The Rays have decided on their temporary home for the 2025 season: George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. Steinbrenner Field is the spring training home of the Yankees and the regular season home of the Tampa Tarpons, New York’s Single-A affiliate. Colleen WrightMarc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times were the first to report the news.
The Rays explained their decision, describing Steinbrenner Field as “the best-prepared facility in the Tampa Bay region to host regular-season Major League Baseball games” (per Topkin). Yankees managing partner Hal Steinbrenner weighed in on the decision with his own statement:
“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. 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. 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.”
The Yankees will continue to play their spring games at Steinbrenner Field, per the league, and the Rays will be business-as-usual in March as well, hosting their games at their annual home in Port Charlotte.
With regard to the regular season, Tim Kephart of the Associated Press reports that the Tarpons will use other fields at the spring facility. There will be upgrades made to the stadium prior to Opening Day to “ensure fans continue to have a wonderful experience,” per the league’s press release. Recent improvements have already been made to the facility itself, including upgraded lighting, a larger home locker room, and improved training and rehab setups. The Yankees, according to Kephart, will receive an additional $15MM in revenue for agreeing to host the Rays in 2025. That won’t come at the cost of the Rays’ revenue but rather insurance and other yet-unreported avenues.
10,387 seats (capacity) – cozy
It will fit in perfectly with the Rays’ team concept (shameless Major League reference)
Still more than they usually draw…
Maybe Rays fans, but they might lose revenue on opposing team fans. I went to a Rays versus San Diego game at the Trop and I can’t tell you how many jerseys there were of Padres fans, so their revenue could still take a hit.
You should see it when. The Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs come to town!!! It’s all visiting fans
Thought that said Tampa Tampons for a sec…
Well, there’s that, and then there’s also the Tarpons.
Baseball proving once again it is a great league of forward thinkers and planners under Manfred. Will have 2 teams playing in Minor League Stadiums in 2025. Well played Sirs.
At least they stopped the bleeding with a place to play.
I mean… I’m no fan of Manfred, but I don’t think anyone had the roof blowing off the stadium on their Bingo card. Where else should they play? Any other MLB stadium is at least a few hours drive – it’s hard enough to get their own fans to drive across the bay to get to the stadium.
Yeah because who would ever think that a hurricane could hit Florida? That’s just insane. Odds are one in a million. Lets not forget the forward thinkers in Florida who rig ballot measures they don’t like to fail and decide NOT to pay the insurance on their building to cover the cost of putting the roof back on. Manfred might not be the only one to blame, But he’s certainly at the very top end of the list. Who would ever have a legitimate contingency plan in case a hurricane destroyed a baseball park in Florida? Like I said it would take forward thinkers not Cro Magnons.
I’m willing to bet that the Marlins have no clue what they would do if one hits Miami and destroys their stadium. Let’s hope the new stadium has a, Gee IDK, Drainage system in the plans in case it happens again maybe? But probably not. Playing outside in Florida in 100% humidity would probably kill more people than a hurricane. And neither team really has enough fans to afford losing more.People are usually good at figuring out what to do AFTER a disaster. I have no such illusion about Florida. They’re not real smart. The smart ones are already fleeing in droves.
You sound pretty ignorant. A little sour about last Tuesday are we?
Just pointing out what is considered normal in MLB and Florida. Stupidity on a grandiose level. And we ain’t seen nothing yet. Bachman Turner Overdrive.
I’m not sure what you think Manfred should have done about the Tampa situation. Was MLB supposed to build a spare stadium somewhere just in case a natural disaster renders a team’s stadium unusable? The A’s situation is a mess that Manfred and the owners have to own, but not Tampa. Any team that loses their stadium to a natural disaster will have to scramble to find a place to play.
What I can’t figure out is why they can’t have new cloth roof in place before June?
Not if they hadn’t cancelled their insurance policy before the NEW Stadium was built they wouldn’t! They said the roof could have been repaired and been up before opening day. Except, Whoopsie, Somebody decided to put the money in their pockets and stop paying the premiums. So by stealing a few bucks now they lose all the revenue by having a stadium with 20,000 less capacity and lost revenue to the team and by way of taxes the morons of St. Petersburg. How’s that gonna work out? Geez does anybody think about anything anymore?
