Hurricane Milton has caused disruptions to sporting events, including the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning team making changes to their plans. The Lightning have relocated from Florida to practice in the Raleigh area to prepare for their season opener against the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night. The decision comes as Hurricane Milton, currently a Category 4 storm, is expected to hit the Tampa Bay area on Wednesday night.
Despite the impending storm, the Lightning’s home opener against the Hurricanes on Saturday night is still scheduled to proceed as planned. In a similar move, the NFL’s Buccaneers have opted to travel early to New Orleans for their upcoming game against the Saints on Sunday.
At the college level, the American Athletic Conference has rescheduled a football game between Memphis and South Florida that was due to take place at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on Friday night. The game will now be played on Saturday, with the conference monitoring conditions post-Milton to make further adjustments if necessary.
Meanwhile, the LPGA has postponed the qualifying rounds for its Q-Series tournament, which were supposed to start from Sunday until October 18 at the Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida. The safety of athletes, caddies, staff, volunteers, and the local community is cited as the top priority, with the LPGA planning to provide updates following the storm.
The sports community is standing in solidarity with the Florida community as preparations are made for Hurricane Milton’s arrival. The situation continues to be monitored closely to ensure the safety and well-being of all involved. Contributing to this report is AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno.
For more sports updates, visit https://apnews.com/sports.