According to Mark Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, the Rays have found their home stadium for the 2025 season, with a little help from the Yankees. The Rays have since made the news official with an announcement on Thursday afternoon.
Per Topkin, Tampa will be playing their home games at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the Yanks, in the upcoming season. The Rays had been mulling options for their interim home park after Hurricane Milton caused devastating damage to Tropicana Field, tearing off the roof and creating other structural damage that has made the field unplayable until 2026.
Topkin noted that the Rays chose Steinbrenner Field over BayCare Ballpark, which is the spring training home of the Phillies. The Yanks and Rays would meet at Steinbrenner Field for the first time in 2025 on April 17.
There are still details to be sorted out, such as the Yankees’ Class-A affiliate Tampa Tarpons and where they will play, as they typically play home games at Steinbrenner Field. The Yankees also typically have players working out and rehabbing at that facility during the season, and a major league team playing a full season at the complex could complicate that.