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Grapefruit League Stadiums: #14 Steinbrenner Field

Steinbrenner Field Grapefruit League Spring TrainingWe start the countdown with Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. Home to the New York Yankees, the stadium was built in 1996 and has the same outfield dimensions of the old Yankee Stadium. While all of the Spring Training venues are great places to watch baseball, Steinbrenner Field does not measure up to its counterparts in the Grapefruit League.

One of the nice things about Steinbrenner Field is the right field seating. There are rows of tabletops to enjoy food and drinks while watching a game. A bar is located at the top so you don’t have to leave the view of the field while you refresh your beverages. These seats go quickly for the marquee games, and they are probably the best seats in the stadium.

The rest of the seating consists of two levels that wrap around from the first base side to the third base side. There are 12 luxury suites as well, but I have not had the opportunity to see a view from those areas.

Many of the other Grapefruit League stadiums have grass seating somewhere in the ballpark – Steinbrenner Field lacks this feature. There is really nowhere to enjoy the game except for in your seat. Fans are not allowed to stand on the concourse, as ushers will make you move if you stop to watch. This makes for an unfriendly environment if you want to take a few pictures of your favorite player at the plate.

There is so much history within the Yankees’ organization, and you can find it at Steinbrenner Field. There are banners and plaques and signs to read, but the best feature has to be the white fence that lines the top of the stadium. Reminiscent of Yankee Stadium, the Spring Training field has the white fence along the entire roof.

Steinbrenner Field Grapefruit League Spring TrainingPractice fields for the Yankees are located down the street. You can see them from the road as you drive by which is always a distraction as you try to spot a famous player or two.

Parking at Steinbrenner Field is $10 and ticket prices range from $15-$29. While these are decent prices, the lack of viewing options in the stadium really detracts from the value. Some seats even have high railings that partially block the field. It would be a better value if there was somewhere to stand and watch the game without being near the bar area.

The stadium is host to the Class A Tampa Yankees of the Florida State League during the regular season. It sits adjacent to Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Steinbrenner Field is a nice place to visit on your Spring Training road trip, but if you have to choose a location to skip, this would be the one.

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