| George M. Steinbrenner Field | |
|---|---|
| Former names | Legends Field (1996–2008) |
| Location | Tampa, Florida |
| Broke ground | 1994 |
| Opened | March 1, 1996 |
| Owner | Tampa Sports Authority |
| Operator | New York Yankees |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction cost | $30 million[1] ($42 million in 2012 dollars[2]) |
| Architect | Lescher & Mahoney |
| General Contractor | Case Contracting Company |
| Capacity | 11,000 |
| Field dimensions | Left Field – 318 feet (97 m) Left-Center – 399 feet (122 m) Center Field – 408 feet (124 m) Right-Center – 385 feet (117 m) Right Field – 314 feet (96 m)[3] |
| Tenants | |
| New York Yankees (spring training) Tampa Yankees (FSL) (1996–present) Gulf Coast Yankees (GCL (1996-present) FC Tampa Bay (NASL) (2010) |
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George M. Steinbrenner Field (formerly known as Legends Field[4]), is a baseball stadium located in Tampa, Florida across Dale Mabry Highway from Raymond James Stadium, home of the National Football League's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The ballpark was built in 1996 and holds almost 11,000 people with an addition in right field built in 2007.[5]
George M. Steinbrenner Field serves as the home of the Tampa Yankees, the New York Yankees's affiliate in the Class A Advanced Florida State League, and is the Yankees' spring training home[6].
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Tampa had hosted minor league and spring training baseball for decades. However, after the Cincinnati Reds moved to new training facilities in Plant City in 1988 and Al Lopez Field was razed in 1989, there was no professional baseball and no large baseball venue in the city.
In 1993, the Tampa Sports Authority announced plans for a new spring training stadium to host the Yankees[7]. The ballpark cost approximately $30 million to build and was financed entirely with public funds, mostly from Hillsborough County[8][9][10]. It hosted its first spring training game on March 1, 1996 when the Yankees played the Cleveland Indians[11]
In 2006, Hillsborough County paid for a $7.5 million expansion to add more seats and amenities behind right field[12]. The addition opened in 2008.
The ballpark was known as Legends Field for the first dozen years of its existence. It was renamed in honor of George Steinbrenner, the Yankees' owner and Tampa resident, on March 27, 2008, when Steinbrenner was in failing health.[13][14] He died in July 2010, and a life-size bronze statue of the late owner was placed in front of the stadium in January 2011[15].
The dimensions of the field precisely mimic that of the old Yankee Stadium, and the scalloped grandstand facade is also meant to invoke the old ballpark in the Bronx. When built, it was the first spring training stadium to include luxury suites[16]. Outside of the stadium are plaques commemorating Yankees whose numbers have been retired.
In 2008, Barack Obama held a campaign rally at the ballpark with members of the Tampa Bay Rays, including David Price, who introduced him to the crowd[17].
In 2010, the ballpark was the home pitch for FC Tampa Bay of the USSF Division 2 Professional League. The club moved across Tampa Bay to Al Lang Field for the 2011 season.
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