[Marc Topkin] BREAKING: Rays are planning to play 2025 season at Tampa’s Steinbrenner Field
November 14, 2024
[Marc Topkin] BREAKING: Rays are planning to play 2025 season at Tampa’s Steinbrenner Field
39 comments
Yankees own the rays lol
Sounds like a few extra bucks for Hal / Cashman’s Soto hunt
I know what happened to Tropicana was obviously unexpected but MLB having TWO! teams play in minor league facilities this year is embarrassing. They should be embarrassed.
I know it sounds silly. But realistically. They aren’t pulling 25,000 fans a night. They are already on route to a new stadium. Renovating for a few years is a big waste of money. Plus who knows how much more it will cost when they go through the guts of it. At least now the employees of the club can still be close.
No $10 tickets this year.
Hilarious, twice as many games with the short porch means twice as many r/baseball meltdowns
Two mlb teams will be playing in minor league stadiums next season
“The Rays should play in Tampa!”
(monkey’s paw curls)
Will they change the logo from Yankees to Rays on the stadium?
So are the Tarpons going to play mostly away games this year?
Praying for an A’s/Rays ALCS next season
Literally Yankee Stadium south
makes sense to play there temporarily as the roof won’t be ready to go until 2026
Does this mean a lot of rainouts?
Glad we can finally settle whether the Rays are failing because fans hate crossing bridges or not.
Im curious how the team will adjust to playing home games without a roof. What sort of different roster construction or game strategies will result from this?
This is fantastic news for folks on the Tampa side of the bridge. I’ll be at least 40 games next year.
Can’t wait for the Ray’s analytics team to somehow figure out how to make better use of the dimensions than the yankees front office
With the Florida heat and rain, would people actually want to come to Rays games that are outdoors?
“The Rays apparently chose Steinbrenner Field over Clearwater’s BayCare Ballpark, spring home of the Philadelphia Phillies, in consultation with Major League Baseball.“
I wonder what made them choose one over the other
Steinbrenner Field: The Home of the Rays
Are the dimensions the same as Yankees Stadium? If so, Brandon Lowe might absolutely mash this season.
So if this goes incredibly well where Tampa fans are more engaged than they are in St. Pete, could the Rays back out of their stadium deal in St. Pete and try again to get a deal on the Tampa side of Tampa Bay?
Never thought I’d say this, but thank you, Yankees, for giving us a home next year.
Other than the Yankee connection, this is actually a very good solution
I know it won’t happen but could you imagine an A’s-Rays ALCS?
Can’t wait for the dingers to hit cars on Dale Mabry Ave
I live down the street. Im happy
To anyone who has not followed this whole ordeal:
* Rays get through ~10 Pinellas County (St. Pete, Clearwater, Dunedin etc.) Council Meetings, secure funding for the stadium (27% coming from Pinellas, ~300M). Stadium set to break ground in Jan 25, for 27 season at earliest (through 28 more likely)
* Hurricane hits St. Pete, damages stadium to the tune of $55M (burden of St. Pete who owns stadium outright). Tropicana unlikely to host baseball again
* Manfred gives Christmas deadline to find alternative venue for 2 years until construction on new stadium complete
* Pinellas County gives ultimatum, play 25 and 26 seasons in Pinellas County (choice would be: Al Lang – Rowdies USL Soccer stadium, occasionally hosts ST games; BayCare Ballpark – Phillies ST site in Clearwater; TD Ballpark – Blue Jays ST site in Dunedin where the Jays played 21 regular season games in 2021) **or county withdraws funding for the stadium**
* Politicians likely to be elected in the area are almost universally anti-stadium. Team (ownership group) donates to run political ads against anti-stadium politicians running for local office.
* Per TBTimes “Since Hurricane Milton, the Rays have made eight donations totaling $71,000 to political action committees, campaign finance records show. Prior to that, the team contributed another $75,000 since the August primary election. That money was given to political committees that transferred those funds to other political committees that ran attack ads on Nowicki and supported candidates who favor a stadium deal”
* Rays lost the gamble badly, most of those politicians get elected anyway and are likely to hold a grudge against Rays.
