Postseason-Hunting Rays Sale Reportedly Expected To Be Finalized As Early As September
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The Tampa Bay Rays are on the edge of a playoff spot as the Major League Baseball season hits the All-Star break. Meanwhile, the sale of the franchise from owner Stu Sternberg to a group led by Patrick Zalupski is expected to be finalized in September, The Athletic reported Monday.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - MAY 12: General view of a Tampa Bay Rays baseball hat during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Tropicana Field on May 12, 2024 in St Petersburg, Florida.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - MAY 12: General view of a Tampa Bay Rays baseball hat during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Tropicana Field on May 12, 2024 in St Petersburg, Florida.
Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images
The sale of the Rays is expected to keep the team in the Tampa Bay area, with Rob Manfred saying that they are hopeful for the stadium to be ready for opening day next season.
The plans for a new stadium were set aside after Hurricane Milton ripped the roof off the Rays' home, forcing the team to play at Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the rival New York Yankees.
While the $1.7 billion sale has been agreed upon in principle, the final stretch for the deal will happen over the coming months. Sternberg has been fighting to get the Rays a new stadium for the last 20 years, and with plans falling through or just lacking support, the Rays' owner has opted to sell the team.
With a group in Orlando vying for a major league franchise, the choice to move forward with a Jacksonville group did not faze the group fighting for Major League Baseball in Orlando.
The Rays declined to comment to The Athletic about the sale, and as the final processes of the deal commence, the Rays will be fighting for their chance at October baseball in the second half.
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