Hurricane Milton tears open Tropicana Field's roof
Published in News & Features
TAMPA, Fla. — Hurricane Milton ripped off large swaths of Tropicana Field’s roof late Wednesday, as the powerful storm tore through the Tampa Bay region.
Tattered pieces of the roof blew in the wind, shining under the exposed purple and white interior lights. The stadium’s catwalk was clearly visible from Interstate 275 — one of the first images of St. Petersburg from the highway.
The roof was damaged on all sides, allowing heavy rains to soak a field never designed to see a night sky. It is made of “six acres of translucent, Teflon-coated fiberglass and supports itself with 180 miles of cables connected by struts,” per the team media guide, and was “built to withstand winds of up to 115 mph.”
The Rays finished the season at their longtime home last month. However if the damage is extensive and long term, there is no drainage system for the field, so games could not be played without a roof. That would also be an issue as rain could accumulate and get into the dugouts, team equipment spaces and service areas of the stadium.
A new Rays stadium is planned to be built in St. Petersburg, but won’t be ready until 2028 at the earliest.
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