* Because of this, future in Pinellas county in jeopardy regardless of where team chooses to play in 25 and 26
* Today, team announces they are playing at Steinbrenner in Tampa (Hillsborough County)
A lot of unfortunate things happened, Rays took a gamble and lost. Now it seems like we are back to square one of the stadium as I highly doubt the team’s future in Pinellas. While I think going back to the drawing board might have some benefits (my dream location of a new park on Sparkman Wharf between the Florida Aquarium and Amalie Arena is still alive), this is a disastrous series of events for a team already on a shoestring budget with a dissolved TV deal to navigate.
Anyone have any copium? Not a great day to be a Rays fan
Good, now Tampa can enjoy them for a bit and shut up about moving them out of St Pete
What I’d like to see a little talk about is how the scheduling will affect the Yankees minor league teams…because TWO minor league teams play there!
The Low-A Tampa Tarpons of course play there, but so does the Rookie-level FCL Yankees. Both usually use Steinbrenner field. I wouldn’t be surprised if the FCL team gets shifted to the complex’s only back field, but there will still be the question of locker rooms and training facilities to support all three. That’s a pretty big deal to get ready…it’s been a big deal for Sacramento, and they got a head start, starting construction before the end of the 2024 season.
Good bit of info here. Right after Spring Training ends, Steinbrenner Field to be rebranded with Rays logos. Yankees to receive about $15M in revenue sharing (from various sources, such as insurance payouts). The Tampa Tarpons to play their games on the Yankees Spring Training back field.
So they’re going to play at the Yankees stadium one year, repair Tropicana for 26 and 27, and then new stadium in 2028? Am I understanding that correctly?
March 23, 2025: Rays @ Yankees at Steinbrenner Field
April 17, 2025: Yankees @ Rays at Steinbrenner Field
With a capacity of 11,000, sell outs should be easier.
Lmao the Rays literally play in Yankee Stadium South now
Why not just bunk with us, smh
Imagine not having a short porch, amirite Rays fans?
39 comments
Yankees own the rays lol
Sounds like a few extra bucks for Hal / Cashman’s Soto hunt
I know what happened to Tropicana was obviously unexpected but MLB having TWO! teams play in minor league facilities this year is embarrassing. They should be embarrassed.
I know it sounds silly. But realistically. They aren’t pulling 25,000 fans a night. They are already on route to a new stadium. Renovating for a few years is a big waste of money. Plus who knows how much more it will cost when they go through the guts of it. At least now the employees of the club can still be close.
No $10 tickets this year.
Hilarious, twice as many games with the short porch means twice as many r/baseball meltdowns
Two mlb teams will be playing in minor league stadiums next season
“The Rays should play in Tampa!”
(monkey’s paw curls)
Will they change the logo from Yankees to Rays on the stadium?
So are the Tarpons going to play mostly away games this year?
Praying for an A’s/Rays ALCS next season
Literally Yankee Stadium south
makes sense to play there temporarily as the roof won’t be ready to go until 2026
Does this mean a lot of rainouts?
Glad we can finally settle whether the Rays are failing because fans hate crossing bridges or not.
Im curious how the team will adjust to playing home games without a roof. What sort of different roster construction or game strategies will result from this?
This is fantastic news for folks on the Tampa side of the bridge. I’ll be at least 40 games next year.
Can’t wait for the Ray’s analytics team to somehow figure out how to make better use of the dimensions than the yankees front office
With the Florida heat and rain, would people actually want to come to Rays games that are outdoors?
“The Rays apparently chose Steinbrenner Field over Clearwater’s BayCare Ballpark, spring home of the Philadelphia Phillies, in consultation with Major League Baseball.“
I wonder what made them choose one over the other
Steinbrenner Field: The Home of the Rays
Are the dimensions the same as Yankees Stadium? If so, Brandon Lowe might absolutely mash this season.
So if this goes incredibly well where Tampa fans are more engaged than they are in St. Pete, could the Rays back out of their stadium deal in St. Pete and try again to get a deal on the Tampa side of Tampa Bay?
