The business of baseball could see a shift in the Sunshine State as the Tampa Bay Rays entertain a possible change in ownership. In the throes of discussions, a group helmed by Jacksonville's own Patrick Zalupski, CEO of Dream Finders Homes, is considering the acquisition of the team. According to a press release from the team, Zalupski is joined by Ken Babby, owner of the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, and several significant Tampa Bay investors in these exploratory talks. This information was reported on Wednesday by First Coast News.
In a city where the Rays' current ballpark, Tropicana Field, was damaged by Hurricane Milton, the potential sale is not the only change on the team's horizon. The Rays were compelled to shift their games to George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, which has primary duties hosting the New York Yankees' spring training. Earlier this year, the team had stepped back from a prior deal to build a new billion-dollar stadium in St. Petersburg. First Coast News also notes that City of St. Petersburg officials have not had communication with the team concerning the sale. A new roof for the Trop, capable of withstanding a Category 3 hurricane, has since been funded by city council members, ensuring the stadium meets current building codes.
The prospect of relocation, spurred by the potential sale, has been a hot topic among sports commentators and in casual fan banter, though it appears a change of scenery for the Rays remains unlikely in the short term. The team has a contract tying them to the repaired Tropicana Field until the conclusion of the 2028 season, meaning, any move to a new city like Jacksonville or Orlando would only commence from the 2029 season onwards. These details were highlighted by News4Jax.
Despite the fervor around a possible rebranding as the "Jacksonville Rays," University of North Florida sport finance expert Kristi Sweeney mentioned to Action News Jax that a move, while not impossible, doesn't seem probable. "It does give some leverage to keep the team in Florida," she said, indicating the negotiations could be more about bargaining than transplantation.