It could be. See the article here in this site. But the geniuses of Tampa Gvt. Decided it wouldn’t pay the 55 million themselves because they let the insurance policy lapse to save a couple of bucks Cleaver. Einstein type thinking. Tell me would it be worth the revenue they’d get back at this point by taxing every Beer, Hot Dog and Ticket for the loss of 20,000 seats? I’d like to think they’d make that money back and then some. But like I said, Einsteins they are not.
Listen to him he knows everything
So…………. You’re saying that everything I said DOESN’T make perfect sense? Still waiting for you to like…….Bring anything INTELLIGENT to the conversation. Got a feeling I’ll be here for quite awhile.
Do you think it’s alright, to leave the boys with Uncle Mikey? Uh, nope!!
Well first of all nobody anywhere said it was going to be repaired by opening day 2025. I live here and drive past Tropicana Field every single day. You have no idea what people lost here, lives ruined,people without homes. Baseball has been played outdoors here in the summer time, is it ideal? No. But what were the rays suppose to do? God forbid MLB gets involved to help but always willing to put their 2 cent in. The stadium is a total loss. Get over it
Tropicana Field Can Be Fixed For 2026 Season
By Darragh McDonald | November 12, 2024 at 2:21pm CDT
Saw it right here. But I guess it does say 26. But the point is still the same. I’m sure they could make the money back in the 26,27 and 28 seasons or whenever the new one is supposed to be done. But like I said, Needs forward thinkers. None around apparently. Probably with a little effort it could be done sometime this season.
Forward thinking on what? The city of St Pete owns and operates the Trop not the Rays, they already have to digest the costs of redevelopment and decided to take a gamble on reducing insurance premiums on a building that has numbered days, which clearly in hindsight was foolish. Not to say the city didn’t shoot themselves in the foot but it is what it is now, knowing the roof was 10 years past its life expectancy per the original builder
11,026.
11,025.46
11,098.6.
and they sell out every game in 2025!! #Winning
They’ll still have a higher home attendance than the Marlins, despite 27,055 less seats.
“Give FL a third team, Rob!”
That would be amazing for a game down the stretch run or playoffs!
…doubt they’d actually play playoff games there!
That sounds like enough seats to comfortably fit all the fans from a normal Rays game AND a normal Marlins game. MLB just need to exit Florida immediately because it will never really work.
Not after they put metal folding chairs along the first and third base lines
Tampa Rays
I really hope they make the playoffs and play there.
So do I.
What would be best would be an ALCS comprised of the Rays vs the A’s. A spring training site vs a city the team thinks so little of they won’t include it in their name.
Hi flew
No one cares what Fisher calls them, local fans are proud to support our Sacramento A’s.
And it is Sacramento A’s not West Sacramento A’s, no one calls them the Inglewood Rams or Santa Clara 49ers, which are the cities where those stadiums are technically located.
Well, at least they’re playing in Tampa.
they’re the Tampa Bay Rays, not the Tampa Rays – the bay is in between Tampa & St. Pete (where they usually play)
Which is why nobody wants to go to St. Pete. I would expect higher attendance at George Steinbrenner than at Tropicana.
How the hell could the attendance be higher at a ballpark that doesn’t even hold as many people as their average attendance at Tropicana Field?
It’s only the fact that the Trop is at a bad location. If you live in Florida, it’s pretty well known, but yes, they will have less attendance but probably more if it were a regular sized stadium
Because the Trop is in a horrible location nowhere near Tampa Bay (the city, not the body of water). If you’re coming from the Tampa side of the bay or the Bradenton side of the bay, you’re gonna be sitting on a bridge for at least an hour on both your way in and your way out, and the traffic and parking in St. Pete are not exactly smooth experiences either. Nobody wants to put up with all that to go to St. Pete, so yes it’s entirely plausible they could do better numbers at a smaller ballpark in Tampa proper (or even Clearwater/Dunedin) than at a bigger one in St. Pete.
there are just as many people on the St. Pete / Clearwater side of the bay than in metro Tampa – Steinbrenner Field will be easier for everywhere north and east of Tampa, but St. Pete is easier for areas to the south (Bradenton, Ft. Myers, Sarasota, Naples etc.)
