Are The New York Yankees Sharing Their Stadium With The Rays?

With Tropicana Field out of commission for 2025 due to severe hurricane damage, the Tampa Bay Rays are left scrambling for a temporary home.

And while Yankee Stadium has always been a Bronx-exclusive stage, the Rays’ plans for next season have sparked some serious buzz.

Here’s the twist: the Rays will indeed be playing at a Yankees-owned ballpark next year…

but it’s not quite the legendary field in the Bronx. Instead, they’ll be setting up at Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees’ spring training facility in Tampa, Florida.

It’s not Yankee Stadium, but with its classic New York facade and plaques honoring Yankee legends, it’s the closest any “visiting” team has ever come to calling a Yankees property home.

The Rays will try to make it their own, planning to add some “Rayful” touches to the stadium,

but all that Yankee pride still surrounds them. And as if the rivalry needed more fuel, it’s reported that the Yankees will earn around $15 million for this hosting arrangement.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Toronto Blue Jays faced unique challenges with Canada’s strict travel restrictions, preventing games at their home field, Rogers Centre. Instead, they temporarily relocated to their spring training stadium in Dunedin, Florida, before moving to Buffalo’s Sahlen Field for the rest of the season.

This improvised “home” setup allowed the Blue Jays to stay in the game, even if it meant playing without their true home-field advantage.

So, while the Rays won’t be taking over the actual House That Jeter Built, they’ll be closer than any out-of-town team has ever been to calling a Yankee field “home.” For fans on both sides, it’s going to feel a little surreal.