Archive · 26 May 2025
Oakland A's and Rays Struggle Away from Their Temporary Homes
The Oakland A's and Tampa Bay Rays are playing worse at their temporary homes than when they are away.
This is because they are not used to these new fields.
The A's home is in a minor league park which is not the same as their original home field, and the Rays have had to relocate their spring training due to a hurricane.
The unfamiliar environment is hurting their performance and making them lose more games at home than on the road, which has affected the way the teams feel.
The lack of home field advantage is proving the environment can impact how teams play.
Oakland Athletics have a worse home record than away, playing at Sutter Health Park.
Tampa Bay Rays also have a losing record at their home in Tampa, at Tropicana Field.
Both teams are playing at temporary or minor league facilities.
Environmental factors and unfamiliarity with venues may impact player performance.
Venue changes seem to impact player confidence, momentum and home field advantage.
- Who
- Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays
- What
- Teams are performing worse at temporary home venues.
- When
- Ongoing during current MLB season
- Where
- West Sacramento (A's) and Tampa (Rays), plus away games.
- Why
- Temporary venues and environmental factors affect performance; home field advantage is diminished.
Home Field Advantage Traditional View
Temporary Venue Impact on Performance
Venue Impact
Home Field Advantage Traditional View
Home field provides advantages: crowd energy, familiar surroundings, pre-game practices.
Temporary Venue Impact on Performance
Venues affect performance and create a disadvantage at temporary sites.
- Teams Affected
- Oakland Athletics, Tampa Bay Rays
- A's Home Venue
- Sutter Health Park (West Sacramento)
- Rays Home Venue
- Tropicana Field (Tampa)
- Rays Spring Training
- New York Yankees' spring facility in Tampa
- Home-Road Split (1945)
- Philadelphia Athletics had a .356 home-road gap