The Rays “will get to remain” in their interim home at Steinbrenner Field should they make the playoffs, despite the small capacity, which has been 10,046 during the regular season. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said, “It’s a unique situation. It’s different, but that’s where they’re playing. That’s where they’re going to play their games.” Manfred said that there “will be discussions about potentially expanding capacity by adding seats.” He added that the “competitive benefits of playing at home as opposed to a neutral site was a factor” (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 7/15).
When asked about the status of the team’s planned return to Tropicana Field in 2026, Manfred said, “We think we’re going to be ready to play in 2026 in the Trop. And we do have contingency plans in the event that it is not ready to go in 2026, but we’re going to be ready. We have our own engineers there on site monitoring what’s going on with the construction, so we do believe we’re going to be ready to go in 2026.” Manfred was also asked about reports that the team’s sale to Patrick Zalupski has been agreed to in principle and could close by September, to which he responded, “All I’m going to say about that is I have no reason to quibble with or dispute the reports that have been out there” (Mike Mazzeo, SBJ).
