Hurricane Milton Makes Impact on Sports World

In addition to widespread destruction across Florida, Hurricane Milton has had an impact on the sports world.

With winds topping 100 miles per hour and torrential rainfall, the massive storm ripped the roof off of Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays. The pieces of the shredded roof panels made of translucent, Teflon-coated fiberglass fell into the stadium, allowing debris to be blown all around the ballpark.

“Over the coming days and weeks, we expect to be able to assess the true condition of Tropicana Field,” the Rays told the Associated Press on Thursday. “In the meantime, we are working with law enforcement to secure the building. We ask for your patience at this time and we encourage those who can to donate to organizations in our community that are assisting those directly impacted by these storms.”

The Rays are not scheduled to play in the ballpark again until March 27, when they host the Colorado Rockies to open the 2025 season. The roof was designed to withstand wind of up to 115 mph, according to the Rays. The stadium opened in 1990 at an initial cost $138 million and is due to be replaced in time for the 2028 season with a $1.3 billion ballpark.

Football Games Still on Amid Delays

The Jacksonville Jaguars plan to arrive in London later than expected on Friday, the team confirmed ahead of Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.

“It could affect some timing tomorrow trying to get out, but it looks good, it looks promising anyway, for our window to get out of here sort of on time with not too many delays or hiccups in the next 24 hours or so,” said Doug Pederson, Jaguars head coach.

The Jaguars canceled a Friday press conference at the team hotel outside London and rescheduled it for Saturday morning. They play the Bears the next day at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

“No changes are expected to Sunday’s schedule,” the NFL said in a statement. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers moved their travel plans ahead of the hurricane making landfall, arriving in New Orleans on Tuesday for Sunday’s game against the Saints.

A pair of college football games in cities that felt Milton’s wrath are still scheduled to take place. In Orlando, the University of Central Florida is preparing to host to Cincinnati at 3:30 p.m. ET at UCF’s on-campus stadium. Orlando will host a second college football game at the same time on Saturday after the American Athletic Conference has announced that Saturday’s football game between South Florida and Memphis has been moved to Camping World Stadium.

“The decision to move the game from Raymond James Stadium was made in consultation with local law enforcement in the interest of public safety and with respect for the response and recovery efforts under way in the Tampa Bay area following Hurricane Milton,” the league said Thursday night in a statement.

Lightning Move Home Opener, Magic Delayed

The Tampa Bay Lightning have postponed their first home game of the NHL season scheduled for Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes. No makeup date was immediately announced.

The Lightning will open the season at Carolina on Friday and traveled there earlier this week to get out ahead of the storm. The Lightning’s first home game in Amalie Arena is now scheduled for October 15 against the Vancouver Canucks.

The Orlando Magic played a preseason game in San Antonio on October 9 and were delayed in flying home due to Milton making landfall. A preseason game that was to be played Friday in Orlando between the Magic and the New Orleans Pelicans was canceled and will not be rescheduled.