Tropicana Field Roof Ripped Off Diruing Hurricane Milton

Cracktoast · 10-09-2024, 11:10 PM

The weather God's have spoken time for Tampa Bay to leave town

Quote:

The roof at Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, sustained major damage because of high winds associated with Hurricane Milton, which made landfall Wednesday along Florida's Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm.

Pictures and video on social media showed most of the fabric covering the domed roof torn off.

kluke84 · 10-09-2024, 11:37 PM

This is nuts

kipgen · 10-09-2024, 11:45 PM

Wouldn't it make more sense to open the roof if you know it's gonna get shredded like that and the inside of the stadium's gonna get a bunch of crap in it anyway?

towerymt · 10-09-2024, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kipgen

Wouldn't it make more sense to open the roof if you know it's gonna get shredded like that and the inside of the stadium's gonna get a bunch of crap in it anyway?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropicana_Field

"The venue is the only non-retractable domed stadium in Major League Baseball, making it the only year-round indoor venue in MLB."

Cracktoast · 10-10-2024, 01:01 AM

To make it even worse they were using the Trop as a staging area for all the linemen and first responders. So far no reports of injuries let's hope it stays that way.

Handsome Wes · 10-10-2024, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kipgen

Wouldn't it make more sense to open the roof if you know it's gonna get shredded like that and the inside of the stadium's gonna get a bunch of crap in it anyway?

Apparently, the roof was designed to withstand speeds up to 115 MPH (which is at the low-end of a Category 3 rating).

Thankfully no injuries. Big question is how long does it take to fix the roof?

NYRE2PECT · 10-10-2024, 07:32 AM

I was shocked that it was fabric...

jmarascojr · 10-10-2024, 08:20 AM

I saw a guy yesterday, he posted a video of him cutting all the screens over/around his neighbors pool...

I thought it was a prank at first, but I guess it's actually a thing.... People will cut the screens so that the entire thing doesn't get ripped from the house and blow away...

Now I know...

BostonNut · 10-10-2024, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYRE2PECT

I was shocked that it was fabric...

Teflon coated fiberglass.

NYRE2PECT · 10-10-2024, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BostonNut

Teflon coated fiberglass.

Ah, article said fabric.

Stifle · 10-10-2024, 08:34 AM

You should check out the pics of Raymond James Stadium looking like an Ocean during Milton. Both TB Bucs & USF play their home games at what currently looks like a ginormous pool. Hope those in Florida heeded the warnings and stayed safe.

JRX · 10-10-2024, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Handsome Wes

Apparently, the roof was designed to withstand speeds up to 115 MPH (which is at the low-end of a Category 3 rating).

Thankfully no injuries. Big question is how long does it take to fix the roof?

That actually feels kind of low given where it is. Wind gusts can easily get above 115.

towerymt · 10-10-2024, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYRE2PECT

I was shocked that it was fabric...

Reminds me of the Kingdome and the falling ceiling tiles
https://archive.seattletimes.com/arc...9&slug=tile19x

"On July 19, 1994, at 4:35 p.m., Mariners players preparing for a game that night against the Baltimore Orioles looked up to see parts of the Kingdome roof — later identified as 26-pound ceiling tiles — crashing down."

NYRE2PECT · 10-10-2024, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by towerymt

Reminds me of the Kingdome and the falling ceiling tiles
https://archive.seattletimes.com/arc...9&slug=tile19x

"On July 19, 1994, at 4:35 p.m., Mariners players preparing for a game that night against the Baltimore Orioles looked up to see parts of the Kingdome roof — later identified as 26-pound ceiling tiles — crashing down."

I remember that well! Hard to believe that it was 30 years ago. Dang I am getting old, lol.

Mister2Bits · 10-10-2024, 10:06 AM

Crazy!

JRX · 10-10-2024, 10:19 AM

Looks like an improvement

fidrych · 10-10-2024, 10:20 AM

If memory serves, didnt Metradome (Twins/Vikings) have a portion of roof cave in due to snow?

txrngr34 · 10-10-2024, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Handsome Wes

Apparently, the roof was designed to withstand speeds up to 115 MPH (which is at the low-end of a Category 3 rating).

Thankfully no injuries. Big question is how long does it take to fix the roof?

This feels like Dallas building their new ballpark in 1990 without a roof when the average high temp was within two degrees of current day.

Why do these people not plan for the obvious?

Hurricanes in Florida are a known thing, just like heat in Texas. Who approves these half-ass designs?

txrngr34 · 10-10-2024, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fidrych

If memory serves, didnt Metradome (Twins/Vikings) have a portion of roof cave in due to snow?

Yup. Meanwhile, the Astrodome still stands...albeit it's a health risk to step inside it today.

mudder35 · 10-10-2024, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cracktoast

To make it even worse they were using the Trop as a staging area for all the linemen and first responders. So far no reports of injuries let's hope it stays that way.

Everybody was moved out before the roof blew off. Moving 10,000 people is no easy feat. Kuddos to them for thinking ahead.

https://www.tampabay.com/hurricane/2...tis-base-camp/

towerymt · 10-10-2024, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by txrngr34

Why do these people not plan for the obvious?

