Hurricane Milton's Winds Rip Apart Tampa Bay Rays' Stadium

In the early hours of Thursday, a powerful hurricane named Milton tore through the Tampa Bay area, leaving behind a trail of destruction that included the roof of Tropicana Field, home to the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team. The stadium's dome roof, designed to withstand winds up to 110 mph, couldn't hold up against Milton's 100-plus mph winds. Massive sections of the roof were ripped off, exposing the playing field and stands inside. Officials rushed to evacuate workers and equipment from the stadium before the storm hit, preventing any major injuries. Around three-quarters of a mile away, a construction crane at 400 Central Ave. in St. Petersburg also toppled due to the high winds. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the area. The Florida Division of Emergency Management had planned to use Tropicana Field as a base camp for post-storm responders, but those plans had to be scrapped as the storm intensified. The Tampa Bay Rays had a tough season this year, finishing with a record of 80-82 and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2018. Tropicana Field, which opened in 1990, is usually buzzing with playoff excitement in October, but this year, the stadium is facing a different kind of challenge.