Steinbrenner Field

While not choosing between building a Rays ballpark and modernizing the Bucs' facility, a letter from the board to Hillsborough officials urges officials to keep the aging 65,000-seat stadium in money-making form.

Baseball's annual reset is almost here. The schedule has a few tweaks this year with the World Baseball Classic and Spring Breakout for prospects. Here's a quick info bank on the when, where and how much.

Commissioners also approved spending another $3 million to design a major indoor sports facility at the Museum of Science and Industry site on Fowler Avenue.

There were 12 weather delays totaling nearly 13 hours, but Tampa Bay did not lose a home date to rainouts this year. Even with the outdoor conditions, there were 61 sellouts in the 10,046-seat ballpark.

Any concerns raised about hosting postseason games in a smaller venue did not carry enough weight to prevent the Rays from maintaining the home-field advantage gained while Tropicana Field’s is repaired.

Castor said all Tampa officials can do is prepare for a phone call from the Rays' owners.

The Tampa Bay Rays got their first in-game look at their 2025 home at Steinbrenner Field. One player said it "will feel like a much-more packed house."

The Rays are hosting their first regular-season series in their temporary outdoor home with Tropicana Field out of service due to hurricane damage.

In an interview with Chris Russo on SiriusXM, commissioner Rob Manfred reiterated that "we believe in the market" and remains hopeful the Trop will be ready for the Rays in 2026.

For the first time in their 27-year history, the Rays will be playing home games outside. The Tampa ballpark will host the team's first pregame flyover — but could cause its first official rain delays.

Capacity at the Rays' temporary Tampa home will be just over 10,000, about 40% of Tropicana Field’s configuration of 25,025. Nevertheless, it's the 19th straight year the team has sold out the home opener.

In a matter of five days, workers are preparing the Yankees' spring training site to become the Rays' home for the 2025 season. The Rays say Friday's opener against Colorado is sold out.