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The Rays finally made their decision on where they will play for the 2025 MLB season and it makes sense

andrew joseph
·2 min read
ST PETERSBURG - OCTOBER 10: In this aerial view, the roof of Tropicana Field is seen in tatters after Hurricane Milton destroyed it as the storm passed through the area on October 10, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Florida. The storm made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in the Siesta Key area of Florida, causing damage and flooding throughout Central Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

While much of the Tampa-St. Petersburg area avoided the worst of Hurricane Milton. The same couldn't be said for Tropicana Field, and the Rays were forced to look for a new home in 2025 as a result.

That decision has been made, and it comes courtesy of an AL East rival.

The damage to Tropicana Field's roof was so severe that the city quickly said it wouldn't be fixed in time for the 2025 season. And further analysis showed that the damage itself would run up a repair cost of nearly $55 million. Given the Rays' construction of a new stadium set to open in 2028 and the city's downgraded insurance policy on The Trop, we might never see that roof get repaired.

Well, the Rays can thank the New York Yankees in the meantime because they are heading to Steinbrenner Field -- the Yankees' spring training facility -- this season.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, the Rays elected to stay in Tampa rather than explore options in different markets. As we pointed out last month, the Marlins' LoanDepot Park could have been a choice for consideration (given the roof and MLB-ready facilities), but that would force players and staff across the organization to relocate.

Steinbrenner Field won't be without its challenges. For one, it's an open-air stadium. That will get especially brutal in the summers when the Rays have to deal with heat, humidity and frequent rain delays. The 11,000-seat capacity is tiny, but the Rays should at least be able to reliably fill that stadium -- something they struggled to do at The Trop.

They should probably get used to seeing Yankees logos constantly, though. That could get awkward, but this was the sensible choice given the tough circumstances.

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This article originally appeared on For The Win: The Rays finally made their decision on where they will play for the 2025 MLB season and it makes sense