Hurricane Milton has made landfall in Florida and has caused significant damage, particularly at Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays. On Wednesday night, the storm tore through the region, resulting in the stadium’s roof being severely damaged. Aerial footage and drone images reveal that the fabric covering the dome has been shredded.
Fortunately, St. Petersburg Fire Rescue confirmed that there were no injuries reported as a result of the damage. However, the extent of the interior damage to the stadium remains unclear. Social media shared drone videos showcasing debris scattered across the field, illustrating the storm’s impact.
Notably, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Dave Moore shared images of the devastated stadium, expressing his concern for the Tampa Bay area in a tweet. Earlier reports indicated that Tropicana Field had been serving as a staging area for thousands of linemen and National Guard members, who were preparing to address the storm’s aftermath. Fortunately, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ press secretary, the staging activities had been relocated prior to the roof’s destruction.
Tropicana Field is known for having the largest cable-supported domed roof in the world and is designed to withstand winds of up to 115 miles per hour, as noted in the Rays media guide. The National Weather Service reported that Albert Whitted Airport, located nearby, recorded wind gusts reaching 101 mph during the peak of the storm.
Tropicana Field, which opened in 1990 with a cost of $138 million, is set to be replaced by a new $1.3 billion ballpark in time for the 2028 season. Hurricane Milton made landfall near Sarasota as a Category 3 hurricane, but has since weakened to a Category 1 as it continues to move across Florida, with expectations of further weakening as it travels into the Atlantic Ocean.