Rays To Play 2025 Season At George M. Steinbrenner Field

The Rays have decided on their temporary home for the 2025 season: George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. Steinbrenner Field is the spring training home of the Yankees and the regular season home of the Tampa Tarpons, New York’s Single-A League. Colleen Wright again Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times was the first to report the news.

The Rays explained their decision, describing Steinbrenner Field as “the best-equipped facility in the Tampa Bay region to host regular season games of Major League Baseball” (per Topkin). Yankees managing partner Hal Steinbrenner weighed in on his decision with his statement:

“We are happy to extend our hand to the Rays and their fans by providing them with a Major League level facility that they will use this season. Both the Yankees organization and my family have deep roots in the Tampa Bay region, and we understand how important it is to Rays players, staff and fans that their 2025 home games take place within 30 minutes of Tropicana Field. In times like these, competition and competition take a back seat to doing what is right in our community – which continues to help families and businesses bounce back from the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.”

The Yankees will continue to play their spring games at Steinbrenner Field, according to the league, while the Rays will be business as usual in March, holding their games at their annual home in Port Charlotte.

As for the regular season, Tim Kephart of the Associated Press reports that the Tarpons will use other fields in the spring. Field improvements will be made prior to Opening Day to “ensure fans continue to have a great experience,” according to a league release. Recent improvements have already been made to the facility itself, including improved lighting, a larger home locker room, and improved training and resets. The Yankees, according to Keart, will receive an additional $15MM in revenue for agreeing to host the Rays in 2025. That won’t come at the expense of the Rays’ revenue but rather insurance and other undisclosed costs.