View the Tampa Bay Rays’ Tropicana Field after Hurricane Milton destroyed the roof

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Milton’s destructive power left a lasting mark on Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays.

A drone image shows the dome of Tropicana Field ripped open by Hurricane Milton in St. Petersburg, Florida, on October 10, 2024.

(BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP / Getty Images)

A Category 3 hurricane devastated Florida’s Gulf Coast and the Tampa Bay area late Wednesday evening. The storm’s destructive force tore off large sections of the Trop’s iconic domed roof, exposing the interior. Possible water damage is also a major concern.

A security guard gave FOX Weather a first look at the massive damage inside the stadium (seen in the video player at the top of this story), such as shredded fabric covering the roof flaps in the wind.

Drone footage from the FOX Flight Team (see below) shows the ongoing extent of damage to the stadium caused by Milton’s strong winds of over 100 miles per hour.

DRONE VIDEO SHOWS TROPICANA FIELD IN ST. PETE is in ruins after 100mph winds ripped home from Milton through Rays

A closer look at the damage reveals that the stadium’s field is littered with cots, a poignant reminder of its recent role as a temporary shelter for thousands of first responders who were fortunately able to be brought to safety before the storm made landfall.

Despite the significant damage, no injuries were reported.

Hurricane Milton’s deadly assault on Florida leaves 3 million people without power after devastating 100 mph winds

A drone image shows the dome of Tropicana Field ripped open by Hurricane Milton in St. Petersburg, Florida, on October 10, 2024.

(BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP / Getty Images)

According to the FOX Forecast Center, St. Petersburg airport experienced sustained high winds with gusts of more than 70 miles per hour for over three hours. The airport recorded seven gusts above 90 mph and a maximum gust of 102 mph just after 10:30 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, Tampa International Airport recorded a peak gust of 93 mph.

The Trop’s famous cable-supported dome roof was once celebrated for its ability to withstand winds of up to 110 mph, notes the MLB.

HURRICANE MILTON LASHES TAMPA, ST. PETERSBURG WITH 100mph winds and catastrophic flooding

The city of St. Petersburg asked everyone in the area to avoid the damaged Trop field until further notice. The city said there were no injuries at the scene.

While the Rays have not yet released a full assessment of the damage, MLB reports that the club’s iconic stadium will likely face significant remediation work.

Hurricane Milton triggers deadly tornado outbreak in South Florida: “Hundreds of homes” destroyed

Originally built for $138 million and opened in 1990, Tropicana Field has served as the Tampa Bay Rays’ home stadium since the Tampa Bay Rays’ inaugural season in 1998, according to MLB. The team has invested heavily in upgrading the ballpark over the years, including installing a new playing surface prior to the 2023 season.

While the Rays plan to build a new, state-of-the-art baseball stadium on the Tropicana Field site, MLB estimates the project will not be completed until 2028 at the earliest, according to MLB.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced during a news conference Thursday morning that damage assessments were underway across the state, where over three million households remained without power.

“National Guard, State Guard, Fish and Wildlife Commission personnel, as well as local law enforcement and first responders are actively involved in rescue operations in affected areas,” the governor said.

More than 50,000 line monitors are working to restore power, while dozens of state inspectors are checking the safety of bridges to help reopen in affected areas.