Rays Begin Season at Yankees’ Spring Facility \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Displaced by hurricane damage to Tropicana Field, the Tampa Bay Rays began their season at the Yankees’ spring training complex in Tampa. Despite reminders of its New York roots, the stadium underwent a rapid transformation into a temporary Rays home. Fans and players alike are adjusting to the new setting.
Rays Begin New Era in Tampa: Quick Looks
- Rays play home opener at Yankees’ Steinbrenner Field due to Tropicana Field damage
- Massive 120-hour makeover rebranded the stadium with Rays colors and logos
- Players enjoy upgraded facilities, despite subtle Yankee remnants
- Fans from Tampa and Orlando expected to boost attendance
- Rays’ future stadium location under renewed scrutiny by MLB
- Opening day sellout crowd enjoys 82-degree weather and a festive atmosphere
Deep Look
Forced from their longtime home by disaster, the Tampa Bay Rays opened the 2025 season far from the domed confines of Tropicana Field, instead taking the field Friday at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the New York Yankees’ spring training complex in Tampa. The shift, prompted by Hurricane Milton, which destroyed the Trop’s roof on October 9, has turned the Rays into baseball tenants — and unlikely houseguests.
The new arrangement saw the Rays host the Colorado Rockies in the final major league season opener, drawing a sellout crowd of 10,046 under sunny skies and 82-degree heat. But making the space feel like home took more than sunshine. The Rays conducted a rapid 120-hour transformation of the stadium after the Yankees wrapped up spring training on Sunday.
A Fast and Thorough Transformation
To establish their presence, the Rays rebranded over 3,000 signs and images, replacing “YANKEES” with “RAYS” above both dugouts, hanging photos of Shane McClanahan and Taj Bradley behind the scoreboard, and covering Yankee-themed interiors. A canvas wrap concealed the signature interlocking NY chandelier, now reading “Home of the Rays” in the team’s blue, yellow, and white starburst design.
Other touch-ups included:
- Changing ceiling lights from pinstripe white to deep blue
- Installing dugout misters and replacing bench pads
- Swapping bat and helmet racks
- Covering up subway-themed tiles that read “The Bronx” and “New York”
- Placing “TB” logos where Yankees insignias once stood
Despite these efforts, subtle reminders of Steinbrenner Field’s heritage remain. The “George M. Steinbrenner Field” signage under the scoreboard still stands, and the office doors still read “New York Yankees executive offices.” A statue of the late owner and retired Yankees numbers decorate the grounds unchanged.
Surprising Discoveries and Luxurious Upgrades
While Junior Caminero opened his new locker to find a bat left behind by Giancarlo Stanton, Shane Baz unknowingly inherited Aaron Judge’s spring stall. “I haven’t found anything yet,” Baz joked. “I’ll take anything.”
Rays players quickly noticed the luxuries not found in the Trop, including:
- A two-level weight room
- Three therapy pools with TVs
- Red-light therapy sauna
- Four batting cages
- An indoor-outdoor dining area
“It’s almost too much,” said pitcher Zack Littell, scheduled to start Saturday. “You have to walk a really long way to get places.”
While players adapted to the space, so did staff. The umpire room was moved to a trailer, and storage space was converted to accommodate a trainers’ room. Despite the upgrades, only 39 of the stadium’s 77 lockers are occupied, a sign of spring training’s original purpose.
Manager Kevin Cash found a handwritten note from Yankees counterpart Aaron Boone in his desk:
“Enjoy it. Hope you guys have good health.”
Cash, amused, said, “This one was pretty classy. Some of the things Tito leaves… not so classy,” referencing Terry Francona with a grin.
From the Trop to Tampa: Shorter Commutes, Bigger Questions
The stadium shift has also geographically realigned the fanbase. With many players and fans relocating from St. Petersburg to Tampa, the Rays may now enjoy a more central position in the Bay Area. Some players even changed their season rentals to shorten commutes.
For longtime Rays fan Tom Eifrid, who lives in Hillsborough County, the change is welcome:
“It took me 30 minutes to get here. It used to be an hour and 20 minutes to the Trop.”
The Rays’ average attendance at the Trop last year ranked 28th in MLB, with only opening day selling out. After withdrawing from a proposed new stadium next to Tropicana Field, the team’s future home is uncertain. Major League Baseball will closely monitor attendance during this relocation, particularly as a potential stadium in Tampa’s Ybor City gains attention again.
New Stadium, New Energy?
With fireworks planned after home runs at night games, the Rays are hoping to bring more than just cosmetic energy to their temporary home. Infielder Taylor Walls said he expects the smaller stadium to amplify crowd noise:
“Much smaller capacity here but it will feel like a much more packed house.”
Walls and others are hopeful the new venue draws fans from previously underrepresented areas, like Tampa and even Orlando, now within easier driving range.
As the team adjusts to life as spring squatters, the story of the Rays’ 2025 season won’t just be about baseball—it will be a case study in adaptability, branding, and market realignment. While the Trop may be broken, the spirit of the Rays is fully intact—and on display in the most unlikely of ballparks.
Rays Begin Season
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