Official announcements from the Tampa Bay Rays or city officials.

Category 3 Hurricane Milton Shreds Roof of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Shelter for First Responders

Oct 10, 2024, 03:31 AM

Hurricane Milton made landfall near Sarasota, Florida, on Wednesday night around 8:30 pm as a Category 3 storm, later downgraded to Category 2, causing significant damage to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, home of the Tampa Bay Rays. High winds from the hurricane shredded portions of the stadium's translucent, teflon-coated fiberglass roof. The ballpark, which had also served as the WWE Thunderdome, was being used as a staging area and shelter for first responders, utility workers, and National Guard troops preparing for post-storm recovery efforts. Despite the severe damage, officials reported that all individuals inside the stadium were safe, with no injuries reported.