Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Latvala would support resurrecting failed plans to build a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium in St. Petersburg if the team is under new ownership.
However, he and Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan believe the potential buyers, announced Wednesday, will move the team to Tampa. The two shared their thoughts with WDAE after the Rays confirmed that current owner Stuart Sternberg has “recently commenced exclusive discussions” to sell the Rays.
A spokesperson for the City of St. Petersburg said the team has not discussed a sale or negotiations with the mayoral administration. A Jacksonville-based developer is leading the potential new ownership group, which includes “prominent Tampa Bay investors.”
Finding a new stadium site and securing funding for the massive project are the top priorities for any owner. Hagan believes Ybor City is now “an even greater possibility,” despite Tampa developer Darryl Shaw, majority owner of the Tampa Bay Sun, announcing Tuesday that he plans to build a new 15,000-seat waterfront soccer stadium in the area.
The location was once considered a potential site for a Rays ballpark, but the team ended negotiations in 2018 due to financing concerns. Hagan, a long-time proponent of moving the team across the bay, told WDAE Wednesday that he met with Shaw two weeks ago to discuss the site’s future.
“In his (Shaw’s) words, they still have the ability to pivot toward a Rays stadium, even though they’re moving forward in the direction of building a facility for the Sun,” Hagan said. “I guess you can interpret that in different ways, but that’s the way he stated it to me.”
The website Sportico first reported that Patrick Zalupski was leading efforts to buy the Rays for $1.7 billion. While the platform said he signed a letter of intent, there is no purchase agreement.
Major League Baseball would then vet Zalupski, founder of Jacksonville’s Dream Finders Homes, and the minority owners. Those include Ken Babby, who owns two minor league teams, and Bill Cosgrove, a minority owner of Ohio-based Union Home Mortgage.
Union Home Mortgage has been the title sponsor of college football’s Gasparilla Bowl, a postseason game annually played at Raymond James Stadium, since 2020. MLB team owners must ultimately approve the sale, and Commissioner Rob Manfred has repeatedly stated that he wants the Rays to remain in Tampa Bay.
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch declined to comment. Stakeholders expect a new ownership group to consider sites on both sides of the bay.
“This is certainly welcoming news for Rays fans in Tampa Bay,” Latvala told WDAE. “I think the likelihood of them staying in Tampa Bay has gone up tremendously.”
Latvala noted Zalupski is “good friends” with Governor Ron DeSantis. Hagan said he also recently met with DeSantis, who would support state funding subsidizing stadium infrastructure.
“Those dollars would go to our side of the ledger if you will,” Hagan added. “So, I think there’s some additional funding sources.”
He said Hillsborough County would “start with our last proposal” and discern additional funding mechanisms. That was $193.7 million in 2022.
Rays owner Stuart Sternberg walked away from $600 million in public funding from Pinellas County and St. Petersburg due to funding concerns in March. Team president Matt Silverman subsequently said the team was not for sale.
“I guess there’s still some potential for Pinellas County and St. Pete to meet with their new ownership group and build a ballpark,” Hagan said. “I said, for 15 years, that was a failed business model. If that’s what it takes to ensure that they stay here … I’m 100% on board.
“I just fully, 100% believe in my heart that the commissioner (Manfred) and the new local ownership group realize that for the team to truly be successful and sustainable long-term, it needs to be in Hillsborough County.”
Hagan said the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa and the former Derby Lane greyhound track in northeast St. Petersburg are still potential stadium sites. Mayor Ken Welch has signaled a willingness to work with new team ownership as the city redevelops the Historic Gas Plant District.
Latvala said Zalupski wouldn’t need a “whole lot of political connections” if he builds a stadium in Pinellas. He would “absolutely” approve the deal previously offered to Sternberg.
“I would guess that they’re more in line with wanting to build in Tampa, but that’s just a guess,” Latvala said. “I love the (Tampa Bay) Bucs and the (Tampa Bay) Lightning … them playing across the bridge has no bearing on my fandom.
“I think Pinellas residents will understand that, as well. Them (the Rays) playing in Hillsborough County is a whole lot better than them playing in Orlando or Nashville or Montreal.”
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