Rays owner Stuart Sternberg said that he is “not looking to sell or actively engaged in any talks” regarding the team, according to Marc Topkin of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. He added, “If it was (for sale), people would know it.” Speculation Sternberg might consider selling has “grown as the stadium issue lingers, with rumors swirling about a potential local-based ownership group, or two.” He mentioned that the increased “volume” of speculation was “likely a result of recent -- though since halted -- efforts to add investors to his ownership group” to raise money for the team’s $700M share of the planned $1.3B ballpark as part of a massive redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District. Sternberg said that talks to add investors and private equity were “paused as the stadium bond votes were delayed and could easily be rekindled” if they “get ‘a significant thumbs up’” to move forward. The Rays thrust the ballpark deal into question by blaming the delays in approving bonds to fund the city and county portions forced the team to move the opening of a new ballpark back to 2029 and “incur significant additional cost of around” $150M that they “cannot absorb” alone. Yesterday, Sternberg added that they “keep waiting” to see what solutions are proposed. Though the ballpark deal deadline is March 31, Sternberg said that he “may be in a position to discuss the situation in further detail during spring training” (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 2/5).
Rays' Sternberg assures no plan to sell team
