Hurricane Ian is making its way toward Florida, and that doesn't bode well for sports in the "Sunshine State" over the coming week.
With the hurricane strengthening to a Category 5 storm as it makes a beeline towards Florida's Gulf Coast, several sports teams are already feeling the effect; The Buccaneers have already made changes to their practice locale, with the Braves also potentially looking at moving in the coming days, as well.
Hurricane Ian is expected to make landfall in Florida on Wednesday night, leaving several teams' plans for this week in a state of flux. It's the fourth hurricane of the 2022 season, and the first to directly impact several pro leagues' operations.
Here's the latest on how teams are handling the storm:
Hurricane Ian updates
Nationals and Phillies make change to weekend set
Date: Thursday, Sept. 29
With remnants of Hurricane Ian set to hit the northeast over the weekend, the Nationals and Phillies have opted to play a doubleheader on Friday, and play a single game at 1:05 p.m. on Saturday.
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 29, 2022
Mets-Braves series staying in Atlanta, no change yet in dates
Date: Thursday, Sept. 29
MLB is keeping the NL East weekend showdown at Truist Park, The New York Post and other media reported.
It's also keeping the Friday-to-Sunday schedule, although Friday's game could be played in the afternoon instead of at night and Saturday's game might be moved to Sunday as part of a doubleheader, according to reports.
The Mets offered to start the series on Thursday, which is an off-day for both teams, and move up their Wednesday getaway game by three hours, but the Braves and MLB said no, according to the Post's report.
There were competitive considerations for the denial. Atlanta played 13 consecutive days and 19 of the last 20 days prior to Thursday, capped by a night game in Washington on Wednesday.
Chiefs-Buccaneers game to be moved way north if it can't be played in Tampa
Date: Thursday, Sept. 29
The NFL said Wednesday that the game would be played in Minneapolis if it cannot be held in Tampa. U.S. Bank Stadium is available because the Vikings playing in London in Week 4.
League executive vice president Jeff Miller told ESPN that no timetable or deadline has been set for changing the site of the game, but he did say that the contest would still be played on Sunday night.
Buccaneers move practice, ceremony, game location still in flux
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 28
The Buccaneers move their practice to the Dolphins facility in Miami on Tuesday. The Bucs' Week 4 "Sunday Night Football" matchup against the Chiefs in Tampa is currently on as scheduled, but a decision for that may come down in the next few days.
As a result, if the game is moved, it is likely the Bucs and Chiefs would play at a neutral site in the Midwest — such as Minneapolis. (the Vikings play in New Orleans on Sunday). Those plans remain fluid given the unknown path of the storm.
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) September 26, 2022
Given that the Bucs' matchup is a primetime event, the league will likely want to avoid no games being played in the Sunday night window. According to The Athletic's Greg Auman, there's a chance that another game could be flexed into the "Sunday Night Football" window to protect against no game being played. The game could also move to a neutral site.
The Buccaneers are also moving Sunday's halftime Ring of Honor induction ceremony for Bruce Arians to a later date due to the weather.
We will move our football operations to Miami-Dade County tomorrow and practice at the Dolphins' facility. No changes have yet been made to Sunday's game schedule.#GoBucs https://t.co/x8qev5xfJc
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) September 26, 2022
USF game moving to Boca Raton
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 27
East Carolina and USF were scheduled to play in Tampa's Raymond James Stadium on Saturday, but they are instead moving the game to FAU's home stadium in Boca Raton, Fla. The game is also moved from 7:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET.
South Carolina moves game up
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 27
With the hurricane expected to make its way across Georgia and South Carolina this weekend, South Carolina's game vs. South Carolina State, originally scheduled for Saturday, has been officially moved up to Thursday at 7 p.m.
Due to the potential impact of Hurricane Ian, our game against SC State has been moved to Thursday at 7:00PM.
— Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) September 27, 2022
More info: https://t.co/q6esABlWo9 pic.twitter.com/1OizoYoEBQ
Gators move home game to Sunday
Date: Monday, Sept. 26
Florida announced it is moving its game against visiting Eastern Washington to Sunday at noon.
FSU-Wake Forest showdown on schedule
Date: Monday, Sept. 26
No. 23 Florida State is set to host No. 22 Wake Forest in Tallahassee at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, and Seminoles athletic director Michael Alford says "nothing has changed right now."
Statement from @SeminoleAlford regarding Saturday’s football game#NoleFamily pic.twitter.com/2EHk5pQx8d
— FSU Football (@FSUFootball) September 26, 2022
Braves-Mets series may be moved
Date: Monday, Sept. 26
The Braves are scheduled to take on the Mets in a three-game series in Atlanta starting on Friday, but if safety becomes a concern, the series may be moved.
Lightning postpone preseason games
Date: Monday, Sept. 26
The Lightning announce that preseason games on Wednesday, Sept. 28 (vs. Carolina) and Thursday, Sept. 29 (vs. Nashville) have been postponed.
The Lightning announced that their Sept. 29 matchup vs. the Predators will take place on Thursday at 8 p.m. in Nashville. The team also announces that training camp will move to Nashville temporarily.
We have postponed our preseason games on Wednesday, September 28 against Carolina and Thursday, September 29 against Nashville at @AmalieArena due to the potential effects of Hurricane Ian.
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) September 26, 2022
Stay safe, Tampa Bay. 💙https://t.co/OL5CKwHKKj