Hurricanes in Florida are a known thing, just like heat in Texas. Who approves these half-ass designs?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropicana_Field

Quote:

Architectural

The most recognizable exterior feature of Tropicana Field is the slanted roof. It was designed at an angle to reduce the interior volume in order to reduce cooling costs, and to better protect the stadium from hurricanes.

Article from 2020:
https://www.accuweather.com/en/hurri...ricanes/770503

Quote:

Supernatural or lucky? Tampa has dodged a direct hurricane hit for a century

It’s one of the most populated areas on Florida’s Gulf Coast, but hasn’t had a direct hit from a landfalling hurricane in 100 years. Once again, it's in the path of a major storm.

It seems they just didn't have a history of hurricanes hitting directly, or close enough to cause the type of wind damage they saw this week.

JRX · 10-10-2024, 01:46 PM

The truth is the hurricane wind field is usually not that big so its pretty random what area gets hit the hardest. Even though cities are big, they're not that big compared to the entire coast line.

sbfinley · 10-10-2024, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fidrych

If memory serves, didnt Metradome (Twins/Vikings) have a portion of roof cave in due to snow?

Happened in 2010 which was the Twins first season at Target Field. There was some criticism about the Twins moving out doors so far North. That year the Vikings (indoor stadium) had more games moved (2) than the Twins had rainouts (1). The Vikings also had a 3rd game, at Philadelphia, moved to a later date because of weather.

Handsome Wes · 10-10-2024, 03:41 PM

Ok, well, I am glad to see that everyone seems to be okay.

So, what are the chances that the Rays get to play some games elsewhere next year?

Can they play with a Trop with no roof? Retrofit the Bucs stadium field for baseball? Will it get fixed? Move the Rays temporarily to play in a minor league stadium? In Florida, or Durham? Keep them on the road like when the Kingdom in Seattle had issues?

JRX · 10-10-2024, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Handsome Wes

Ok, well, I am glad to see that everyone seems to be okay.

So, what are the chances that the Rays get to play some games elsewhere next year?

Can they play with a Trop with no roof? Retrofit the Bucs stadium field for baseball? Will it get fixed? Move the Rays temporarily to play in a minor league stadium? In Florida, or Durham? Keep them on the road like when the Kingdom in Seattle had issues?

The issue with no roof is I think those are also the lights so no night games. Maybe they can move them to Oakland for a year lol. Either that or just play in a minor league park.

10-10-2024, 07:32 AM	#7
NYRE2PECT Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: San Antonio Posts: 8,143	I was shocked that it was fabric... __________________ Primarily retired from collecting, but doing a Greatest Sho-man binder thing. I do love California Angels baseball.

10-10-2024, 08:20 AM	#8
jmarascojr Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 4,456 shooterjoe13	I saw a guy yesterday, he posted a video of him cutting all the screens over/around his neighbors pool... I thought it was a prank at first, but I guess it's actually a thing.... People will cut the screens so that the entire thing doesn't get ripped from the house and blow away... Now I know... __________________ Always looking to trade, https://flic.kr/s/aHsmVYMy7F I PC Luke Harper/Brodie Lee

10-10-2024, 08:34 AM	#11
Stifle Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: I've met great collectors throughout MI and N. Indiana / CHI. Posts: 9,439 Stifle	You should check out the pics of Raymond James Stadium looking like an Ocean during Milton. Both TB Bucs & USF play their home games at what currently looks like a ginormous pool. Hope those in Florida heeded the warnings and stayed safe. Last edited by Stifle; 10-10-2024 at 04:05 PM.

10-10-2024, 10:06 AM	#15
Mister2Bits Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Florida Man Posts: 5,314 mistertwobits mistertwobits	Crazy! __________________ Collecting: Ohtani, Judge \| Skateboarding Cards, Autographs & Decks

10-09-2024, 11:37 PM	#2
kluke84 Banned Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: Florida Posts: 3,566 kluke84	This is nuts

10-09-2024, 11:45 PM	#3
kipgen Member Join Date: May 2024 Posts: 1,343	Wouldn't it make more sense to open the roof if you know it's gonna get shredded like that and the inside of the stadium's gonna get a bunch of crap in it anyway?

10-10-2024, 01:01 AM	#5
Cracktoast Member Join Date: May 2024 Posts: 1,794	To make it even worse they were using the Trop as a staging area for all the linemen and first responders. So far no reports of injuries let's hope it stays that way.

10-10-2024, 10:19 AM	#16
JRX Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 15,940	Looks like an improvement

10-10-2024, 10:20 AM	#17
fidrych Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: NW Wisconsin Posts: 253	If memory serves, didnt Metradome (Twins/Vikings) have a portion of roof cave in due to snow?

10-10-2024, 01:46 PM	#22
JRX Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 15,940	The truth is the hurricane wind field is usually not that big so its pretty random what area gets hit the hardest. Even though cities are big, they're not that big compared to the entire coast line.

10-10-2024, 03:41 PM	#24
Handsome Wes Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Posts: 961	Ok, well, I am glad to see that everyone seems to be okay. So, what are the chances that the Rays get to play some games elsewhere next year? Can they play with a Trop with no roof? Retrofit the Bucs stadium field for baseball? Will it get fixed? Move the Rays temporarily to play in a minor league stadium? In Florida, or Durham? Keep them on the road like when the Kingdom in Seattle had issues?