Tampa Bay Rays’ Possible Postseason Games at Steinbrenner Field

After Hurricane Milton wrecked Tropicana Field, the Tampa Bay Rays scrambled to find a new home for the 2025 MLB season. Steinbrenner Field stepped in as a temporary fix.

The Rays are still deep in a playoff hunt, so the move set off a lot of talk—logistics, fan experience, money, and what it all means for the franchise’s future. Let’s dig into what this means for the Rays, their supporters, and the league as a whole.

The Tampa Bay Rays Relocate to Steinbrenner Field for 2025

Hurricane Milton hit hard in October 2024, leaving the Rays without a stadium. The team picked Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, usually known for hosting Yankees’ spring training and Tampa Tarpons games, as their temporary home.

Steinbrenner Field seats just 10,046 people, which feels tiny compared to Tropicana Field’s 25,000. The atmosphere might be more intimate, but it’s not all upside—getting tickets just got a whole lot harder for Rays fans. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed the Rays will play possible postseason games at Steinbrenner Field if they make it. He doubled down that teams must play in their assigned home venues, with no exceptions.

Choosing Steinbrenner Field Over Other Options

The Rays looked at the Phillies’ Clearwater stadium as a backup, but in the end, Steinbrenner Field won out. The Yankees benefit, pocketing about $15 million for hosting. Being right in Tampa probably made the choice easier for everyone involved—players, staff, and fans.

Still, the limited seats are a problem. Tickets are going to be tough to get, and that’s bound to frustrate fans and maybe even hurt the Rays’ revenue. It’s not ideal, especially since the Rays are hanging on in the playoff race with a 50-47 record—just 1.5 games out of a wild card and 5.5 back in the AL East.

League and Union Concerns: A Growing Trend of Temporary Stadiums

There’s a bigger pattern here. MLB teams are relying more and more on temporary stadiums to get by. The Oakland Athletics are in the same boat, playing in a minor-league park in West Sacramento until their Las Vegas move happens.

MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark called the Rays’ and Athletics’ situations “less than ideal.” Using smaller, less-equipped venues raises questions—player safety, fan access, and whether MLB really has a handle on stadium problems. Steinbrenner Field is a necessary short-term answer, but it highlights just how much of a scramble it can be when a stadium goes down.

Economic Implications for the Franchise

Despite the headaches, there’s a financial silver lining for the Rays. Staying in Tampa keeps fans engaged and avoids the chaos of moving to another city. Plus, using a minor-league stadium costs a lot less, so the team isn’t burning cash while they fix Tropicana Field.

The Rays’ Future: A Sale and Stability in Tampa?

All this stadium drama comes at a turning point for the team. Florida developer Patrick Zalupski and his group have a deal in principle to buy the Rays for about $1.7 billion. If the sale closes by September, it’ll start a new era for the franchise, with Zalupski saying he wants the team to stay in the Tampa Bay area.

Word is, Zalupski would rather keep the Rays in Tampa instead of sending them back to St. Petersburg. That could lock in Tampa as the team’s long-term home, which is a pretty big deal as the Rays juggle short-term chaos and what’s next under new ownership.

A Balancing Act of Short-Term and Long-Term Goals

The coming months are going to challenge the Rays in every way. They’ll have to deal with the tight squeeze at Steinbrenner Field and figure out the ownership situation at the same time.

But sticking around Tampa Bay, even with all the uncertainty, feels like a reason to hope for something better ahead.

Conclusion: Rays Fans Brace for a Unique 2025

Hurricane Milton threw a wrench in the Rays’ 2025 plans. Now, the team heads to Steinbrenner Field, showing just how determined they are to adapt and keep competing.

They’ve still got their eyes on the postseason. With new ownership possibly coming in, fans are left wondering what comes next during this weird, transitional stretch.

It’s not going to be easy, but honestly, the Rays’ path to finding some stability is shaping up to be a story worth following—whether you’re a die-hard fan or just someone keeping an eye on the MLB drama.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Tampa Bay Rays will play postseason home games at Steinbrenner Field if they make playoffs, Rob Manfred says