Hurricane Milton rips roof off Tropicana Field — Tampa Bay Rays stadium that was used as staging site for responders

Observe stay updates on Hurricane Milton right here, together with the newest on the influence of the storm.

Tropicana Area, the house of the Tampa Bay Rays, was badly broken Wednesday night time as Hurricane Milton slammed the area. Video posted by CBS affiliate WTSP and aerial images of the stadium present that the material that served because the domed constructing’s roof had been ripped to shreds.

St. Petersburg Fireplace Rescue confirmed that there have been no accidents within the incident. It was not instantly clear how a lot injury there was contained in the stadium.

Drone video posted on social media confirmed the roof fully ripped to shreds with particles all around the discipline.

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight finish Dave Moore additionally posted photographs of the broken stadium on social media.

WTSP reported that Tropicana Area had been internet hosting 1000’s of linemen and Nationwide Guard members as they ready to answer injury from the storm. Pictures from earlier this week confirmed rows of cots protecting the baseball diamond.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ press secretary, Jeremy Redfern, mentioned in a social media submit that the staging space had already been relocated earlier than the roof was broken.

CBS Sports activities, citing the Rays media information, reported that Tropicana Area options the world’s largest cable-supported domed roof and is “constructed to resist winds of as much as 115 miles per hour.”

In response to the Nationwide Climate Service, Albert Whitted Airport, which is situated about six minutes away from Tropicana Area, recorded wind gusts as much as 101 mph in the course of the 10 p.m. hour. 

The stadium in St. Petersburg opened in 1990 and initially value $138 million, in response to The Related Press. It was due to get replaced in time for the 2028 season with a $1.3 billion ballpark.

After making landfall close to Sarasota with a Class 3 standing, Hurricane Milton weakened to a Class 1 storm because it crossed Florida, and was anticipated to weaken additional because it strikes out over the Atlantic Ocean.