close
close

first Drop

Com TW NOw News 2024

Rays issues heartfelt statement regarding Hurricane Milton damage to Tropicana Field
news

Rays issues heartfelt statement regarding Hurricane Milton damage to Tropicana Field

Images and videos of the damage Hurricane Milton caused in Florida spread across the internet on Thursday.

Perhaps none were more powerful than those showing the storm blowing off the roof of Tropicana Field, home of Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays.

On Thursday afternoon, the Rays released a statement in response to the outpouring of sentiment from locals and non-locals alike.

β€œIn recent weeks, our beloved city, region and state have been impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. We are devastated by the damage suffered by so many,” the statement said. β€œOur priority is to support our community and our workforce. We are fortunate and grateful that no one was injured due to the damage to our ballpark last night.

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

The news that no injuries were reported due to the winds causing apparent damage comes as a great relief. When Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida’s west coast Wednesday, downtown St. Petersburg was in the path of destruction.

More news: Watch: Hurricane Milton rips roof off Tropicana Field, home of MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays hosted their last game at Tropicana Field on September 22.

Tropicana Field Roof Tampa Bay Rays Milton
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – MAY 28: Aerial view of the Tropicana Field lit up orange after the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the New York Yankees 3-1 on May 28, 2022 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The…


Julio Aguilar/Getty Images

The stadium’s days as host to MLB games are already numbered. In July, the Pinellas County Commission approved the Rays’ agreement for a new stadium in St. Petersburg’s historic gasworks district. Construction on the ballpark, located just east of Tropicana Field, is expected to begin in January and be completed in time for Opening Day 2028.

In the meantime, the damage to the field caused by Milton must be assessed and repaired in time for Opening Day 2025. Tropicana Field is the only MLB field with a fixed dome roof.

Milton made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast near Siesta Key in Sarasota County just after 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, the second major hurricane to hit the region in less than two weeks.

The storm left more than 3 million customers without power, and five deaths were confirmed in St. Lucie County by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Visit Newsweek Sports for more MLB news.