Hurricane Milton, a powerful Category 3 storm, wreaked havoc across Florida, ripping the roof off Tropicana Field and toppling a construction crane into a downtown building on Thursday.
The storm, which made landfall late Wednesday, brought relentless wind gusts exceeding 100 mph and torrential rain, leading to significant damage at the stadium, home to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Video footage shared on social media captured the iconic translucent roof—renowned as the largest cable-supported domed roof in the world—being shredded piece by piece. Constructed from Teflon-coated fiberglass, the roof was designed to endure winds of up to 115 mph, but the storm’s intensity proved too much.
Aerial images taken shortly after the storm showed the extent of the destruction, with debris littering the outfield. Initially slated as a 10,000-person base camp for first responders and debris cleanup, empty cots now lay scattered across the field amid the devastation.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis confirmed that first responders were safely redeployed to alternate locations before the hurricane hit. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported in connection with the damage at Tropicana Field.
The storm’s impact extended beyond the stadium, with significant structural damage also occurring downtown. A crane collapsed from a construction project, crashing across a street and slamming into an office building that houses the Tampa Bay Times. Videos from the scene showed debris strewn across roadways and smashed metal structures.
As recovery efforts begin, the city remains focused on assessing damages and ensuring the safety of its residents in the wake of Hurricane Milton’s destruction.
