Tampa Bay leaders optimistic of new Rays ownership

Elected officials in Pinellas County have soured to the Tampa Bay Rays’ ownership after the team pulled out of a $1.3 billion stadium and redevelopment project for Tropicana Field in March.

But reports that Ray’s leaders are in “exclusive discussions” with Jacksonville developer Patrick Zalupski to sell the team has piqued the interest of leaders in Pinellas — and across Tampa Bay.

“It’s certainly good news that it appears the Rays are going to be sold to an ownership group that’s going to keep them in the Tampa Bay area,” said Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Latvala.

Latvala has long been at odds with Ray’s leadership, in particular owner Stuart Sternberg. In February Latvala said the team was lying to residents when it said Pinellas commissioners were at fault for the stadium deal falling through.

With new ownership, Latvala said he would support the deal the county and city of St. Petersburg had previously agreed on to finance a stadium.

An agreement announced last year called on the city and county contributing roughly $600 million in public money toward the stadium, plus more from the city for surrounding infrastructure. In return, the Rays and its development partners would cover the rest and develop the surrounding area under terms negotiated by the city.

The Rays announced they were backing out of the deal in March after Hurricane Milton destroyed the roof of the Tropicana Field in October.

Latvala said he hasn’t met with Zalupski or his team, but he suspects they’re eyeing a location on the Tampa side of the Bay.

“He’s going to be making a lot of money from the sale,” Latvala said of Sternberg, “and I wish him the best in the future.”

Zalupski, backed by a group of investors, submitted a letter of intent to purchase the Rays for a reported $1.7 billion. He may be in competition with a Memphis, Tennessee hedge fund founder Trip Miller, who told the Times he’s willing to offer more for the team.

The Rays are playing at Steinbrenner Field this season, while Tropicana Field gets repaired. Local leaders think new Rays’ ownership may choose Tampa for a future stadium. [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, who staked his candidacy on keeping the Rays in the city, has said the Rays’ current owners burned a bridge, and he has no interest in working with them.

He said his top interest is ensuring redevelopment of the Trop site that includes affordable homes and job and business opportunities for Black residents. The property was once home to the Gas Plant District, a collection of largely Black neighborhoods, businesses and cultural centers.

Spend your days with Hayes

Subscribe to our free Stephinitely newsletter

Columnist Stephanie Hayes will share thoughts, feelings and funny business with you every Monday.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

“We’re excited about the possibility of new ownership,“ Welch said in a statement. ”Our highest priority is the fulfillment of the economic promises made to the Historic Gas Plant District community and the future benefits that the site’s redevelopment will bring to our entire city.”

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said she met with Zalupski, at his request, and a member of his team in May.

She said there have been discussions of several locations for a stadium in the Tampa area. Castor said, ultimately, a new stadium location is up to ownership.

But she doesn’t see a property like the Florida State Fairgrounds as a viable option because it’s out of city limits and would fall on the county to complete.

“It seemed like a good group,” Castor said. “For me, the positive news is that it looks like the Rays will stay in Tampa Bay.”

Hillsborough County Commissioner chairperson Ken Hagan said he met with Zalupski and other members of his group informally at a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game. He said he’s “very, very encouraged” by the news.

“Once the sale is consummated, I think we will be in position to sit down and start talking about ball park options in Hillsborough County,” Hagan said.

Hagan also said he spoke with Gov. Ron DeSantis several months ago, who he said was supportive of using tax dollars for infrastructure surrounding a ballpark.

Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Wise wrote in an email, through a county spokesperson, that she has not met with Zalupski.

In response to a Times question asking where a stadium would be best located in the county, she wrote that it depends on private investment, traffic flows and cost.

“We remain open to working with anyone in support of projects for the betterment of our community,” Wise said.

Tropicana Field is undergoing repairs, after Hurricane Milton ripped off its roof last year. Pinellas County and the city of St. Petersburg are conducting a feasibility study for a potential convention center on the site. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]

News of a potential Rays sale comes as the city of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County weigh the possibility of building a convention center at the Tropicana Field site.

Details on the potential convention center in St. Petersburg are still thin as leaders gauge demand and potential economic benefits. Under an agreement that expires in 2028, the city of St. Petersburg is required to provide a stadium for the Rays.

Repairs to the Trop are expected to be completed in time for opening day next year. Until then, the Rays are playing at the New York Yankees spring training stadium, Steinbrenner Field, in Tampa.

“It’d certainly be my preference that they stay in St. Petersburg, in Pinellas County,” said Pinellas County Commission chairperson Brian Scott, “but we’ll just have to see how all this stuff shakes out.”