The Tampa Bay Rays will play their 2025 season at the New York Yankees’ Spring Training facility in Tampa, Florida, due to ongoing renovations at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. This move marks a significant shift for the Rays, as they will temporarily relocate to George M. Steinbrenner Field, a venue typically used for the Yankees’ spring training games. The decision comes as a result of the need to upgrade Tropicana Field, which has long been criticized for its outdated infrastructure and location.
The Rays’ move to Steinbrenner Field, which is just a short distance from their current Spring Training home in Port Charlotte, is expected to have both logistical and financial implications. Steinbrenner Field, named after the late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, is one of the premier Spring Training stadiums in Major League Baseball, featuring a modernized design and extensive amenities. The venue has the capacity to host around 11,000 fans, which is significantly smaller than Tropicana Field, which seats approximately 25,000. Despite this, the change will offer fans an intimate and potentially more electric atmosphere, as the Rays will play in a ballpark that has seen its fair share of postseason baseball.
This temporary move will also provide the Rays with an opportunity to explore future possibilities for their long-term home. The franchise has been seeking a new ballpark for years, with a proposed waterfront stadium in St. Petersburg being discussed in various stages. The renovations to Tropicana Field are part of a larger effort to improve the team’s financial situation and fan experience, but this is not expected to be a quick fix.
For the Yankees, the arrangement allows them to maintain their Spring Training presence while accommodating the Rays for the 2025 season. Though the move is temporary, it will be a unique chapter in the Rays’ history, as they temporarily adopt a new identity in one of the most iconic ballparks in the game. While fans will miss the familiar sights of Tropicana Field, the 2025 season at Steinbrenner Field promises to offer new experiences for the team and its supporters, keeping the Rays’ competitive spirit alive while renovations continue at their permanent home.
