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    • Tropicana Field Roof Lost Due to Hurricane Milton: Stadium Damage, Material
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    Tropicana Field Roof Lost Due to Hurricane Milton: Stadium Damage, Material

    Caradoc Wyn Posted on

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    One of the most enduring scenes of Hurricane Milton’s crash on Florida’s Gulf Coast is the shattered roof of Tropicana Field.

    The roof of the stadium, home of Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays, was blown off by winds from the Category 3 storm that made landfall Wednesday night. The semi-transparent fiberglass roof was designed to withstand hurricane-force winds when the stadium was built in the 1990s.

    Tropicana Field was used as a base for emergency responders and first responders in the days before the storm. Although no injuries were reported, the sight of the damage struck many viewers on social media.

    Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was also damaged by Milton when the turf was flooded.

    The end of Tropicana Field was already near, and a new park was being built in the same area. Here’s what you should know about the ballpark, from the events and teams that have played there to the ballpark’s future:

    Tampa Bay Rays stadium damage: What happened to Tropicana Field?

    The roof of Tropicana Field was severely damaged by Hurricane Milton, photos and videos on social media showed.

    Videos showed parts of the stadium roof being completely torn off, leaving the interior exposed to the elements.

    Was anyone killed or injured in the damage to Tropicana Field from Hurricane Milton?

    St. Petersburg Fire Rescue told ABC News that authorities were in contact with people at the stadium and confirmed they were safe. WFTS-TV reported that there were no injuries.

    Tropicana Field was set up as a base camp for emergency responders and was lined with rows of empty green cots. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday that the field would be designated by the Florida Division of Emergency Management as a base camp for 10,000 people for debris removal operations and first responders. The stadium was not used as a shelter.

    Where is Tropicana Field?

    Tropicana Field is located in St. Petersburg, Florida, in the Tampa Bay area. St. Petersburg is located in Pinellas County, across from the city of Tampa. The stadium is approximately 20 miles from downtown Tampa via the I-92 bridge.

    When was Tropicana Field built?

    Tropicana Field opened in 1990 as the Florida Suncoast Dome and cost $138 million, according to the Tampa Bay Rays media guide. It was renamed the ThunderDome in 1993 and was the first home of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning.

    The stadium sold its naming rights in 1996 to Tropicana, which was headquartered in nearby Bradenton. The stadium hosted the 1999 NCAA men’s basketball Final Four, where Connecticut won its first national championship. It also hosted the St. Petersburg Bowl in college football from 2008 to 2017.

    Tropicana Field Roof Material: What is the Tampa Bay Stadium roof made of?

    According to the Tampa Bay Rays media guide, the stadium’s roof is made of six acres of clear Teflon-coated fiberglass and is built to withstand winds of up to 110 mph. Its sloping design was also intended to protect the stadium from hurricanes.

    A sensor on Anna Maria Island detected sustained winds of 84 mph with gusts of up to 106 mph as of 10 p.m. ET, said Tyler Fleming, a meteorologist with the weather service in Tampa Bay.

    Which team plays at Tropicana Field?

    Tropicana Field is home to the MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays. The stadium has been home to the Rays since they joined the league as the Devil Rays in 1998.

    The Rays played the first two games of the 2008 World Series there against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Rays also reached the World Series in 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all games in that series were played in Arlington, Texas.

    Will Tropicana Field be demolished?

    The Rays are scheduled to leave Tropicana Field after 2027 to build a new $1.3 billion stadium next door. The stadium is scheduled to be demolished in 2028.

    Tampa Bay Bucs Stadium: Was Raymond James Stadium damaged by Hurricane Milton?

    Across the bay in Tampa, Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was affected by flooding from Hurricane Milton, reports and social media videos showed.

    The Bucs left Tampa earlier this week for their game Sunday in New Orleans. The USF Bulls, who also play their home games at the stadium, are scheduled to play Memphis on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The game has been postponed from its original Friday night kickoff and can still be played.

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    Caradoc Wyn
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