(St. Petersburg) The Tampa Bay Rays will play their home games at the stadium the New York Yankees use during training camps in Tampa due to uncertainty surrounding the future of Tropicana Field, which was damaged by the hurricane Milton.
Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg said in an interview that Steinbrenner Field was the best choice for the team and its fans. With approximately 11,000 seats, it is the largest stadium used in the Grapefruit League.
“This is the best opportunity for our fans’ experience at the Rays’ 81 major league baseball home games,” Sternberg said. 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 league baseball in a small environment. »
Circuit commissioner Rob Manfred said the agreement between the Rays and Yankees is good for the sport and for the Tampa region.
“The agreement meets the objectives of major league baseball, namely to allow Rays fans to see their team in action in the region during the next season and to allow players to remain close to their families,” declared Manfred in a press release.
PHOTO ARCHIVES MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES, PROVIDED BY AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
The extent of the damage at Tropicana Field.
Tropicana Field has been the home of the Rays since 1998. It was hit hard by the hurricane Miltonon October 9, when a large part of the fabric roof was torn. The city of St. Petersburg, which owns the stadium, said repairs are estimated at US$55.7 million to ensure it is back in good condition in time for 2026.
These expenses will have to be approved by the city council, which voted this year in favor of the construction of a new stadium with 30,000 seats at a cost of 1.3 billion.
