The owner of Tampa Bay Rays, Stu Sternberg, has faced increased pressure to sell the MLB, Rob Manfred commissioner and other owners, according to The Athletic.
MLB could even try to withdraw part of the RAYS income sharing income to try to force a sale, according to the report. Rays are currently obtaining $ 60 million in income. The reason indicated in the pressure is linked to Sternberg, considering withdrawing from a stadium agreement.
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A general view of the stadium before a match between the Rays of Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay in Tropicana Field. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA today Sports)
Sternberg has until the end of this month to decide to continue the opportunity to continue the new stadium agreement in the historic gas factories in downtown Saint Petersburg, Florida.
The Rays have been trying to build a new stadium for 17 years, and the urgency to solve the problem increased last fall after the Hurricane Milton has torn the roof of their current place, Tropicana Field. The team is expected to play their home games in 2025 at the New Yorkees Rival Spring Training Center.
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View of the damaged roof of Tropicana Field Stadium, the house of the Rays of Tampa Bay of the Major Baseball League, after Hurricane Milton touched Terre, in downtown Saint Petersburg, Florida, October 10, 2024. (Reuters / Octavio Jones)
The Rays and Sternberg previously planned to contribute $ 700 million to a new stadium. However, a delayed county vote led to a hold-up in construction and, therefore, an increase in costs, so Sternberg does not think that he and his team should have to cover the following costs.
The Pinellas County Committee postponed a vote on its share of new stadium obligations in November, leaving this project in the limbo.
The potential candidates to buy the Rays if Sternberg is pushed to sell, let us quote the former owner of the Yankees minority, Joe Molloy.
The main owner of Tampa Bay Rays, Stuart Sternberg, and manager Kevin Cash Watch, launchers and sensors, hold their first training training in the spring in Port Charlotte, Florida, February 12, 2025, at Charlotte Sports Park. Hurricane Milton snatches the roof from Tropicana’s field in Saint Petersburg, Florida, where Rays generally play their regular season matches. They play their home games in the regular season this year at the New York Yankees Spring Training Stadium, Steinbrenner Field, who can accommodate 11,000 people. (Thomas O’Neill / Nurphoto)
Molloy confirmed his interest in Tamp Bay Times.
“Yes, I direct a group of eminent investors based in Tampa Bay who are interested in acquiring the Rays of Tampa Bay. We have brought together an incredible team that shares our vision,” said Molloy at the point of sale.
Tampa’s businessman, Dan Doyle Jr., is also part of another group interested in the Rays, according to the report.
