Tragic scene: Hurricane Milton destroys former Tampa Bay Lightning arena

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Jon McIntyre
October 10, 2024 (7:51 PM)

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Hurricane Milton ripped through Tampa Bay last night, leaving a significant mark on the region's sports landscape, including the unexpected cancellation of the Tampa Bay Lightning's highly anticipated home opener. The Category 3 storm made landfall along Florida's Gulf Coast, bringing fierce winds and torrential rains that caused widespread damage-most notably to Tropicana Field, the former home of the Lightning.

Hurricane Milton damage to tropicana field

Though the Lightning moved to Amalie Arena in 1996, Tropicana Field holds a nostalgic place in the team's history. This storm has exposed just how vulnerable the area's older sports facilities have become. The stadium's domed roof was no match for Milton's fury, with large portions ripped off by the storm's relentless winds. Rain poured into the stadium overnight, leaving its interior exposed and leading to concerns over long-term structural damage.

Tropicana Field, once used by the Lightning in their early NHL years, was battered so severely that many are now questioning the stadium's future. The damage also delayed some of the Lightning's storm response efforts, as emergency services initially planned to use the facility for staging before relocating when the severity of the storm became apparent. Thankfully, no one inside the arena was hurt.

However, the storm's impact didn't stop with Tropicana Field. Hurricane Milton's devastation has forced the Tampa Bay Lightning to cancel their much-anticipated home opener at Amalie Arena. Set to be a celebratory kickoff to the new NHL season, the game will now need to be rescheduled as the city recovers from the storm's aftermath. Lightning fans had been eager to see the team hit the ice again, but safety and infrastructure concerns in and around downtown Tampa led to the decision to postpone the game.

For hockey fans, this marks a bitter disappointment, but the health and safety of the community come first. The team's management released a statement expressing their support for those affected by the storm and emphasizing their focus on ensuring Amalie Arena is safe for future events.

While the Rays' future at Tropicana Field seems uncertain in the wake of Hurricane Milton, the Lightning will eventually return to Amalie Arena barring anymore damage in the area, but for now, fans will have to wait to cheer their team on. The damage across Tampa Bay is a stark reminder of how powerful storms like Milton can disrupt both everyday life and the sporting events that bring the community together.

We send our thoughts and prayers out to those affected in the great state of Florida.