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

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As Hurricane Milton, the strongest Gulf of Mexico storm since 2005 nears Florida, sports teams across the state are adjusting their schedules, and in some cases relocating, to ensure safety. With mass evacuations underway, the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning have both left the area.

The Buccaneers have moved the team’s practices to New Orleans ahead of Sunday’s away game against the Saints, while the Lightning has relocated to Raleigh, where they will face the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday, Oct. 11, for their season opener. Currently, the Lightning’s home opener against the Hurricanes on Saturday, Oct. 12, remains as scheduled.

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In college football, the University of South Florida’s game against Memphis has been moved from Friday to Saturday afternoon at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, with both teams saying they will closely monitor the storm’s progress prior to kickoff.

The University of Central Florida’s game against Cincinnati remains set for Saturday, though the matchup’s Orlando venue is in the storm’s projected path which could force schedule changes.

Meanwhile, an NBA preseason game between the Miami Heat and the Atlanta Hawks has been rescheduled from Thursday, Oct 10, to next Wednesday, Oct. 16. While Miami is not expected to experience full hurricane conditions, strong winds and heavy rain are anticipated.

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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.