MLB's revenue-sharing agreement currently "is sustaining" the Rays, but the patience of other owners in the league "is running low" as they wait for the team to secure a new ballpark, according to Danielson & Varian of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. Rays Owner Stuart Sternberg and team President Matt Silverman yesterday had an "hourlong discussion" with several local business leaders on the topic. Tampa Bay Partnership Chair Chuck Sykes said of MLB Commissioner Bud Selig's recent comments about possibly intervening in the Rays' stadium search, "Bud's a very patient guy with these things, but (other team owners) are not happy with the situation ... because if you think about it, the thing right now that's really sustaining the team is revenue-sharing." Sykes said Sternberg and Silverman told the business leaders the team's "sustainability is driven off revenue-sharing." He added, "That is not a long-term winning formula." Rays officials "did not give the partnership an update on their talks with St. Petersburg" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 8/29).
