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The Tampa Bay Rays won’t have to travel far for their home games in 2025 as Tropicana Field undergoes hurricane repairs, but they will be playing at a new venue -Steinbrenner Field, the longtime spring training home of their division rivals, the New York Yankees.
On Thursday, the Rays announced they will play their 2025 season at Steinbrenner Field, located in Tampa, which has a seating capacity of about 11,000. This marks a historic moment for the Rays, as it will be the first time they play home games in Tampa proper. Since their inaugural season in 1998, the team has called St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field home. However, with preliminary approval to build a new stadium near Tropicana Field set for completion by 2028, the Rays needed a temporary solution for 2025.
The decision to relocate comes after significant damage to Tropicana Field from Hurricane Milton, which tore off the roof—a major setback for a facility that lacks a proper drainage system. The estimated cost for necessary repairs is around $55 million, with the renovations slated to be completed by the 2026 season.
How is this better ?
Steinbrenner Field offers the Rays a relatively modern facility with more seating capacity than most spring training venues, and it keeps them in the Tampa Bay area. However, the team will face some challenges, including playing in intense summer heat and humidity, as well as frequent thunderstorms. Additionally, they will share the facility with the Tampa Tarpons, the Yankees’ Class A minor league affiliate.
Despite the challenges, Rays Principal Owner Stuart Sternberg expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, stating, "We deeply appreciate that the Yankees have graciously allowed us to play at Steinbrenner Field for the 2025 season. The hurricane damage to Tropicana Field has forced us to take some extraordinary steps, just as Hurricanes Helene and Milton have forced thousands of families and businesses in our community to adapt to new circumstances as we all recover and rebuild."
Remarkably, two major league teams will play in minor league stadiums during the 2025 season. While the Rays are displaced by hurricane damage, the Oakland Athletics will spend at least three seasons playing in a Class AAA park in West Sacramento while they work on securing a new stadium in Las Vegas.
Other choices
The Rays considered a few other in-state options for their temporary home, with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred hoping to finalize a decision by December. The former spring complex of the Atlanta Braves at Walt Disney World near Orlando was a possible choice, as was the idea of playing some games at Miami's loanDepot Park. Ultimately, Steinbrenner Field will undergo further renovations to meet the demands of a major league regular season experience for both the Rays, their opponents, and the fans.
Tampa has long been the Yankees' spring training base, and they’ve had a deep connection to the area for decades. "We are happy to extend our hand to the Rays and their fans by providing a Major League-quality facility for them to utilize this season," said Yankees chairman Hal Steinbrenner. “Both the Yankees organization and my family have deep roots in the Tampa Bay region, and we understand how meaningful it is for Rays players, employees, and fans to have their 2025 home games take place within 30 minutes of Tropicana Field."
He added, "In times like these, rivalry and competition take a back seat to doing what’s right for our community—which is continuing to help families and businesses rebound from the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton."
