Why the Rays chose Tampa for 2025 season

Where the Tampa Bay Rays would play their 2025 season has dominated discourse in the month since Hurricane Milton tore the roof off Tropicana Field. The team will travel across the bay.

Ray president Matt Silverman told the Catalyst that the team prioritized keeping games local. Tampa’s George M. Steinbrenner Field made the most sense among the three options.

“It was so important for us to make sure our fans, employees, players and coaches had as much normalcy as possible,” Silverman said. “The Yankees facility at Steinbrenner Field was the one stadium in this area that could meet the requirements for a Major League Baseball game.”

The open-air ballpark across the street from Raymond James Stadium is the spring training home of the rival New York Yankees. Steinbrenner Field is 21 miles northeast of the storm-damaged Trop, which won’t be playable until the start of the 2026 season – at the earliest.

Time also factored into the decision to play across the bay. Silverman noted Thursday afternoon that spring training begins in three months, eliminating the ability to upgrade other stadiums. While subject to change, the Yankees and Rays will face off at Steinbrenner Field on Feb. 21.

Clearwater’s BayCare Ballpark, the spring home of the Philadelphia Phillies, was floated as an option. Pinellas County Commissioners, who will soon vote on issuing bonds for their contribution to a new $1.37 billion ballpark, preferred to see the team remain in the county.

BayCare Ballpark is 17 miles northeast of the Trop. Commissioner Chris Latvala said he would vote against the bond issuance at a county workshop Thursday if the Rays played anywhere other than Pinellas.

“Their motto was ‘Here to Stay,’” Latvala continued. “Well, now they have the opportunity to show they’re committed to Pinellas County.”

However, BayCare – and TD Ballpark, six miles north in Dunedin – only seat 8,500 people. Steinbrenner Field’s capacity is just over 11,000.

Silverman said that “is also important to us, in terms of as many fans as possible being able to access the games.” He also noted the “robustness of the amenities for players.”

The team’s announcement states that Steinbrenner Field was already undergoing significant renovations to improve its clubhouse and playing facilities. The Yankees have also recently upgraded field lighting and expanded the locker room and training spaces.

The ballpark has the largest seating capacity of any local baseball stadium outside of Tropicana Field. Photo: MLB.com.

While Silverman called the current facilities “first-rate,” the rivals-turned-partners cannot expand the ballpark’s seating capacity in time for the 2025 season. Hal Steinbrenner, managing general partner for the Yankees, said in a prepared statement the team was “happy to extend our hand to the Rays and their fans by providing a major-league quality facility.” 

“Both the Yankees organization and my family have deep roots in the Tampa Bay region, and we understand how meaningful it is for Rays players, employees and fans to have their 2025 home games take place within 30 minutes of Tropicana Field,” Steinbrenner added. “In times like these, rivalry and competition take a back seat to doing what’s right for our community – which is continuing to help families and businesses rebound from the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.”

Silverman said Steinbrenner Field “will be our facility for 81 games” and the team would “sell tickets, activate sponsorships and share in the concessions and parking revenue.” The Rays expect to make additional improvements, including team signage, before opening day to “ensure fans continue to have a wonderful experience at Rays games.

The front office’s temporary headquarters will remain in downtown St. Petersburg. Silverman said the team will have limited baseball operations space for game-based staff at Steinbrenner Field.

Government partners

A recently released damage assessment found that the city must spend over $55 million to repair the Trop. Mayor Ken Welch announced his intention to foot the bill Tuesday afternoon.

Welch said he was thankful that the Rays would remain “close to home” in a prepared statement Thursday. He also noted the city is “taking the necessary steps” to ensure the Rays return to St. Pete in 2026.

Hurricane Milton caused over $55 million in damage to Tropicana Field. Photo: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Rays.

Silverman declined to discuss the 2026 season or bond issuances Thursday. “We’ve been focused on securing a place for 2025 and making sure we know where we’re throwing out the first pitch in March. With this behind us, we can turn our attention to other issues,” he said.

Welch said his administration would “continue to focus our efforts on ensuring that the Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment stays on track.” The 30-year, $6.7 billion project is now in jeopardy after receiving the city and county’s blessing in July.

The city planned to provide $287.5 million to offset stadium construction costs and $130 million for site infrastructure improvements before back-to-back storms. Officials postponed a bond issuance vote until Nov. 21.

The county approved spending $312.5 million in heavily restricted tourism development tax dollars and would own the new ballpark. Commissioners delayed their bond vote until Nov. 19.

Administrator Barry Burton said the board, which will welcome two new members that day, could delay the issuance until December. Commissioner Rene Flowers, who previously approved the deal, said the Rays should attend the Nov. 19 meeting.

“We’re talking a lot of money,” Flowers added. “They talked to us when they wanted the money – they need to communicate with us now.”

Several of her colleagues shared that sentiment. Latvala and Commissioner Dave Eggers signaled they would again vote against the project. “It can be a much cozier, resident-friendly deal,” Eggers said. “There’s a continuum of support here.”

Commissioner Brian Scott reiterated that the county could not use its stadium funding to rebuild storm-damaged homes or businesses. The money can only go towards projects that increase tourism.

“Decades after Helene and Milton are long in our rearview mirror, that development is going to continue to spin off general fund dollars to this county that does benefit our residents,” Scott said. “I just want to make sure we’re also considering the long view on this – and not making a knee-jerk decision based on the trouble and strife we’re dealing with right now.”

Mayor Ken Welch hopes to have Tropicana Field repaired by March 2026. Photo: Will Vragovic/ Tampa Bay Rays.