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MLB is set to remain in Tampa following a reported sale of the Tampa Bay Rays.
On Monday, The Athletic reported that owner Stu Sternberg had agreed in principle to sell the franchise to Florida-based real estate developer Patrick Zalupski for $1.7B, or a staggering 750% increase from Sternberg’s $200M purchase price 21 years ago in 2004.
Per The Athletic, “Zalupski is expected to keep the team in the Tampa Bay Area, with a strong preference to be in Tampa rather than St. Petersburg.”
The prospective deal reaffirms MLB’s commitment to the Tampa region despite the Rays consistently ranking near the bottom of the league in attendance, including seven consecutive last-place finishes from 2011-17. Since 2021, the Rays haven’t finished higher than No. 27 in attendance.
This season, Tampa Bay has been forced to use New York Yankees Single-A affiliate Tampa Tarpons’ park as its home stadium after Hurricane Milton caused immense damage to Tropicana Field, its primary stadium, on Oct. 9.
As The Athletic noted, the sale could be get the ball rolling on a stadium project, which could attract larger audiences upon completion.
But that’s only half of the struggle. For the area to truly embrace the Rays, ownership must invest heavily on the on-field product.
The Rays routinely rank near the bottom in the majors in payroll, including 28th entering 2025 at $79,216,312, a 21.6% decrease from 2024 ($101,023,112). (h/t USA Today)
The organization has made massive strides after failing to reach the postseason in its first 10 seasons (1998-2007), including making two World Series appearances (2008, 2020) and posting the MLB’s fifth-best record (641-488) since the start of the 2018 season. (h/t Stathead)
To take the next step, Tampa Bay can’t afford to skimp on costs. A change in ownership could be exactly what the organization needs to take the next step.
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