Oct 10 (Askume) – Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays said on Thursday it could take several weeks to assess the damage to their ballpark, which had its entire roof removed after Hurricane Milton plowed into Florida .
The Rays, who are scheduled to begin their 2025 season at home on March 27, said no one was affected by damage to the St. Petersburg ballpark from the Category 3 hurricane that struck Florida’s west coast on Wednesday.
“In the coming days and weeks, we hope to be able to assess actual conditions at Tropicana Field,” Reyes said in a statement on Twitter. “In the meantime, we are working with law enforcement to ensure the safety of the building.”
“We ask for your patience during this time, and we encourage people to donate to organizations in our community that are helping those directly affected by these storms.”
Prior to the hurricane, the Florida Department of Emergency Management planned to convert the ballpark into a base camp capable of accommodating up to 10,000 people to clean up debris and host rescue workers following the storm.
According to the Rays’ media guide, its stadium has the “world’s largest cable-supported domed roof”, which is “made from six acres of clear Teflon-coated fiberglass, supported by 180 miles of cable and strut connections. It can also withstand wind speeds of up to 115 mph.
Drone footage circulating online showed nearly the entire roof of the Rays’ home stadium ripped to pieces, with remnants flying in the air and debris scattered on the field below.
The Rays did not qualify for the MLB playoffs this year, marking the first time they have missed the postseason since 2018.
