Florida sports teams prep for Hurricane Milton as Bucs, Lighting evacuate

Jack Aylmer

SPORTS TEAMS ACROSS FLORIDA ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE THE SAFEST WAY TO MOVE FORWARD-

AS THE STRONGEST HURRICANE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO SINCE 2005 APPROACHES THE REGION.

WITH OFFICIALS ORDERING MASS EVACUATIONS AHEAD OF HURRICANE MILTON’S LANDFALL-

THE NFL’S TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AND THE NHL’S TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING HAVE BOTH CLEARED OUT OF FLORIDA-

WHICH IS EXPECTED TO TAKE THE BRUNT OF THIS STORM.

THE TWO TEAMS ARE MOVING THEIR PRACTICES TO SAFER LOCATIONS AS THE STATE BRACES FOR MILTON’S ARRIVAL-

THE BUCS MOVING TO NEW ORLEANS PRIOR TO THEIR AWAY GAME AGAINST THE SAINTS ON SUNDAY-

AND THE LIGHTING TO RALEIGH, WHERE THEY’LL PLAY THEIR SEASON OPENER AGAINST THE CAROLINA HURRICANES FRIDAY NIGHT.

LIGHTNING TEAM OFFICIALS ALSO SAID THE SQUAD’S HOME OPENER AGAINST THE CANES ON SATURDAY WILL PROCEED AS PLANNED FOR NOW.

IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL, THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA’S MATCHUP AGAINST MEMPHIS-

ORIGINALLY SLATED FOR FRIDAY, HAS BEEN MOVED TO SATURDAY AFTERNOON DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS.

BOTH TEAMS SAY THEY WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORING WEATHER UPDATES AS THE STORM MAKES LANDFALL IN THE TAMPA AREA, WHERE THE GAME IS SET TO TAKE PLACE AT RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM.

MEANWHILE, CENTRAL FLORIDA’S GAME AGAINST CINCINNATI REMAINS SLATED FOR SATURDAY, BUT WITH ORLANDO IN THE STORM’S PROJECTED PATH, FURTHER CHANGES MAY COME.

AND IN THE NBA, A PRESEASON GAME BETWEEN THE HOMETOWN HEAT AND ATLANTA HAWKS IS BEING PUSHED BACK FROM THURSDAY UNTIL WEDNESDAY OF NEXT WEEK.

WHILE MIAMI IS NOT EXPECTED TO FEEL HURRICANE CONDITIONS, THE CITY IS LIKELY TO GET STRONG WIND GUSTS AND SEVERAL INCHES OF RAIN.

JACK AYLMER – STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.