The Southern Group will represent the Tampa Bay Rays before state and local governments, with a lobbying roster that includes Sydney Ridley, David Browning, and Stephanie Cardozo.
A Rays sale that had been in the works for months was finalized this week. Jacksonville home developer Patrick Zalupski led the sale, acquiring the team from former principal owner Stu Sternberg, who held the team for nearly 20 years.
Throughout those two decades, striking a successful deal to build a new stadium proved elusive for Sternberg. Now, Zalupski and the new ownership group — which includes Ken Babby, owner of the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and the Double-A Akron RubberDucks, and Bill Cosgrove, CEO of Ohio-based Union Home Mortgage — will carry that mantle forward in search of a solution.
Ridley and Browning have worked with Zalupski’s Dream Finders Homes since 2022.Â
The three lobbyists bring deep expertise in navigating local and state politics. They will share responsibility for advancing the Rays’ priorities, from coalition building to the political strategy needed to secure a permanent stadium deal.
The $1.7 billion sale closed Tuesday.
Zalupski and Cosgrove will serve as co-Chairs for the Rays organization, while Babby will be CEO. Zalupski will also serve as the control person for the Rays for Major League Baseball (MLB).Â
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred had previously said a stadium search for the Rays would begin after the sale was finalized, signaling a new chapter ahead.
New ownership is expected to keep the team in the Tampa Bay area, but prefers a location in Tampa rather than St. Pete.
St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch has said he’s willing to negotiate with Zalupski’s ownership group on a new stadium deal using the one he had previously brokered with Rays leadership under Sternberg, which fell through following damage to Tropicana Field from Hurricane Milton last year, as a jumping-off point for negotiations.
The finalized sale comes after Rays co-Presidents Brian Auld and Matt Silverman stepped down in anticipation of the sale.
Auld is remaining with the Rays as a senior adviser to new ownership and leadership during the transition and beyond. Silverman is not maintaining an official role with the team, but is representing Sternberg and his partners on an executive advisory board established by the new ownership group.