ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — New aerial video from above Tropicana Field gives us a closer look at the havoc Hurricane Milton wreaked on the ballpark.
On Wednesday night, just after Milton brought wind gusts of up to 101 mph to the area, footage from outside the Trop showed large sections of the roof torn apart and flapping in the wind.
10 Tampa Bay's drone footage taken on Thursday morning shows shreds of the Teflon-coated fiberglass roof scattered across the stadium seats and the rows of cots that were set up on the field.
We have since learned that the linemen who were previously stationed inside the stadium were evacuated before Milton came through, and no one was hurt when the roof ripped off.
While it appears the frame of Tropicana Field's roof is still intact, the Tampa Bay Rays said it may take days or even weeks to assess the full extent of the damage.
"We are fortunate and grateful that no one was hurt by the damage to our ballpark last night," the team statement read, in part. "Over the coming days and weeks, we expect to be able to assess the true condition of Tropicana Field."
For now, the team says it's working with law enforcement to secure the building.