Tropicana Field, home to the Tampa Bay Rays, sustained significant damage as Hurricane Milton struck Florida's Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday. Social media reports and photos indicate that much of the fabric covering the domed roof has been torn away.
St. Petersburg Fire Rescue official Capt. Garth Swingle confirmed that those inside the stadium are safe. However, details regarding potential interior damage have not yet been disclosed, and there have been no reported casualties at the venue.
“We are fortunate and grateful that no one was hurt by the damage to our ballpark last night. 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 Rays said in a statement
About Tropicana Field
Tropicana Field, constructed in 1990 at a cost of $138 million, is engineered to endure winds of up to 115 mph and features the world’s largest cable-supported domed roof, supported by 180 miles of cables.The roof is made of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), a robust polymer that is lighter than glass yet stronger. While the metal framework seems intact, concerns persist about the damage to the fabric. Plans are underway to replace the stadium by 2028 with a new $1.3 billion ballpark.
Earlier, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Tropicana Field would be used as a “temporary base camp” for debris cleanup and to provide shelter for first responders. The stadium was prepared to house 10,000 people, with cots set up on the field.
“They were relocated. Tropicana Field is a routine staging area for these things. The roof on that ... I think it's rated for 110 mph and so the forecast changes, but as it became clear that there was going to be something of that magnitude that was going to be within the distance, they redeployed them out of Tropicana. There were no state assets that were inside Tropicana Field," DeSantis reassured.
He remarked that it wasn’t “the worst-case scenario” and identified Sarasota County as the most affected area, with storm surge levels reaching between 8 and 10 feet. “We will better understand the extent of the damage as the day progresses,” DeSantis concluded.