Steinbrenner Field only holds 11,000 – the Rays AVERAGED 16,515 per game at the Trop… meaning each game will be 5,515 LESS attendance
It has never taking me more then a couple minutes to ever cross the bridge into Tampa.
That’s their average with paid tickets. It’s likely closer to 11,000 if you count every fan in attendance.
And clearly the sports fans are on the other side of the bay because the Bucs and Lightning have never had attendance issues. Despite consistently posting very respectable TV ratings numbers, the Rays can’t even fill up their building for playoff games. Why do you suppose that is, if location/ease of access isn’t the issue?
It holds 11,000 right now. Yes, obviously you are right if that holds. But surely they are going to find a way to expand the capacity as part of the unspecified “upgrades” they will be seeking to make before the season. I could also be right, if they expand by enough seats to make the argument possible. We’ll see in the spring, I guess.
Agree you would think they would try to create some additional capacity before 2025 season starts.
There is always some small SRO room but many people want dedicated seats – others are content to wander around except there won’t be a concourse like in many major league stadiums so ? smh
It’s MacGyver Time! Get Creative.. Think Outside the Box
Sell additional drone – pay per view subscriptions?
Why does that matter?
smart. I said this would be their choice from the 1st week post hurricane! Also will allow Yankees if they wish to expand w bleachers in the outfield paid by Tampa . Keeps local fans engaged too. Scheduling will be interesting.
The Yankees will be getting something out of this. Hal is about money.
I’m sure he was very excited to get back a small portion of what he gives the Rays every year
Yanks are essentially playing 8 to 9 extra home games.
$15 million dollars
This article notes, per an AP article, that the Yankees are getting $15 million per year.
Also, while it’s more nebulous, there’s probably some goodwill for the Yankees in their relationship with the Rays (and small market teams in general) on votes that come before owners.
And, iirc, Hal lives a lot of the year in Tampa, so there’s some personal benefit for him within his Tampa social circles to be seen helping out the Rays post-hurricane.
Baseball didn’t need the poop show that a homeless Rays team would create along with the TV fiasco.
That conceivably could affect every team — buyers might start questioning baseball’s finances. That would affect every owner.
@pt57 – I agree.
It’s also in the best interest of all MLB owners to keep the Rays’ new stadium deal on track, which I think is best served by the Rays finding a temporary home in the Tampa-St. Pete metro area.
The rights to Franco.
James Franco?
Julio. He would still play
Even though he’s like 88, I agree Krukker!
He did get something. 15 million somethings
Oh boy 2 teams playing in minor league ball parks next year, what a world class organization. #abolishfloridabaseball
In fairness, the other one is a minor-league team…
And both will probably increase attendance.
Blue Jays played in minor league parks in 2021 in Dunedin & Buffalo
In fairness, the Tampa Bay Rays and Sacramento A’s were a lot better than teams like the White Sox, Anaheim Angels, Colorado Rockies, and Miami Marlins. A smaller stadium will provide fans with an intimate experience, like watching Bob Jovi play in a local bar.
Last I heard ,BOB Jovi still was playing in local bars. /s
Thanks, spell-checker
Congrats to the Rays on managing to find an even worse temporary home than the Trop. The Rays continue to lead MLB in fan experience…
Its crazy two MLB teams are playing at minor league stadiums this year. Rays v A’s ALCS?
And a Double A team is playing at an MLB stadium. White Sox get the better stadium lol
That’s not fair, a real AA team would win more than 41 games!
Such a better stadium that they want a new one.
RIP the Trop. You will be missed
by who?
At the risk of starting a shotstirm, correct grammar would be, “by whom?”
We’re all here to help. It takes a village.
*Shitstorm is your correct spelling.
I didn’t think I could it past our AI Overlord.
*could get it past…
I was surprised myself, but there it is.
See, it truly takes a village!
He presumably misspelled it intentionally to avoid upsetting the censors or anyone with delicate sensibilities.
