TAMPA — A new era of Tampa Bay Rays baseball kicked off Tuesday morning when the team’s new ownership group gave its first remarks about the team’s future, both on and off the field.

Tampa Bay Rays Managing Partner and Co-Chair Patrick Zalupski, Co-Chair Bill Cosgrove and Chief Executive Officer Ken Babby met with reporters at Steinbrenner Field.

Their purchase of the team became official last week, though previous owner Stu Sternberg will still maintain a stake in the team.

“We are honored and feel privileged to be the new owners of the Tampa Bay Rays. This moment is not just about ownership; it’s about stewardship,” Zalupski said.

“We recognize the deep responsibility we now carry to deliver a championship-caliber team on the field and a world class experience for our fans.”

Zalupski said the ownership team’s goal is to have a “world class ballpark” ready for 2029.

The news conference with the 3 new primary owners of the Tampa Bay Rays has begun. Patrick Zalupski is the MLB Control Person and Co-Chair. Bill Cosgrove is also Co-Chair. Ken Babby is the CEO and will oversee daily operations. @BN9 pic.twitter.com/dYwxiQT5i7

— Josh Rojas (@JoshRojasBN9) October 7, 2025

“It’s no secret that we need a new forever home to secure the Rays’ long-term future in Tampa Bay,” Zalupski said. “Delivering upon that objective is our first priority.”

The group also announced that President of Baseball Operations Erik Neander and manager Kevin Cash remain in their positions. 

“We’re going to continue to support them,” Babby said. “We believe in what the previous regime has created and want to build to sustain it.”

The goal for a stadium site encompasses all of the Tampa Bay area, according to the new owners. They referenced the idea of a 100-acre site containing hotels, offices, retail, bars, restaurants and a music venue.

The three have been meeting with the Atlanta Braves, who opened a new stadium in 2017 and have watched the surrounding Battery area grow since with restaurants, hotels and other businesses. The stadium and shopping district are actually outside Atlanta, instead located in nearby Cobb County.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and St. Petersburg Mayor Kenneth Welch are sitting front and center for the press conference with the new owners of the Tampa Bay Rays. @BN9 pic.twitter.com/Uu6u8Tb2hT

— Josh Rojas (@JoshRojasBN9) October 7, 2025

“We spent a lot of time studying, evaluating, doing, meeting with the Atlanta Braves, they’ve been incredibly generous with their time and resources,” Zalupski said. “So let us look at the Battery. We think the Battery is the gold standard of what we want to we want to build and develop here in Tampa Bay.”

Zalupski said he learned from the Braves that the more land, the better — with a balance.

“For us, this is critical to building a championship team. You have to meet the criteria,” he said. “For us, we think it’s likely 100-plus acres. If you ask the Braves, they’ll tell you what was the one thing you’d do differently if you could, and they’ll say, ‘land, land, land, more land.’ They’re now over 100 acres. More is better, but it’s also balance of location, quality of location and the amount of land. There’s a point that will intersect. So it’s not just, ‘This is 500 acres, 30 miles outside of Tampa.’ That’s not what we’re looking for. Great location and as much land as we can get.”

The group is meeting this week with leaders from Tampa and St. Petersburg to discuss options.

Zalupski said part of the deal to buy the team was that they could not meet with city officials until the sale was complete.

Babby, described as the team’s new CEO, acknowledged there is long-standing “fatigue” in the area about where the Rays would build a new home — with frequent speculation they might decide to leave altogether. But MLB has repeatedly said it wants the team to stay. Several sites in the area have previously been considered, such as the nightlife-rich Ybor City neighborhood, the grounds of a Tampa community college and even an old greyhound racetrack.

“We’re looking at everywhere,” Babby said. “We don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves to one location or site.”

Meanwhile, work continues on Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. The ballpark had its roof ripped off and suffered significant internal damage last October during Hurricane Milton. By the end of the week, Babby said, half of the Trop’s 24 roof panels will be installed.

Under the Rays’ current lease with the city of St. Petersburg, the Rays are obligated to play at the Trop for three more seasons.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.