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Rays ask for patience after Tropicana Field is destroyed by Hurricane Milton

The Rays are asking for time and “patience” while the franchise assesses the damage Hurricane Milton caused to Tropicana Field.

The roof of the St. Petersburg baseball field was torn to shreds as the storm swept through Florida Wednesday evening.

“In the coming days and weeks, we expect to be able to assess the true condition of Tropicana Field,” the team said Thursday. “In the meantime, we are working with the police to secure the building. We ask for your patience at this time, and we encourage those who can to donate to organizations in our community that are helping those directly affected by these storms.”

The roof of the Tropicana field was damaged the morning after Hurricane Milton hit the region, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Florida. AP

White fabric from the roof of the ballpark hung from the walkways due to high winds, creating a surreal scene.

Tropicana Field’s dome structure is built to withstand winds of up to 115 miles per hour.

Geiger Engineers, who installed the roof in 1990, told The Athletic that the roof had “well exceeded its intended lifespan.”

Winds in St. Petersburg peaked at 100 mph (163 km/h) on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

No one was injured due to the damage to the ballpark, according to the news release.

An aerial view shows the damaged Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, in St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S., October 10, 2024. REUTERS

Milton was the second hurricane to hit Florida in weeks, following Helene, which made landfall on September 26.

Tropicana Field was used by the state as a base camp for 10,000 people in the days leading up to Milton.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a news conference Thursday that first responders had been moved before the hurricane hit the state.

An aerial view shows the damaged Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, in St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S., October 10, 2024. REUTERS

The Rays have played at Tropicana Field since 1998.

The team plans to open a new $1.3 billion, 34,000-capacity stadium before the 2028 season.

Opening day at Tropicana Field isn’t until March 27, when they’ll host the Rockies to start the 2025 season.