the Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays game. (Kim Clement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports)
Thankfully, fire and rescue crews reported no injuries as linemen and first responders were on the scene for storm recovery, according to WFTS Meteorologist Jason Adams. .
Another video of the roof shows how much of it was removed. At this time, the extent of damage inside the building is unknown.
Before the hurricane made landfall, the Rays utilized space at Tropicana Field for linemen and first responders preparing for storm recovery, and worked with state and local emergency management partners to support debris removal efforts. announced.
But the Reyes made sure to say it would not be used as a shelter and urged people in the St. Petersburg area to be sure to follow storm guidelines.
Panoramic view of the stadium before the game between the Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports)
The field, known as “The Trop,” has been home to the Rays since their first year in 1998, but the team was soon looking to upgrade their franchise with a brand new stadium.
In 2023, the team announced a deal with local politicians to build a new stadium known as Gas Plant Stadium near Tropicana Field at a whopping $1.2 billion. However, the St. Petersburg City Council blocked this proposal, arguing that half of the stadium's funding would come from citizens' taxes.
The proposal, which was ultimately approved by the St. Petersburg City Council and Pinellas County Commission in July, included the provision of additional areas outside the stadium, including residential units, affordable housing, office/medical space, and retail space. Contains extensive improvements.
However, construction on the new stadium has not yet begun, and even if it is completed, the Rays are not expected to use it until Opening Day in 2028.
Panoramic view of the stadium before the game between the Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports)
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But the Rays have more pressing issues right now. The roof of the home was destroyed the night Hurricane Milton's destructive system hit Florida, adding to the damage caused by Hurricane Helen.
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