A sewage leak disrupted the New York Yankees’ spring training preparations at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, over the weekend. The incident occurred during the club’s spring home opener on Saturday, when a drainage pipe blockage outside the stadium led to foul-smelling water seeping into parts of the facility.
Fans leaving the ballpark had to avoid puddles of contaminated water, which also entered the Yankees’ clubhouse and affected the lower floor of the team’s two-story gift shop. Cleanup crews worked overnight to restore player areas before Sunday morning workouts.
“It’s Spring Training for the toilets, too,” a club spokesperson said.
Manager Aaron Boone reported that carpets, lockers, and equipment were not damaged by the leak. “I was surprised at how much they were able to get things cleaned up and sanitized,” Boone said. “Credit to a lot of people that put in a lot of hours overnight into this morning. Moving forward, we’ve got some longer-term things that have got to get fixed, but we should be in a good spot.”
Second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., who was not present during the initial incident, said he noticed no lingering effects when he arrived. “I wasn’t here for the disaster yesterday,” Chisholm said. “I was already gone. When I walked in, it smelled great. I was like, ‘What are you guys talking about?’ My stuff was good, and I came in to play baseball.”
The Yankees recently completed a two-year renovation project at Steinbrenner Field last spring, adding new training rooms with hot and cold tubs, underwater treadmills, and an outdoor dining patio measuring 2,400 square feet.
In 2025, while Tropicana Field underwent hurricane-related repairs, the Tampa Bay Rays used Steinbrenner Field for 81 games.
Boone stated that there would be no further disruptions to practice schedules due to this issue and praised his players for maintaining a positive attitude despite the setback. “One of the things I talked to some of our guys about was the attitude of everyone,” Boone said. “It throws your routine a little bit off. Everyone handled it really well, walking through it with a smile, with energy. No complaining. I thought we got really good work in, so I’m happy with that.”
