The Sun said:

---

Noctilucent said:

---

ABATTBQ87 said:

---

Noctilucent said:

---

northeastag said:

---

vander54 said:

---

Apollo79 said:

---

MagnumLoad said:

---

5:30 now I heard

---

Hearing 7:30 from my sources now

---

The storms have cleared the area. Now it's just rain

---

Really? Can't be. It's not baseball.

got to still be a threat of severe thunderstorms.

---

Severe storms aren't necessary to postpone a game. Just lightning will prevent the start of a game, and for good reason.

---

Tell me how many times a football stadium has been hit by lightning during a game.

---

Uhhh, it's not the stadium that would be the concern.

---

Yep.

Quote:

---

Lightning strikes during sports games are relatively rare, especially in large professional stadiums where weather protocols often lead to evacuations or delays. However, there have been several documented incidents worldwide, primarily at smaller venues, local fields, or amateur events, resulting in casualties. Below is a summary of notable cases based on available reports, focusing on strikes during active games (excluding practices or post-game events). Note that not all venues are explicitly described as full-scale "stadiums," but some qualify as such or as ballparks. This list is not exhaustive, as many incidents may go unreported, especially in remote areas.

### Baseball Incidents
- **1906, Manitowoc, Wisconsin (West Side Ballpark, USA)**: During a local baseball game, lightning struck the field, killing 5 people (a mix of players and spectators).
69

- **1949, Manatee County, Florida (USA)**: Lightning hit a crowded baseball field during a game, killing 2 players and injuring 50 others (players and spectators).
70

- **1973, Lake Havasu City, Arizona (High School Field, USA)**: During an amateur baseball game, lightning struck, killing 1 pitcher and injuring 7 others.
71


### Soccer Incidents
- **1998, Kasai Province (Democratic Republic of Congo)**: Lightning struck the pitch during a local league match between Bena Tshadi and Basanga, killing 11 players from one team and injuring about 30 spectators.
20

- **2018, KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa)**: A player from Maritzburg United was struck during a friendly match and later died from injuries (1 killed).
36

- **2024, Bandung (Siliwangi Stadium, Indonesia)**: During a friendly soccer match, a 35-year-old player was struck and killed (1 killed).
40

- **2024, Chilca District (Peru)**: Lightning hit during a local league match, killing 1 player and injuring 4 others.
10

- **2025, Tolima Department (Rural Field, Colombia)**: During a women's soccer match, lightning killed 4 players.
12


### Cricket Incidents
- **2004, Swaziland (Location Not Specified)**: Lightning struck during a match, killing 1 batsman and injuring 4 others (2 fielders and 2 nearby women).
84

- **2013, Johannesburg (School Field, South Africa)**: Two schoolboy cricketers were struck while covering the pitch during a storm delay, requiring intensive care (2 injured).
81

- **2020, Bangladesh (Local Field)**: Lightning killed 2 teenage cricketers during a match.
82

- **2025, Kuttanad, Kerala (India)**: A 29-year-old was killed by lightning while playing cricket (1 killed).
79

- **2025, Kowthalam Mandal, Andhra Pradesh (India)**: Lightning struck during a cricket game, killing 2 youths and injuring 4 others.
80

- **2025, Andhra Pradesh (India)**: Similar incident killing 2 youths and injuring 1 during cricket (may overlap with above).
83


### Summary of Casualties
Based on these documented cases (spanning over a century), at least **34 people have been killed** and **122 injured** by lightning strikes during sports games. Soccer accounts for the majority of casualties in recent years, often in regions with less advanced weather monitoring. In major professional leagues (e.g., NFL, MLB), no direct strikes causing casualties during games were found, likely due to strict safety protocols like game suspensions within 8-10 miles of lightning.
56
Global statistics from organizations like the National Weather Service indicate sports-related lightning deaths are a small fraction of overall fatalities (e.g., 7% in the US from 2006-2019), with soccer and baseball among the riskier activities.
59


These numbers represent reported incidents only; the true total could be higher, particularly in developing countries. For context, annual global lightning fatalities are estimated in the thousands, but stadium-specific strikes remain uncommon.

---

---

ABATTBQ87 said:

---

ABATTBQ87 said:

---

Quote:

---

Are you seriously saying we should just play in thunderstorms because you can't think of a time anytime has been struck by lightning?

---

Yep, exactly right. I don't buy the mindset of postponing games due to an abundance of caution.

---

My sophomore year, on the 3rd Satuday of October 1984.

---