I went to the Trop just 2 years ago it wasn’t bad me and my nephew had fun watching the Braves play the Rays and Strider threw 6 shut out innings unfortunately it was the beginning of the end for Bryce Elder the next game he basically had his 1st bad outing after becoming an All-star and was at the time the NL leader in ERA and then the Rays put up 7 runs in 2 and 1/3 innings on him and he hasn’t been the same since……
So maybe it was the Trops fault afterall….
Then good riddance
The Trop will not be missed.
Everytime i see tampa tarpons
I keep thinking its tampa tampons
When a born female is hired (Rachel B) those things can get dispersed.
I don’t even want to know what the hell you mean
Rachel Broshahan? She’s actually very good in ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’.
You may wanna see an eye doctor then bruh. And possibly a brain doctor lol.
Put a tarp on it.
Tarpa Tampons?
Rachel Balk left some of her Tampons in the Tampa bullpen.
They are inside the rubber. Big problem.
Just don’t flush em!
Hoppers don’t like females junk.
That’s where hoppers and I differ…
Had a feeling this would happen. It makes sense based on the location.
Rachel Balk the Tampa Tampon chick? She still Tampons everwhere actually.
Glad that’s settled
Expect a lot of inflated offensive numbers next season thanks to 162 (between the A’s/Rays) games in minor league ballparks.
Based on location, and higher demand for tickets due to less inventory, they likely can increase ticket prices to more than cover the loss.
Looking at dimensions of Steinbrenner Field vs. Tropicana:
Steinbrenner is bigger for LF line, left-center, center, and right-center.
RF line is the only one of 5 listed dimensions where Steinbrenner is smaller than the Trop.
Maybe being outside will help the distance?
Rays averaged 16,500 in 2024. Steinbrenner seats 11,000. The cost of bad timing, I suppose.
A year of less supply to jack up the demand for 2026? :)
unless they raise prices to meet demand
Possibly, but it’s hard to justify raising prices when they’re moving to an inferior facility.
Double your fun! Empty the park after 4.5 and bring in a new crowd!
Depending on their business interruption insurance, they might have coverage.
Isnt that by Shady Acres Mental Hospital???
I think Junior Caminero would be fair compensation for allowing the Rays to use the field
I have a feeling they are paying rent.
In your dreams. You can have Walls and Siri.
Your terms are acceptable
We see your walls and siri and raise you Xavier Isaac and Peter fairbanks, esq.
Tarpon: it’s not just the A-ball mascot, it’s also the infield status on many summer evenings.
ISWYDT
Why on earth would they not play in the Trop?
Umm … it’s wrecked?
Jeez if only there was a way to search for that information. I hope someone answers you soon!
Hoping the original comment was a bad attempt at sarcasm.
Consider the source: It’s EHenderson, who never has a clue what he’s talking about.
@Blue Baron,
Delivering the heat!
Well, Señor Baron isn’t wrong… EH’S posts are just that. EH…
One of the common complaints over the years that tries to explain the Rays’ low attendance is the Trop’s location. Now that they’re pursuing a new stadium, still in St. Petersburg, it’ll be interesting if this year in Tampa gives ownership pause on their chosen location for the new stadium.
Not that the minor league stadium will allow for big crowds, but there could be more of a buzz for the team during this year that it’s more accessible to more people.
Rays don’t draw that well, but 1.3M fans last year. Even if they sell out Steinbrenner for the year their attendance will still be below 900K. So that is a pretty big hit to their attendance. Not sure if there are ways to increase the capacity of Steinbrenner field. For a year though that could work. But not for three, so lets hope they do commit to fixing the Trop.
Its 55mill to fix the trop, which is scheduled for demolition in 2yrs. Theres no way theyre fixing it.
But Insurance is going to cover about half of it. It really does seem like they are planning on fixing it.
The difference is a business interruption claim.
The Marlins should play at Steinbrenner Field and the Rays can play at the place in Miami. The Marlins don’t use the extra seats anyway, and the Rays can get a taste of what it’s like to play in a real stadium.
The Trop is a good stadium. Have you ever been, or are you just a hater who likes to take cheap shots without having been to a game?
