TAMPA, Fla (WFLA) — New ownership for the Tampa Bay Rays may be imminent. As reported by the Athletic, part of the New York Times company, an agreement in principle for a $1.7 billion purchase of the team has been reached and may finalize by September.
The potential buyers are led by Patrick Zalupski. This is the same group with whom the Rays confirmed they were in exclusive negotiations last month.
The news of the reports is pleasing to Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan, who said he’s been trying to get the Rays to Tampa for 15 years.
“It’s consistent with what both Commissioner Manfred and the new ownership group indicated to me and I assured them that we would be prepared to meet once a sale is consummated,” said Hagan. “I also assured them that I am 100 percent confident that we can reach an agreement that would be a win-win for both the organization and taxpayers.”
Hagan said Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred told him he prefers this ownership group for the Rays.
Another potential ownership proposed a cash offer to the team. 8 On Your Side reached out to the Rays about the reports of a sale being agreed to with Zalupski, but they declined to comment.
Those reports also said the group would prefer the team played in Tampa.
“We made a presentation to try to try to lure them over to the Tampa side but they chose St. Petersburg, and now with events that have occurred, it looks like there may be new owners and a new site that possibly will be in the city of Tampa,” said Mayor Jane Castor.
Hagan said once ownership is finalized, they want to sit down and discuss owner guidelines and goals. He said they don’t have the luxury of time to reach an agreement as it would take two to three years to build a stadium.
Hagan said he expects the team to honor their agreement to play at Tropicana Field through 2028. He hopes they’ll be playing at a new ballpark in Tampa, possibly Ybor City, by 2029.
“That location, thankfully, is still in the mix. I met as recently as last week with Darryl Shaw, the owner, and he’s encouraged and thinks we can ultimately reach an agreement there but ultimately it’s up to the new ownership group,” said Hagan.
The commissioner said he wants to come up with something that will protect taxpayers. He mentioned how an entertainment district would be a part of their agreement, and a percentage of everything purchased in that area, like hot dogs, beer, or t-shirts, would go toward paying for the ballpark.
