Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton have not only caused devastating damage to towns and cities throughout Florida,but impacted on the sports world as well.
Tropicana Field, home to the Tampa Bay Rays of the MLB, had its roof torn into pieces during Hurricane Milton’s strike on the city late on the night of Oct. 9.
Tropicana Field was initially going to be hosting first responders and serving as a base camp for the city’s cleanup crew, but at the last minute they were moved, due to concerns over the structure of the roof.
When it was built in 1990, the stadium’s roof was made to withstand winds of up to 115 miles per hour. Milton came into town with winds gusting of 180 mph.
Officials made a great call to relocate, as the ballpark was pelted with rain and heavy winds, causing the roof to be ripped apart.
The Rays released a statement the following day announcing that they would take the next coming weeks to assess the damages done to their home. Other than their statement there is no word yet on what repairs will be made and when they will take place. What remains for fans and Floridians alike is a painstaken view of the damages to the beloved field, which many hope will be restored soon along with the rest of the Tampa Bay area.
The Rays will have some time until their next event at “The Trop” as they missed the postseason this year. Their next scheduled game is on March 27 as they host the Colorado Rockies to kick off their 2025 season.
Meanwhile in the hockey world, the Tampa Bay Lightning had their home opener postponed to a date to be announced.
Their matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes was supposed to take place on Oct. 12, three days following Hurricane Milton’s touchdown in Tampa.
The Lightning will instead play their first home game on Oct. 15.
Moving away from Tampa, the Orlando Magic of the NBA had a preseason game scheduled for Oct. 11 that was canceled due to the storm. That game will not be made up.
Lastly, the University of South Florida was scheduled to take on the University of Memphis in college football on Oct. 11, in Tampa.
The Atlantic Coast Conference matchup did in fact take place, although after being moved to Orlando. Memphis came away with a 21-6 victory.
In the aftermath of these powerful storms, the focus now shifts to recovery and rebuilding efforts across Florida’s cities. While the sports world faces its own challenges, the safety of the communities affected remains the top priority as they begin the long road to recovery.
