Today, we should learn more about the Tampa Bay Rays plan to purchase the Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer team.
Rays fans, like Michael Screen, want to know why would a Major League Baseball team buy a soccer team.
“That’s the million dollar question. You never know.”
An announcement is expected Tuesday from Rowdies owner Bill Edwards.
The Tampa Bay Rays will take control of Al Lang Stadium.
“It’d be nice waterfront stadium down here. It’d be exciting. I’d like that,” said Screen.
News Channel 8 learned there have been several closed door meetings between St. Pete officials, including Mayor Rick Kriseman, the Rowdies and the Rays.
Officials would not detail what was discussed.
“So there’s a lot of rumors out there to what’s going on between the two teams and either way, I think St. Pete is in a really good position,” said Mayor Kriseman.
“I’ve said this before. I think the Rays are an important part of this city. They’re an important part of the region and I appreciate [all] that the team has done in this community. How they’ve invested in the community.”
Edwards will likely stick around in some capacity, but not as the controlling owner.
This move is not solely about the soccer club’s MLS expansion bid, although it would help the cause.
The stadium belongs to the Rowdies, so the Tampa Bay Rays would likely inherit that arrangement as well.
Meanwhile, plans continue for the Rays’ new ballpark in Tampa.
More details about the Rays’ purchase of the Rowdies are expected to be announced at a news conference at the Mahaffey Theater on Tuesday.
You can watch that news conference live on WFLA.com and on the WFLA Facebook page.
