For over a century, Tampa has been a key location for professional baseball, with various Major League Baseball teams using Florida as their Spring Training home. The New York Yankees have held their Spring Training in Tampa since 1996, when they moved into George M. Steinbrenner Field. Two years later, in 1998, the region welcomed its first professional MLB team, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, following the league’s expansion.

Steinbrenner Field, originally known as Legends Field, opened in March 1996 at a construction cost of $30 million. Over the years, the stadium has undergone two major renovations, including the largest in 2016. This $40 million project upgraded the seating, added new suites, loge boxes, club areas, and enhanced fan amenities throughout the park. In March 2008, the ballpark was renamed in honor of Yankees’ legendary owner, George M. Steinbrenner. Today, the stadium has a seating capacity of over 11,000, with most of the seats in a single-deck configuration stretching from behind home plate down both the first and third base lines. Additional seating is located in left and right field.

During the 2025 season Steinbrenner Field was the home of the Tampa Bay Rays as the team was unable to play at Tropicana Field after the stadium suffered severe damage from Hurricane Milton, which ripped off the stadium’s roof and caused extensive water damage. The Rays rebranded the stadium to reflect their own identity and played their first game on March 28, 2025. Following the 2025 season they moved back to Tropicana Field.