Hurricane Milton brought fierce winds overnight Wednesday, severely damaging the roof of Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays. The stadium was designated as a base for storm response workers when strong gusts exceeding 100 mph tore large sections of its roof away.
Aerial footage revealed the dramatic impact, showing the field and seating area clearly visible through gaping holes left by the missing panels. As of now, it remains uncertain if the internal areas of the stadium sustained significant damage.
Strong winds also led to the collapse of a construction crane located at 400 Central Ave., roughly three-quarters of a mile from Tropicana Field, though officials have reported no injuries in the vicinity.
Just a day before the storm severity escalated, the Florida Division of Emergency Management had announced plans to establish a base camp at Tropicana Field to assist with debris management and support for responders.
Governor Ron DeSantis emphasized that the roof was built to withstand winds up to 110 mph. Given the forecasts indicating stronger gusts, precautionary measures had already been taken to evacuate workers and equipment from the stadium.
Originally designed to host playoff games in October, Tropicana Field is currently not in use, as the Rays finished the season with a record of 80-82, missing the American League playoffs for the first time since 2018.
The team indicated it would prioritize community support and the safety of its staff over assessing the stadium, which will occur in the days ahead. They expressed relief that no injuries were reported from the roof damage.
As it stands, the Rays are scheduled to kick off the 2025 season at home against the Colorado Rockies on March 27.