Aiden Mandel – Mustangs Ahead
(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) - Last year Hurricane Milton brought destruction all over Florida, but one of the biggest questions after the storm was where are the Tampa Bay Rays going to play?
The dome over over the Rays’ home, Tropicana Field, was torn apart by the strong winds, making the stadium unplayable for the foreseeable future.
Right before spring training started, Major League Baseball made the announcement that the Rays would play their 2025 season at Steinbrenner field in Tampa, which is the New York Yankees spring training field. Steinbrenner is a Minor League field and can only hold 11,000 people, while some Major League fields can hold 45,000-55,000.
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Mustang students have shared their experiences attending games at Steinbrenner. There have been mixed opinions, but it is what the Rays are stuck with for the rest of the season.
Junior Patrick Johnson said, “I watched them play the Yankees earlier in the season and it was so strange as me being a Yankees fan watching them being the away team.”
Junior Braiden Kenny went to a Rays game earlier in the season at Steinbrenner and said, “I think it's great seeing the Rays play in the sun and without the cover of the giant dome.”