Rays Owner Stu Sternberg on Friday "shared some of his optimism, frustration, concern, hope and confidence about the team, the season and the prospects" for a new ballpark in Tampa, according Marc Topkin of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. Sternberg said that there has been "enough talk with Tampa, Hillsborough County and business leaders that there is 'no reason why we shouldn't have a good sense of where things are headed by year's end.'" Sternberg said that "means 'it shouldn't be necessary' to get an extension on the deadline to let St. Petersburg know if the Rays will be leaving" Tropicana Field before the '27 end of their term. He also said that the team's contribution to the estimated $800M project "remains fluid" from his original $150M suggestion, "based on commitments for major sponsorships and naming rights." Sternberg said, "The more we can sell, the more we can contribute." He added he feels the team has done "great" and is "ready.'' He said that there is "a lot of 'excitement' for the project in the community and now it's a matter of seeing if a workable deal can be made." Sternberg said that it is a "matter now of all the pieces coming together." He said, "There are all these things. There is money out there, there are sponsorships out there, there are fans out there ... and it's got to coalesce. It's got to coalesce" (TAMPABAY.com, 6/15).
