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The Tampa Bay Rays found themselves facing a bit of a crisis after Hurricane Milton ripped the roof off of Tropicana Field, and it was unclear where they’d end up this season. Now, they’ve announced they’ll actually be playing in the city in the team’s name for the first time in franchise history.
Tropicana Field was originally constructed in the hopes of attracting an MLB team to the Tampa Bay area, and in 1998, that vision came to fruition when the franchise originally known as the Devil Rays kicked off its inaugural season at a ballpark that quickly earned its longstanding reputation as one of the worst stadiums in the league.
Players have long taken issue with the infamous catwalks and the artificial turf Carl Crawford has linked to the injuries that plagued him over the course of his career, and the fact Tropicana Field is located in St. Petersburg (around a 30-minute drive from downtown Tampa without any traffic) has undoubtedly played a major role in the lackluster attendance numbers the Rays have dealt with since their inception.
Earlier this year, the city of St. Pete approved a plan that will lead to the construction of a new $1.3 billion stadium that the Rays will tentatively relocate to in 2028. They were expected to play the next three seasons at The Trop, but that plan was derailed when Hurricane Milton caused more than $55 million worth of damage to a tattered dome officials quickly determined would not be able to host any games next year.
Last month, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said the Rays were still exploring their options when it came to finding a new home but said the league expected them to temporarily relocate to a stadium in the same region.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, that will indeed be the case, as the Rays announced they will be setting up shop at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the 11,026-seat venue the New York Yankees use for spring training and is also home to the Tampa Tarpons, their Single-A affiliate.
The outlet reports BayCare Ballpark, the spring training site for the Phillies that also houses their Single-A team, was the other potential candidate, but the Rays ultimately decided to go with the stadium that will see them play home games in the city of Tampa for the first time since their inception.
Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner issued a classy statement after the decision was announced, saying the franchise was more than happy to make the stadium available to the team in the hopes it will ease the burdens that come with the unexpected transition.
#Yankees Hal Steinbrenner, on deal with #Rays:
“We are happy to extend our hand to the Rays and their fans by providing a Major League-quality facility for them to utilize this season. Both the Yankees organization and my family have deep roots in the Tampa Bay region, and we…— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) November 14, 2024
The Buccaneers—whose stadium is located across the street from their new homes—also chimed in with similar sentiments.
The repairs to Tropicana Field are expected to be finished in time for the 2026 season, but the damage could delay the team’s move to the new stadium due a a clause in its lease with the city that automatically extends the term for an additional year if it’s not in a suitable condition to host games.