TAMPA, Fla. -- Maybe they'll end up calling the place The Boss.
Legends Field will be renamed George M. Steinbrenner Field during ceremonies before the New York Yankees' exhibition game against Pittsburgh on Thursday.
Steinbrenner bought the Yankees in 1973, and they've held spring training at Legends Field since 1996. The facility is also used by the Class-A Tampa Yankees.
The Steinbrenner family will unveil a new scoreboard sign in left field. Joan Steinbrenner, wife of the 77-year-old owner, is to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
The decision to rename the stadium came following resolutions supporting the change from the Hillsborough County Commission and the Tampa City Council.
The Yankees also announced Monday that ticket sales for the final season at Yankee Stadium have topped 3.8 million, leaving about 600,000 unsold tickets remaining. New York is 400,000 ahead of the pace it set last year, when the Yankees drew a team-record 4.27 million at home and sold out 50 of 81 games.