Sale of Rays Expected to be Finalized in September
The sale of the Tampa Bay Rays from current owner Stu Sternberg to a group led by Jacksonville developer Patrick Zalupski for roughly $1.7 billion has been agreed to in principle and is expected to be finalized as early as September, according to a person briefed on the process. The Rays are expected to remain in the Tampa Bay area, with Zalupski having a strong preference to be in Tampa instead of St. Petersburg. Sternberg purchased the team for $200 million back in 2004. The sale of the team could speed up a conclusion to the team's long-running search for a new stadium. Sternberg's most recent plan for a new home for the Rays in St. Petersburg fell through after Hurricane Milton damaged Tropicana Field's rook last fall. The damage to the stadium has forced the Rays to play their home games this year at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees' spring training facility.Read More News