Rays' sale finalized; stadium search to restart

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- A radical led by Florida-based existent property developer Patrick Zalupski closed connected its acquisition of the Tampa Bay Rays connected Tuesday, finalizing the merchantability of the squad from erstwhile proprietor Stuart Sternberg.

Major League Baseball owners unanimously approved the transaction past week. The terms was not disclosed.

"It's an unthinkable grant to go the stewards of the Tampa Bay Rays, a franchise with a arrogant past and a agleam future," Zalupski said successful a statement. "We're each energized by the work to service Rays fans everyplace and this large game. ... We volition enactment hard to gain the respect and assurance of our fans and caller MLB partners, and we are excited astir the upcoming situation to present a world-class acquisition connected and disconnected the field."

Zalupski's group, which besides includes Bill Cosgrove and Ken Babby, is expected to restart the hunt for a caller ballpark. The Rays successful March withdrew from a $1.3 cardinal task to conception a caller ballpark adjacent to Tropicana Field successful St. Petersburg, citing a hurricane and delays that apt drove up the proposal's cost.

"Major League Baseball is pleased to invited Patrick and his partners to the ownership ranks," MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said. "Their collective experience and passionateness for the crippled volition service the Rays good arsenic they participate this breathtaking caller chapter."

Sternberg took power of the squad from founding proprietor Vince Naimoli successful November 2005 and rebranded it the Rays from the Devil Rays aft the 2007 season. The Rays won AL East titles successful 2008, 2010, 2020 and 2021 and doubly reached the World Series, losing to Philadelphia successful 2008 and to the Los Angeles Dodgers successful 2020.