I have watched a game or two at the Trop. Far and away the worst MLB park. The enclosed roof, lighting, and artificial turf made me think of the Japanese and Korean baseball clips I’ve watched. Baseball needs some form of open air, the sun shining, and the smell of freshly cut grass. Can’t beat it.
That said, however, they did try their damnest to boost the fan experience. They had some of the most hilarious video clips, and the park staff were among the most accommodating I’ve encountered.
Yes, I have been to Tampa a couple dozen times and I’ve been inside both The Trop and Steinbrenner Field. I think the Trop is easily the worst of the 13 or 14 major-league parks I’ve visited.
Fair enough. Have you been to Comiskey or Kauffman yet? Bottom 2 for me after visiting the Trop, Turner Field, Fenway, Shea, Miller Park, Comiskey, Kauffman, Minute Maid, Comerica, Wrigley, Nationals Ballpark, and PNC Park.
I’ve been a Rays fan since the beginning, in fact had season tix the first few years. Stopped because I got tired of getting there in the 3rd inning. My opinion? It’s an embarrassment. Sure, AC, that’s about it. I’ll gladly give that up to dispose of the catwalks, as well as the inability to watch while heading to concessions. I’ll be at Steinbrenner, it’ll be nice to see the sky again while watching a game.
That would be dumb because the Marlins are, you know, the Miami team and the Rays aren’t.
The Rays, you see, are the Tampa-St Pete team.
You might want to tell the citizens of Miami that the Marlins are the Miami team. I’m not sure they’re aware.
A quick read and that said Tampa Tampons
So the A’s and Rays are both playing in minor league stadiums. Good thing MLB is bending over backwards to help a team like the Dodgers.
How is that helping the Dodgers? I’m missing the reference
Dodgers have been playing in same stadium for around 50 years; so how is mlb helping them?? Dodger stadium has issues but isn’t that bad; put a winning team on the field and fans will come
MLB also allowed a loophole for the Ohtani contract. richest team in baseball should be paying full luxury tax on that
There’s no loophole. Deferred money in contracts has always been a thing, and its net present value is calculated for CBT by discounting back at the federal mid-term rate.
The details are on pages 136-7 of the CBA, which is easy to find with a simple Google search.
@CCooper8920
Billionaire owners could just spend their money to build a facility.
Yeah totes. No biggie. We’ll just whack together a full on stadium with parking and all the fixins real quick in time for opening day lol! Amish barn raisings eat your heart out!
This is all on the Rays and Tampa Bay due to poor maintenance upkeep. This has nothing to do with big or small markets.
fred-3: No, it’s all on nature for whipping up a Category 5 hurricane.
Which only lead to an unusable stadium because the Rays/St. Pete neglected to update their roof years ago, like the engineers recommended.
Logistically, Tampa makes the most sense for a temporary home for the Rays. That baseball stadium has the most seating and available parking of all the local ballparks, plus the Rays are able to stay in their territory in 2025…
I wonder how much red tape the Bankee$ will put up. Bad decision. They should play in Orlando at Wide World of Sports.
I love how everyone trolls the Rays and they usually come out winning.
We’ll see, but I suspect that the Rays years of remarkable outperformance (relative to their payroll) is now on a downward trajectory that’s unlikely to improve any time soon.
Tell me about the ticker tape parade! Thanks.
Pointing out what a mess their ownership and local government is has nothing to do their Baseball Operations department.
This is going to be hard when they have to play the Yankees. Is this an outdoor field or is it a covered field?
ESPN.com is reporting that the Yankees will receive 15M for allowing the Rays to use their field (some of that coming from insurance, etc.).
The Rays will be paying the visiting Yankees to play them in the Yankees spring training facility. LOL — would be hilarious if NYY outbids next team for Soto now by 15M
The Rays are not paying this, its insurance paying it.
Rays will finally sell out some home games.
Eh I’d go to a game there
Wouldn’t be surprised if after appearing that both the athletics and rays have full stadiums be because of size that new stadiums aren’t built more where sections can be closed off to make stadium look fuller. This players could like the feel of a sold out crowd more than a empty stadium
Where’s the Tarpons going to play?
Same place?
Sounds like a scheduling mess.
A different field at the same stadium, its in the article.
