George M. Steinbrenner Field, or Steinbrenner Field, is the site of the New York Yankees spring training in Tampa, Fla. Formerly known as Legends Field, its location is still across the street from Raymond James Stadium on North Dale Mabry Highway near Tampa International Airport.
It opened in 1996 resembling the Yankee Stadium in New York, with its white facade that circles the stadium and graces the roof. Even the playing field's dimensions are identical. You can see the ivy covering the wall and panels spelling out by individual letters the word "Yankees".
Steinbrenner Field has a sitting capacity of 11,000, which means there are a lot of Yankees fans not just locally, but those visiting from out of state or within Florida from great distances.
If you're one of these Yankee fans who'll be coming in for a game(s) during the month of March into early April, here are four hotels close by the venue worth considering.
Comfort Inn Airport at RJ Stadium (formerly Holiday Inn Express)
Less than a mile away from Steinbrenner Field is an affordable hotel even the venue's website recommends. You can easily walk to the baseball stadium, thereby eliminating the headache of traffic and paying a high price for parking. Hotel rates are always higher in Florida during the winter/spring than in summer/fall. Starting at $121 per night, Comfort Inn provides courtesy transportation, free breakfast, an outdoor swimming pool and free high-speed Internet, just to name a few amenities and services. Their address is 4732 N. Dale Mabry in Tampa. (813) 874-6700.
Spring Hill Suites by Marriott - Tampa Westshore
Here is another hotel recommended by the Steinbrenner Field website. This time it isn't as close to the venue, though it is more upscale. It has a smoke-free policy with complimentary parking, wireless Internet, local calls and a nice hot breakfast buffet. The Marriott suites franchise is approximately a mile and a half from the baseball field. Rates start at $129 per night for the month of March. It's located at 4835 W. Cypress Street. (813) 639-9600.
Days Inn Airport Stadium - Tampa
They are the cheapest of all the hotels listed, with rates starting at $99 per night. Only 1.2 miles from Steinbrenner Field, it does offer two swimming pools within a beautiful courtyard, complimentary continental breakfast, and free high-speed Internet access. You'll find this Days Inn at I-275 and Dale Mabry. 2522 N. Dale Mabry Hwy (813) 877-6181.
Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore
When Tampa has hosted Super Bowls in the past this is where the NFL teams stayed at. Its close proximity to the venue is only 1.3 miles, with rates starting at $129 per night. Hilton's guest rooms feature a 32-inch HDTV, personal coffee maker, high-speed Internet, and its Serenity Bed Collection, with down comforters, pillows, and throws for a good night's sleep. 2225 N. Lois Avenue (813) 877-6688.
Even though it was not called George M. Steinbrenner Field, there was another baseball stadium, Al Lopez Field, for spring training in the same vicinity. I attended a game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros a long time ago when the Reds trained in Tampa.
