A New Stadium To Host The MLB in 2025
The Tampa Bay Rays Announce Their Home For the 2025 Regular Season
When Hurricane Milton hit Tropicana Field, the Rays’ home stadium on October 9th, the domed roof’s fabric was torn & many other parts of the stadium were destroyed. Over the next few weeks, a lot of information was gathered & the city of St. Petersburg, Florida, who owns the stadium, ultimately learned that Tropicana Field’s repairs would not be ready until the 2026 MLB season. As a result, the Rays have been looking for a new home over the past few days.
Although there were many options, including BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater & TD Ballpark in Dunedin, which are the spring training home to the Phillies & Blue Jays, respectively, the Rays ultimately decided on George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.
After a lot of consideration, the Rays selected George M. Steinbrenner Field to be their home in 2025. Steinbrenner Field is home to the New York Yankees during spring training along with being the home field of the Tampa Tarpons, the Single-A affiliate of the Yankees. However, unlike the Athletics & the Sacramento River Cats, the Rays & Tarpons will not be sharing the stadium during the season & the Tarpons are expected to play their regular season home games at another field within the Yankees Minor League Complex.
Steinbrenner Field opened in 1996 & is located in Tampa Bay, FL— across the street from Raymond James Stadium, home to the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In addition, Steinbrenner Field has a capacity of 11,206 people & is the largest minor league ballpark in Florida.
While Tropicana Field is being repaired throughout the 2025 season, the Tampa Bay Rays will join the Athletics as one of the wo MLB teams playing in a minor leaue ballpark— playing their home games at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa Bay, Florida.
To me, it’s the only sensible spot. The Yankees were already infringing on the Rays market, but this is definitely cool of them to do this.