Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays' new owners are talking about a "public-private partnership" being the only way a new stadium could be built in the Tampa Bay area. There are a few ways that could take shape.

Will the Rays consider an open-field stadium or a retractable roof? And will the new owners increase player payroll? They addressed these, and other issues, during their introductory news conference.

On "Florida Matters: Live & Local," guests join us to discuss the Rays’ stadium plans and property tax pressures.

At an introductory news conference, Patrick Zalupski and top executives Ken Babby and Bill Cosgrove said there is a sense of urgency to get a ballpark built as part of a revenue-generating, mixed-use development.

"The Rays and St. Pete can negotiate that land, and they’ll stay out of it."

The Rays’ new ownership group, if it chooses to stay in St. Petersburg beyond 2028, will have significant space to build a new stadium.

Patrick Zalupski closed on the reported $1.7 billion purchase from Stuart Sternberg. And the first order of business for the new owner: Finding a place for his team to play.

With a sale of the team imminent, outgoing owner Stuart Sternberg says selling was hard but the right move for the Tampa Bay area: "My time had come."

A city memo notes that staff are monitoring Tropicana Field for “additional damage caused by extreme weather,” including an Aug. 23 storm that dumped four inches of rain on the area.

The estimated $1.7 billion deal is anticipated to formally close later this week. MLB owners unanimously approved the sale Monday.

There were 12 weather delays totaling nearly 13 hours, but Tampa Bay did not lose a home date to rainouts this year. Even with the outdoor conditions, there were 61 sellouts in the 10,046-seat ballpark.

The Rays said more information about the sale and the new ownership group will be shared after the deal is completed. It is expected to close within two weeks.