There is growing pressure to sell Ballclub amid the view that Rays owner Stu Sternberg could potentially slip away from stadium trading in St. Petersburg.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and other owners are trying to convince Sternberg to offload their teams, allowing the league to try to force their hands by stealing some of the Rays' revenue-sharing revenue. The Athletic reported on Sunday.
Several local groups, including those with ties to former Yankees minority owner Joe Molloy, are already interested in trying to buy a team.
Molloy confirmed his interest to An An interview with the Tamp Bay Times.
“Yes, I lead a group of renowned Tampa Bay-based investors interested in getting the Tampa Bay Rays. We've gathered an incredible team that shares our vision,” Molloy told the outlet.
He never revealed who else was involved in his group, but Athletic reported that the family of Edward Debartoro Jr., who owns the NFL's San Francisco 49ers, is also part of the group.
According to the report, Tampa businessman Dan Doyle Jr. is also part of another group interested in Rays.
Sternberg has not expressed any public interest in selling the team, but the Tampa Bay Times reported that rumors were swirling around in both MLB and local business circles.
Current Rays owners will need to decide whether to continue trading new stadiums in their historic gas factory district in downtown St. Petersburg until the end of this month.
Sternburg has several obligations that must meet before March 31 for stadium planning to continue.
Whether they're selling their teams or building new stadiums, MLB is said to be considering taking away some of the $60 million of the money that shares their team's revenues in the future.
Molloy said he would like to continue with the current planning project for St. Pete's new stadium if his owned group takes over the team.
“This is what I can say now. The team has plans to stay in St. Petersburg. We are totally committed to building on the great work that cities and counties are already accomplishing. We are very excited about this opportunity and that's all I can share at this point,” he said.
The Rays have been trying to build a new stadium for 17 years, only worsening if Hurricane Milton undermine Tropicana Field to the point that they have to play at Tampa's Yankees Minor League facility at least this year.
Sternberg and local officials have been arguing over the winter over fundraising for the $1.3 billion stadium.
The team argues that delays in the county's votes led to increased cost delays on the project, and doesn't think Rays should donate money for hold-up.
The organization had planned to donate $700 million to downtown St. Petersburg Stadium.
