Hurricane Milton Disrupts Florida, Damages Tropicana Field and Suspends Orioles Activities

As Hurricane Milton continues to ravage parts of Florida, significant damage has been reported at the Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, home of the Tampa Bay Rays. On Wednesday, video footage circulated on social media showing the roof of the stadium being torn apart by the powerful winds accompanying the storm.

Tropicana Field had been designated as a shelter for thousands of first responders and National Guard personnel in the days leading up to the hurricane’s arrival. Bill Carl Johnson, a social media user, shared a video illustrating the extent of the damage, with the roof visibly compromised.

Despite this structural failure, officials have confirmed that there have been no injuries among those using the stadium as a refuge. The Tampa Bay Times reported that city representatives are assessing the damage, which is expected to render the field unusable as a shelter.

Since opening in 1990, Tropicana Field was built with a slanted roof designed to withstand hurricane forces. However, the unforeseen intensity of Hurricane Milton, a Category 2 storm, overwhelmed the stadium’s defenses. The storm has brought with it between 10 to 14 inches of rain, with meteorologists predicting continued adverse weather conditions through the night.

In Sarasota, baseball activities at the Ed Smith Stadium have been suspended by the Orioles, who use the facility as their spring training base. The area is now being employed as a staging site for Florida Power & Light and functioning as a sandbag distribution center for the local community. The Orioles have a history of assisting in similar efforts during major storms.

The Associated Press reports that Hurricane Milton might be a once-in-a-century event, with the potential to transform existing debris into hazardous projectiles. Orioles closer Félix Bautista and other injured players, who spent much of the season rehabilitating at the Sarasota complex, remain in safe locations.

Despite the ongoing crisis, reconstruction and recovery efforts have already begun in various affected areas. As the state braces for continued challenges, local organizations and residents rally to support each other through these uncertain times.