Imagine the Rays playing the A’s in the ALCS.
The good thing about the Trop being damaged is that they will now invest $ in the repair and will therefore be more inclined to continue using the Trop for a longer time.
Gonna be a lot of rainouts, postponements, and cancelled games
Now give us Yandy as a thank you! lol : )
The players will be happy! All the strip clubs are right there on Dale Mabry.
Anyone know how much this is going to hurt the Rays pitching? I think I had the entire Rays rotation on some part of my draft list.
No one cares about your fantasy baseball team
I care! All the best to JoeBrady.
All the best to JoeBrady.
====================
Well, thank you, and good luck to you as well.
Maybe not mine, but there will certainly be a lot of others in here with fantasy teams.
Steinbrenner welcoming the Rays to a field that still has its Tarp-ons unlike the open-aired Tropicana field.
I’m not exactly sure how the scheduling will work with a minor league team because anybody who watches Minor League Baseball knows they are off Mondays( Mostly) and play 6 games a week in the same place every week to ease the traveling. That indeed sounds like it will be a rough way to schedule a season.
The Tarpons are supposedly going to use a different field there.
Probably the best solution to an obviously tough situation. Stated attendance for the Rays will take a hit, though I wouldn’t be surprised to see some temporary seats installed to get the numbers up toward their (not so great) attendance in 2024. The team might also get away with higher ticket prices because the park is much more accessible to the Tampa market.
All in all, it shouldn’t be a major financial hit for the Rays. They always squeeze every penny, anyway.
I’m sure that the Yankees are happy to have a few more home games for 2025. We all know that the Astros wouldn’t receive this kind of benefit.
Actually you can’t get from the Trop to Steinbrenner Field in under an hour during rush hour…
Insert attendance joke here
The Tampa Tarpons need to change their name to the Tampa Tampons immediately, regardless of any potential backlash.
That alliteration is simply God-tier.
Ask Michelle Beadle for the announcement of the new name. She’s got this.
This has to be first time 2 minor league parks in play during regular season. Crazy
Something something Yankees still own the Rays…
Continue…? to have a wonderful experience.
Hmmm. Okay.
So assuming the Rays never play another game at the Trop, did this hurricane save them money on demolition costs?
What about mid-day heat and afternoon shower? Then, it’d become a steamer.
When the Rays host the Yankees, who is the home team? Do the Rays, should they make it, play all playoffs games at YS instead?
This is what I thought they would do from the start. Despite being smallish, it’s a really nice stadium to watch a game at. Much better than watching the Blue Jays in Dunedin during COVID.
Can it be expanded? I doubt they can add a second deck, but it looks like they possibly could add outfield seats.
If there’s space, they might bring in temporary seating.
Its the rays. They dont need to expand (aside from when a popular road team comes in)
Caught a game there Feb 23 and loved it. Great setup and concessions. Better than many other higher level parks so to speak
of course i’m sorry for the reason this had to happen but… it should be fun. might travel cross country to see a rays-yankees game. will also allow the sacramento a’s to feel like bigshots when they come to town: “look at this rinky dink place”
Glad to see the Rays staying local, but Steinbrenner Field??? This is Tampa, the thunderstorm capital of the US. Sometimes you can set your clock by when the evening thunderstorms arrive during the hot, sticky summer evenings. Doesn’t sound like too much fun.
look forward to september when the rays play a series of triple and quadrupleheaders
Don’t go!
Dodger fan here but the Yankees continue to be one of the classiest teams in MLB.
I can’t imagine they’re going to renovate Steinbrenner Field, fix up the Trop, and build a new stadium all at once. I think the Trop has hosted its last game.
I called it. Everyone was talking about other options but I said right from the start this made the most sense.
Right? Made total sense
$15 million extra for a Soto contract!
I was kinda hoping they’d come to Durham. The Bulls’ park is great.
So why cant they play at Tropicana Field without the roof being repaired? Is it really any difference than playing outdoors at Steinbrenner Field? I don’t get it?
No drainage built in. Outdoor parks have a ton of systems to help the field and stands not get flooded.
A really nice park; saw a game there on a business trip. Nicer than some higher level
Parks ive been at!
fLOLorida