The Tampa Bay Rays are playing their home games at George M. Steinbrenner Field for the 2025 season due to Tropicana Field sustaining significant damage caused by Hurricane Milton late last year.
Repairs for the Rays’ home stadium, which included needing to replace the roof, are not expected to be completed until Opening Day of the 2026 season at the earliest. After deliberations over plans for potential postseason games this October, MLB and the Rays decided on keeping their home games at Steinbrenner Field.
It’s the Spring Training home of the New York Yankees, who worked with MLB and the Rays to make accommodations for the ballpark to be used during the regular season.
One goal for the Rays during their search for a temporary home in 2025 was remaining close to Tampa.
George M. Steinbrenner Field capacity is listed at 11,026, which is the largest of all Spring Training stadiums in Florida. It features 13 suites, club areas, social spaces, cabana seating and more upgrades that were implemented as part of a $40 million renovation project in 2017.
However, for Rays’ home games, Steinbrenner Field capacity is capped at 10,046. It’s the number attendance reached for all three games this past weekend with the Los Angeles Dodgers in town.
The crowd was seemingly split throughout the series, with a particularly large pro-Dodgers contingent on Friday night.
“I thought the energy was good,” Roberts said. “We as the Dodgers, we travel well. People want to see Shohei play and see us play. It was a packed house, and I think the Rays and Major League Baseball are doing the best they can. It was hot and humid out there, but I think everyone is making the most of it.
“I’d pay money to watch Shohei play too.”
Dodgers’ reaction to George M. Steinbrenner Field
Dave Roberts
When asked for his initial thoughts of the cozy stadium, Roberts relayed that he’d been informed fly balls to right field carried well. The Dodgers certainly witnessed that firsthand when Yandy Díaz hit two fly balls for home runs in the Rays’ win on Saturday.
Meanwhile, another challenge for the Dodgers was playing back-to-back early afternoon games in challenging weather conditions.
“I think the humidity,” Roberts answered when asked what he believed was the biggest challenge of playing at George M. Steinbrenner Field. “That’s something we just haven’t seen. A little bit in Cincinnati, but that’s probably the biggest challenge.
“And I also think you saw the two homers by Yandy, we’re not used to balls being hit 93 miles an hour being homers. So that’s something that’s different. The lack of foul territory, different. But the intimacy seems great. For the Yankees to allow this to happen, Major League Baseball to figure it out and make it work, is great.”
Clayton Kershaw
Clayton Kershaw pitched six scoreless innings in the series opener and despite being a Dallas native, he too felt the effects of summertime in Tampa.
“It definitely feels like Spring Training. I know they did the best they can. Good crowd, though. It’s fun to see every seat filled,” Kershaw said.
“You just try to treat it like any game. You definitely feel like you’re in Spring Training a little bit with everything that’s around. It’s definitely not cool, I’ll tell ya that.”
Tommy Edman
Tommy Edman suffered a sprained right ankle on Sunday that is likely going to result in landing on the injured list, but he still started two of the three games.
“It’s hot and muggy, but they’ve got to play in the same weather,” he said. “Everybody is on a level playing field. Just got to have that tough mindset and grit it out.”
Freddie Freeman
Freeman had plenty of prior experience playing at Steinbrenner Field due to his career beginning with the Atlanta Braves, but that didn’t necessarily amount to being comfortable in the elements.
“I’ve played a lot of games in this park, so nothing new to me. This definitely reminded me of the Gulf Coast League in 2007,” Freeman recalled.
“I’ve played night games here in Spring Training before when I was with the Braves, so this is nothing new to me. They did a really great job getting this place together. I haven’t been here in five or six years. Right here used to be the training room, and it used to be one table.
“So I was interested to see how they did it. They did a really good job. I really like playing here because we got a win.”
After playing Sunday, Freeman’s interest in ballpark renovations gave way to feeling the effects of the weather.
“This was the hottest game I think I’ve ever been a part of,” Freeman shared. “I remember a Cincinnati game, had to be at least 13 years ago, 4 o’clock start, I think it was in August, and this one beats it. When coming up in the Minor Leagues, the Gulf Coast League will weed out people.
“When you come up in the Minor Leagues, this is it. This is as hot as it can get.”
Blake Snell
Blake Snell returned to the Dodgers rotation for his first start in four months, and although he’d previously faced the Rays in Tampa since being traded by the organization, Saturday was a different setting than Tropicana Field.
“Every start that I had when rehabbing, I made it as close to a big league start as I could. I made myself believe it was a big league game and I have to be ready. In between starts did a really good job conditioning and making sure I was in the best shape I could be in when I came back,” Snell said.
“To have a game like that, day game, I was sweating way more than I thought I would. I saw Kersh sweating at night, and I was like, ‘I think I’ll be OK. I’m in good shape.’ But it’s hot. It’s tough. Going out there and pitching, your hands are softer, there’s sweat all over.
“It makes it a little more difficult and challenging. I thought I did a really good job overall to be ready for that and what’s next.”
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