Tampa Bay sports venues bore the brunt of Hurricane Milton’s wrath as the robust tempest came ashore on Wednesday evening, causing substantial damage to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., and inundating parts of Raymond James Stadium. The destruction at these emblematic sports arenas, acting as the home base for the Rays baseball team and Buccaneers football team respectively, invoked memories of the Superdome’s serious wreckage in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It reignited debates regarding the viability of these large scale structures to provide refuge during such potent storms. Milton, a Category 3 hurricane, struck near Sarasota, resulting in widespread power outages as it traversed the Florida peninsula.
Despite the havoc wreaked by the storm, it was reported that no casualties occurred within the vicinity of Tropicana Field. Local authorities have implored residents to steer clear of the area and to abide by the directive to remain quarantined until further notice. In light of the impending storm, the Florida Division of Emergency Management had initially intended to convert Tropicana Field into a vast hub, housing up to 10,000 individuals, primarily to assist with debris cleanup and perform other post-storm duties. However, concerns over the stadium’s aging roof prompted a shift of operations to Jacksonville.
Tropicana Field, colloquially known as ‘the Trop,’ spans an impressive 1.1 million square feet and has served as the Rays’ home ground since their establishment in 1998. The architectural uniqueness of the 34-year-old stadium is its slanted rooftop, built to combat fierce winds, with a maximum resilience of up to 115 mph. The roof is comprised of a distinctive six acres of Teflon-coated fiberglass that is held aloft by a network of cabling that cumulatively stretches 180 miles long, aided by struts.
Furthermore, plans were already in the pipeline to supersede Tropicana Field with an astounding $1.3 billion ballpark, with the aim of its completion by the 2028 season. The immediate focus, however, is to evaluate the state of Tropicana Field after Milton’s passing. According to a statement from the Rays, they enlisted the assistance of local law enforcement to secure the compromised premises while they determine the full extent of the damage.
Raymond James Stadium did not escape Milton’s wrath either, with the furious storm surge inundating sections of the iconic arena, which has been the site of three Super Bowls. Documentaries of the flooding at the stadium rapidly flooded social media platforms, sparking concerns about the extent of the damage. This incident comes on the heels of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) newly formed alliance with the NFL to repurpose football arenas nationwide to fulfill various urgent needs in disaster scenarios.
Currently, four NFL venues have pledged their support to the FEMA initiative. Apart from Raymond James Stadium, MetLife Stadium in New York, home to the Jets and the Giants; Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, housing the Steelers; and Lumen Field in Seattle, the Seahawks’ home, have all committed to the program. Anticipation builds as SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., shared by the Rams and Chargers, is also expected to join the initiative.
The Buccaneers’ schedule at Raymond James has been disrupted, with the next home game only expected to take place on Oct. 21. The president and CEO of the Tampa Sports Authority, Eric Hart, described the damage to Raymond James as largely superficial, stating that the inundation had decreased by Thursday afternoon. Looking ahead, Hart expressed optimism that the stadium could, nonetheless, play a pivotal role in offering housing to first responders amidst disasters like Milton.
The havoc wreaked by Hurricane Milton eerily mirrored the catastrophe of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 which devastated the Superdome. The shelter, housing above 20,000 occupants at that time, saw its roof being decimated by the raging winds, transforming the shelter into a waterlogged mess. Prior to the occurrence, the Superdome’s roof was believed to be capable of withstanding winds of monumental speed, reaching up to 200 mph.
Doug Quinn, serving as CEO of United Survivors Disaster Relief, acknowledged the merits of FEMA’s stadium partnership initiative. He also pointed out, however, the potential reluctancy harbored by disaster victims to seek refuge in stadiums, given the harrowing episodes that unfolded during Katrina and more recently, Hurricane Milton.
Tropicana Field and Raymond James Stadium Devastated by Hurricane Milton appeared first on Real News Now.
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