The Tampa Bay Rays will play their home games at the stadium the New York Yankees use during training camps, in Tampa, due to uncertainty surrounding the future of Tropicana Field, damaged by Hurricane Milton.
Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg said in an interview that Steinbrenner Field was the best choice for the team and its fans. With approximately 11,000 seats, it is the largest stadium used in the Grapefruit League.
“This is the best opportunity for our fans’ experience at the Rays’ 81 major league baseball home games,” Sternberg said. As difficult as it is to bring one of these stadiums up to major league standards, this was the least of it. You’re going to see major baseball in a small environment.”
Circuit commissioner Rob Manfred said the agreement between the Rays and Yankees is good for the sport and for the Tampa region.
“The agreement meets the objectives of major league baseball, namely to allow Rays fans to see their team in action in the region during the next season and to allow the players to remain close to their families,” declared Manfred in a press release.
Tropicana Field has been the home of the Rays since 1998. It was hit hard by Hurricane Milton on October 9 when much of the fabric roof was torn off. The city of St. Petersburg, which owns the stadium, said repairs are estimated at US$55.7 million to ensure it is back in good condition in time for 2026.
These expenses will have to be approved by the city council, which voted this year in favor of the construction of a new 30,000-seat stadium at a cost of $1.3 billion.
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