New Rays owner, familiar location refrain for stadium

Audio By Carbonatix

(The Center Square) – Sale of the Tampa Rays for $1.7 billion has been unanimously approved by Major League Baseball owners, signaling the team’s future to remain on Florida’s west coast if it can figure out a place to play.

Taxpayers, all too often called on to help billionaire owners, are braced.

Later this week, the sale to an ownership group led by real estate developer Patrick Zalupski from one led by Stu Sternberg could be formalized in a process that also involves the Federal Trade Commission. Zalupski, CEO of Dream Finders Homes with net worth estimated at $1.4 billion by Forbes, has shown intent to keep the club in the 813 area code.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor on social media said the Rays “have a great future ahead! Stu and the team deserve huge congratulations for accomplishing amazing things on the field as a lean, mean machine focused on winning. Tampa Bay loves the Rays.”

Sternberg, in control since 2005 following a 2004 purchase for about $200 million, have had failed plans for a new stadium in downtown St. Petersburg (2023), Ybor City in Tampa (2018) and the Al Lang Stadium site in St. Pete (2007).

The roof of the Rays' existing domed stadium, Tropicana Field, was shredded by the Category 3 winds of Hurricane Milton in 2024. The City Council voted to repair the roof in April at a cost of more than $55 million and have it ready for baseball by the 2026 season.

Under the existing stadium agreement between the Rays and the city, each year Tropicana Field remains unusable adds another year to the agreement that was originally to sunset in 2027. Now it's been pushed out to 2028.

The Trop has been the team’s home since 1998.

The Rays went 41-40 and drew 786,750 this year at Steinbrenner Field, the minor league home of the rival New York Yankees. Tampa, 76-80 and eliminated from postseason contention, is closing the season this week in Baltimore and Toronto.