The Tampa Bay Rays will have to settle for playing in front of a maximum of 11,000 people during their home games in 2025.
On Thursday, the organization announced that it will take over Steinbrenner Field, the stadium used by the New York Yankees during their training camps, during the upcoming campaign.
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This is due to the uncertainty surrounding the future of Tropicana Field. The latter was heavily damaged by Hurricane Milton last October. A large portion of the Rays’ home fabric roof was torn off. It will cost approximately $55 million to refurbish it for the 2026 season.
The city of St. Petersburg owns Tropicana Field. Expenses related to its reconstruction must still be approved by the city council.
“This is the best opportunity for our fan experience at the Rays’ 81 major league baseball home games,” club owner Stuart Sternberg said of the move to Steinbrenner Field for the 2025 season.
“As difficult as it is to bring one of these stadiums up to major league standards, this was the least bad. You’re going to see major baseball in a small environment.”
Steinbrenner Field is the largest stadium used during the Grapefruit League.