Never thought I’d say this, but thank you, Yankees, for giving us a home next year.
Other than the Yankee connection, this is actually a very good solution
I know it won’t happen but could you imagine an A’s-Rays ALCS?
Can’t wait for the dingers to hit cars on Dale Mabry Ave
I live down the street. Im happy
To anyone who has not followed this whole ordeal:
* Rays get through ~10 Pinellas County (St. Pete, Clearwater, Dunedin etc.) Council Meetings, secure funding for the stadium (27% coming from Pinellas, ~300M). Stadium set to break ground in Jan 25, for 27 season at earliest (through 28 more likely)
* Hurricane hits St. Pete, damages stadium to the tune of $55M (burden of St. Pete who owns stadium outright). Tropicana unlikely to host baseball again
* Manfred gives Christmas deadline to find alternative venue for 2 years until construction on new stadium complete
* Pinellas County gives ultimatum, play 25 and 26 seasons in Pinellas County (choice would be: Al Lang – Rowdies USL Soccer stadium, occasionally hosts ST games; BayCare Ballpark – Phillies ST site in Clearwater; TD Ballpark – Blue Jays ST site in Dunedin where the Jays played 21 regular season games in 2021) **or county withdraws funding for the stadium**
* Politicians likely to be elected in the area are almost universally anti-stadium. Team (ownership group) donates to run political ads against anti-stadium politicians running for local office.
* Per TBTimes “Since Hurricane Milton, the Rays have made eight donations totaling $71,000 to political action committees, campaign finance records show. Prior to that, the team contributed another $75,000 since the August primary election. That money was given to political committees that transferred those funds to other political committees that ran attack ads on Nowicki and supported candidates who favor a stadium deal”
* Rays lost the gamble badly, most of those politicians get elected anyway and are likely to hold a grudge against Rays.
* Because of this, future in Pinellas county in jeopardy regardless of where team chooses to play in 25 and 26
* Today, team announces they are playing at Steinbrenner in Tampa (Hillsborough County)
A lot of unfortunate things happened, Rays took a gamble and lost. Now it seems like we are back to square one of the stadium as I highly doubt the team’s future in Pinellas. While I think going back to the drawing board might have some benefits (my dream location of a new park on Sparkman Wharf between the Florida Aquarium and Amalie Arena is still alive), this is a disastrous series of events for a team already on a shoestring budget with a dissolved TV deal to navigate.
Anyone have any copium? Not a great day to be a Rays fan
Good, now Tampa can enjoy them for a bit and shut up about moving them out of St Pete
What I’d like to see a little talk about is how the scheduling will affect the Yankees minor league teams…because TWO minor league teams play there!
The Low-A Tampa Tarpons of course play there, but so does the Rookie-level FCL Yankees. Both usually use Steinbrenner field. I wouldn’t be surprised if the FCL team gets shifted to the complex’s only back field, but there will still be the question of locker rooms and training facilities to support all three. That’s a pretty big deal to get ready…it’s been a big deal for Sacramento, and they got a head start, starting construction before the end of the 2024 season.
https://www.abcactionnews.com/sports/baseball/rays/tampa-bay-rays-to-play-2025-season-at-yankees-spring-training-field-in-tampa
Good bit of info here. Right after Spring Training ends, Steinbrenner Field to be rebranded with Rays logos. Yankees to receive about $15M in revenue sharing (from various sources, such as insurance payouts). The Tampa Tarpons to play their games on the Yankees Spring Training back field.
So they’re going to play at the Yankees stadium one year, repair Tropicana for 26 and 27, and then new stadium in 2028? Am I understanding that correctly?
March 23, 2025: Rays @ Yankees at Steinbrenner Field
April 17, 2025: Yankees @ Rays at Steinbrenner Field
With a capacity of 11,000, sell outs should be easier.
Lmao the Rays literally play in Yankee Stadium South now
Why not just bunk with us, smh
Imagine not having a short porch, amirite Rays fans?
Get ready for a lot of @ TB (PPD)