Since their inception in 1998, the Rays played home games at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida — a domed stadium that kept fans and players sheltered from summer heat and rain. Due to extensive damage caused by Hurricane Milton in late 2024, Tropicana Field was rendered unusable for the 2025 season, prompting the team to relocate its home games to George M. Steinbrenner Field (GMS Field) in nearby Tampa for that season. Steinbrenner Field, traditionally the spring training home of another MLB team and a local minor league ballpark, will host Rays regular-season games while repairs and future plans take shape.
Tropicana Field: The Longtime Home
For most of the Rays’ history, Tropicana Field served as the team’s home ballpark. Located in St. Petersburg, this indoor stadium offered a controlled environment that protected games from Florida’s frequent rain and summer heat. Its fixed roof made it unique among many Major League venues, and for years it provided a stable and recognizable home for Tampa Bay baseball.
The facility also featured fan-friendly elements like team stores, a variety of seating options, and amenities designed to enhance the ballpark experience — helping build a local baseball culture in the Tampa Bay region.
Hurricane Damage and the 2025 Move
Significant storm damage in October 2024 — including destruction of parts of the roof — left Tropicana Field unsuitable for play. With repairs expected to take considerable time, the Rays announced that they would relocate their home games for the 2025 MLB season to George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.
This move marked the first time the franchise would play a full regular season outside of Tropicana Field since its inception. Although the relocation is temporary, it brought Rays baseball closer to another part of the Tampa Bay area and ensured fans could still see home games nearby.
George M. Steinbrenner Field — A New Temporary Home
George M. Steinbrenner Field, often called GMS Field, is located in Tampa, Florida, and traditionally serves as the spring training ballpark for the New York Yankees. It also hosts minor league games and other baseball events, with a seating capacity of around 11,000 spectators.
For the 2025 season, the Rays will utilize this facility as their regular-season home. To accommodate Major League play, upgrades and enhancements — such as improved lighting and expanded training facilities — have been undertaken. The move reflects both practical necessity and cooperation between baseball organizations to keep Rays baseball in the Tampa Bay region.
Comparing the Two Ballparks
Tropicana Field’s large, domed environment once seated tens of thousands of fans and provided a classic indoor MLB atmosphere. In contrast, Steinbrenner Field — while smaller and traditionally used for spring training and minor league games — offers an intimate, historic setting with grass playing surface and classic ballpark charm.
Although the fan experiences differ, both venues have hosted professional baseball and tie into the broader fabric of the sport in Florida.
Looking Ahead
With Tropicana Field currently out of commission, Rays leadership and regional officials are navigating repair and future ballpark planning. Meanwhile, the temporary home at Steinbrenner Field allows the team to compete at the Major League level without disruption to its fan base.
For baseball supporters in the Tampa Bay area, this blend of tradition, adaptation, and local cooperation underscores how the sport can endure through both challenges and change — keeping America’s pastime thriving in Florida.