Hurricane Milton left deep marks in Florida, among other places. Also with far-reaching consequences for the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team.
The Rays’ new venue: George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.
picture alliance / ZUMAPRESS.com
The Rays have a new home for the time being. The Major League Baseball team will play in the training stadium of the league rival New York Yankees next season. George M. Steinbrenner Field is in Tampa and can accommodate around 11,000 fans. The move is necessary because the home Tropicana Field was severely damaged by Hurricane Milton.
The Rays will not be able to use their own arena in nearby Saint Petersburg again until 2026 at the earliest – the repair costs would amount to around 55 million US dollars (52 million euros). The city now has to decide whether it wants to raise this amount and whether it considers the investment worthwhile: From 2028 onwards, the Rays are planning to move to a new, $1.3 billion arena anyway.
Thanks to the league rivals
“I appreciate the collaboration between the two teams, which allowed the Rays to make the best decision for next season,” said MLB boss Rob Manfred. The Rays thanked the World Series finalist for their courtesy. The Yankees traditionally prepare for the start of the season with Spring Training at George M. Steinbrenner Field in February and March.
About a month ago, the hurricane primarily damaged the fiberglass roof of Tropicana Field, tearing it to pieces from the strong winds.
