Rays will host games at Steinbrenner Field if in playoffs

The Tampa Bay Rays will continue to keep things intimate if they advance to the postseason, with commissioner Rob Manfred saying Tuesday the club would play at George Steinbrenner Field in October.
“Our rule has always been that people play in their home stadiums during the World Series,” Manfred told an assembled group of media members Tuesday in Atlanta. “And I’m not of a mind to change that rule. I understand 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.”
The decision means the Rays would play playoff games in their current 10,046-seat venue, which is the New York Yankees’ spring training home, as well as the home to the Single-A Tampa Tarpons.
The Rays moved into the park this season after their home ballpark in St. Petersburg sustained heavy damage by Hurricane Milton last October.
At 50-47, the Rays are 5 1/2 games out of first place in the American League East at the break. They are just 1 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot with 65 regular-season games remaining on their schedule.
The Athletics are in a similar situation as the Rays, while playing in a minor league park at West Sacramento, Calif. Whereas the Rays could return to St. Petersburg as early as 2026, the A’s will remain in West Sacramento until they move to Las Vegas, Manfred said Tuesday.
The official ground-breaking ceremony for the Athletics’ new ballpark in Las Vegas took place last month. The new venue is not expected to be ready until 2028.