RIPPED TO SHREDS: The extent of the damage to Tropicana Field, which does not have a field drainage system, is unknown. The roof torn off is made of Teflon-coated fiberglass. (AP Photo )
Stadium is expected to be torn down in favor of a $1.3 billion replacement
Hurricane Milton plowed through Florida Wednesday night, leaving a trail of destruction in its path, damaging the roof of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg and leaving 3.4 million without power with powerful winds up to 120 mph.
The home of Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays sustained heavy damages as a result of the Category 3 storm, which ripped off the majority of the stadium’s roof. The fabric on the roof is made of Teflon-coated fiberglass and was built to withstand winds up to 115 mph, according to Rays media guide.
Images and videos on social media pieces of the fabric flapping in the wind and large portions of roof missing.
Though the frame of the 42,000-capacity stadium seems to be intact, the extent of the damage is still unknown. Tropicana Field, which was built in 1990 for $138 million, does not have a drainage system for the field, according to an MLB.com report.
Tropicana Field is expected to be torn down and replaced by a $1.3 billion stadium within the Gas Plant District, a mixed-use development with a state-of-the-art ballpark as its centerpiece.
It’s a difficult few weeks for the state of Florida, which has been recovering from another major storm, Hurricane Helene, that occurred just a few weeks ago. Helene, a Category 4 storm, is the deadliest storm since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 with a death toll surpassing 225 across six states.
The Rays posted a statement on social media Thursday morning that said, “We are devastated by the damage incurred by so many” following Hurricanes Helen and Milton.
“Our priority is supporting our community and our staff. We are fortunate and grateful that no one was hurt by the damage to our ballpark last night,” the Rays said. “Over the coming days and weeks, we expect to be able to assess the true condition of Tropicana Field. In the meantime, we are working with law enforcement to secure the building.”
The team concluded its statement by asking for patience and encouraging people to “donate to organizations in our community that are assisting those directly impacted by these storms.”
Many in the entertainment industry have made efforts to help victims of the recent storms, including Sturgill Simpson, who is performing at Koka Booth Amphitheatre on Oct. 21 with all proceeds being donated to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund.
Luke Combs, Eric Church, Billy Strings and James Taylor also teamed up for “Concert for Carolina” at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The event taking place on Oct. 26 recently added Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban and Bailey Zimmerman to the lineup.
