Rays Adjust Schedule to Adapt to Temporary Home at Steinbrenner Field

The Tampa Bay Rays' season opener against the Colorado Rockies has been postponed by a day to March 28, providing the team additional time to adapt to their temporary home at the New York Yankees' Steinbrenner Field.


This change comes as the Rays are set to play their home games at the Yankees' spring training facility in Tampa, Florida, due to damage caused to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg by Hurricane Milton on October 9.


The Yankees will conclude their spring training schedule against the Rays on March 23. In an unusual arrangement, the Yankees have granted the Rays limited permission to sell regular-season advertising throughout the seating bowl, including stadium concourse walls, the scoreboard, and the outfield walls. Rays staff will manage the scoreboard and incorporate Tampa Bay elements. Notably, the statue of the late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner will remain outside the stadium. Decisions regarding the large Y-A-N-K-E-E-S signs and the Yankees mural on the back of the scoreboard are still pending.


The Rays' adjusted schedule has them playing 19 of their first 22 games at home and 37 of 54 through May 28. Afterward, they will play 64 of their final 108 games on the road to avoid the summer rain at the open-air ballpark.


This unusual arrangement aims to ensure the Rays have a stable home environment while Tropicana Field undergoes repairs. The team is preparing to adapt quickly and effectively to their new, temporary surroundings.