TAMPA, Fla. — A sewage leak seeped into the bathroom inside the New York Yankees’ clubhouse and forced fans to walk around dirty, smelly pools of water during a spring training game at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Saturday afternoon.
“It’s spring training for the toilets, too,” a Yankees spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that Tampa’s Department of Public Works was aware of the problem.
The Athletic watched a security guard as he directed people to walk around water that had gathered in front of the stadium. The Yankees also closed the downstairs section of their two-floor team store due to the sewage leak.
Other areas covered in sewage had been cordoned off with portable fencing.
Workers tore up part of the entrance to the stadium offices to access piping.
“It’s not great. It’s all over the place,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Hopefully, we’ll get it cleaned up overnight and back in business tomorrow.”
“Life gets you sometimes,” he added. “We’ll get through it.”
A Yankees player said the sewage had initially soaked only the bathroom, but later it had begun to reach other areas of the clubhouse, which is mostly carpeted. Players often leave belongings, such as footwear and equipment, on the carpet.
“It’s a mess in there,” he said, walking out of the clubhouse.
The Yankees typically hold interviews inside the clubhouse during spring training games. Instead, Aaron Judge, Carlos Lagrange and Spencer Jones and Boone met with reporters in the hallway, which also smelled of sewage.
The sewage also appeared to have spilled into the large pond with a fountain where geese and other animals can be seen in front of the ballpark. Behind the pond, workers had removed a manhole cover in preparation for maintenance.
By the late innings of the Yankees’ spring training home opener against the Detroit Tigers — a 20-3 rout by New York — the stench had reached the stadium concourse.