It was October 9, 2024. The Rays experienced a major blow after Tropicana Field was ravaged by Hurricane Milton. The domed stadium’s roof was almost entirely ripped off, damaging a whole lot of the interior. Naturally, the games had to be shifted to another spot. The Tampa Bay Rays found an interim home at the George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Playing at the New York Yankees’ spring training home, the Rays are enjoying an impressive 2025 season. Standing second in the AL East with a 45-35 record, their chances to qualify for the postseason are looking bright. For their ongoing series against the Royals, they have won by 5-1 and 3-0. That lands them at seven wins out of the ten games, facing the Orioles, Mets, Tigers, and Royals.
Their offense and pitching have gotten much stronger. One of their pitchers, Drew Masmussen, delivered greatly as he boasts a 2.45 ERA, recording 72 strikeouts with a 0.96 WHIP. And their 1B, Jonathan Aranda, is batting at a .331 average with an OBP of .414. That’s just a little behind Aaron Judge!
So, clearly, while the Rays’ playoff hopes surge (70% as per FanGraphs), given its accommodation capacity, the current stadium looks bleak. The solution? The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal revealed on Thursday that the Rays and Major League Baseball have had initial discussions regarding their potential postseason destination.
“Rays have had preliminary talks about potential home playoff games with the league,” posted Fox Sports: MLB on their official X handle. According to Rosenthal, the Steinbrenner field might host the AL Division games and the AL Wild Card Series. But for the Championship Series? The league might push for a change.
The Rays have had early talks with MLB about where they could play their home games in the ALCS and World Series if they make it that far this year, per @Ken_Rosenthal
Tampa Bay is currently one game behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East and hold the top Wild Card. pic.twitter.com/BmaccMWWqR
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 25, 2025
While most MLB stadiums can host at least 34,000 people, the Rays’ temporary home’s capacity is just slightly over 11,000. As Rosenthal noted, “Logistical concerns might force a move to a large stadium if the Rays advanced to the American League Championship Series and World Series.”
Now, first things first, at the A-ball facility, there will be fewer gate receipts. The players will suffer significantly as they won’t receive the postseason shares, because otherwise, they receive 60% shares from the gate receipts. Plus, due to the limited capacity, the postseason production will also be low. In fact, the broadcasting channels might also face problems.
Is there any out?
What can MLB do to resolve the Tampa Bay Rays’ challenge?
Tbh, no one wants to put themselves in a state of competitive advantage. And the Rays are no exception there! Playing at a neutral site for a postseason game might not be something they are looking forward to. The alternatives, then? LoanDepot Park and Truist Park, the home parks of the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves, respectively, might be the best choices.
The distance between LoanDepot Park and Tampa isn’t too far. The 223-mile stretch can be covered easily, which will take around five and a half to six hours. And let us tell you one surprising fact. LoanDepot Park is the only one not to host any baseball playoffs to date.
On the other hand, Truist Park has a capacity of around 41,147, and the stadium’s design can maximize the experiences of fans. But this one is a bit far away from that of LoanDepot Park.
Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays expect the Tropicana Field to be ready by next season. According to reports, Stuart Sternberg and a Jacksonville real estate developer are currently discussing the franchise’s sale. Only if the deal is successful, the club may look for a new stadium to be built.
For the Rays, it might be their sixth playoff appearance. And if it happens, there’s no doubt that they will be looking to play in front of their home fans.
The post MLB to Make Key Decision on Tampa Bay Rays Amid Team’s Impressive 2025 Season appeared first on EssentiallySports.