It's time to raise the roof for our latest offseason episode.

Welcome back everyone to this latest episode of Raise the roof.

I am your host Alex Murphy with me today, the boys, Gibby and Evan Lynch.

It's a very interesting episode today and a very big episode because this is.

Essentially, this is the third era of the Rays, if you want to call it that.

We can go by uniforms or whatever it is, but in terms of ownership, the third era of the Rays has officially begun today.

Patrick Zalupski, who we we actually found out the pronunciation is Zalupski, not Zalupski.

So apologies on getting that wrong the first time, but Patrick Zalupski and the ownership group, the current ownership group, incoming ownership group for the Rays, officially had their right introductory press conference today over at Steinbrenner Field, which now looks ugly as hell because it's all back to the Yankee stuff.

So it lost its ore in about two seconds, which isn't great, but plenty of things to talk about when it comes to the actual press conference itself, Plenty of excitement there.

I want to open it up to you guys first.

You know, we haven't talked a little bit.

So how's everyone doing?

Pretty good, Alex.

The Yankees were down, but now they're up.

Yeah, Judge is here.

Yeah, Judge finally arrived at the playoffs.

He hit the foul pole.

Yankees went crazy.

Yeah.

So we're pretty moderate right now, Alex.

We are just non biasedly watching this.

I feel that.

I mean, play, play playoff.

Baseball rocks.

It's just, it's so fun to watch.

I mean, the Dodgers Phillies series has been awesome so far.

But you said Steinbrenner went back to being ugly, but it went back to being the way it should be though, like.

Yeah, but like you're.

Still, yeah, I'm going to start nature's healing flipping that place off again.

Yes, but also it looks a lot worse because there's not Ray.

Stuff on it you can't.

That's fair.

Yeah, that's fair.

But I like that it's going back to the Yankees because that means we're going back to the Trop.

And also I was, so they said in the press conference today that 12 panels, half the panels on the roof were were up.

I don't know the legitimacy of that because I thought I saw 10 but supposedly 12 of the.

Panels are up on the roof, so half.

Of them, oh, it's 20.

Four.

Yeah, 24, So half.

Of the roof is hopefully.

Completed if not at least 10 panels on the roof because I definitely saw ten.

I can confirm 10.

I can't confirm anything else but 10 SO.

And how what's like the does anybody know what the inside renovation looks like?

I mean I get they have to replace everything on the end like every electronics like I mean I assume that.

So I know that it's supposed to start once they're done with the roof.

So the roof is #1?

That makes sense.

And then all the inside stuff becomes #2.

Gotcha, that makes sense.

Yeah.

Yeah, I guess that's how it would work for your real house too, if you lost your roof.

Like, I wouldn't, I wouldn't go buy another TV.

I guess that's how it has to work.

Makes sense.

I mean, for her, it smells bad.

Oh.

There's got to be so much mold in that.

Oh yeah, I'm sure that I'm sure that a lot of it has already been addressed, but I'm sure that a lot of it will be taken care of over the next.

Couple months just because of the chaos of everything that.

Happened oh oh, you guys, do you guys have the game on?

Oh yeah, I saw that.

That was a horrible play.

Yeah, who?

Who is that?

Who's playing right?

Not Davis.

Oh, something there, you idiot.

That was.

I must be so far behind.

Oh, we'll just wait.

They are.

They're on the highlights right now.

Well, well, you'll, you'll get it in about 3 seconds.

Yeah, so I I will say on my end, I attended 2 of the games in the last road trip of the year for the Rays, both in Baltimore.

I picked the two games where they lost.

So a screw you, Dean Kramer, because like, you don't.

Have to just be good against the Rays.

You can like you, you can like vary the teams that you're good against.

You don't have to just pick one team and own them.

Yeah, I'm actually.

Pissed off cuz that dude, cuz it was rainy that night and I had to drive there and back and I was not enjoying myself.

I didn't get back until like midnight.

So that wasn't fun.

And then the other game was the Thursday game, which started out great.

I didn't realize that they were going to take Drew out immediately at 150 innings.

Like he got to 150 and then they pulled the rope on him.

Smart.

I like that.

I like that move.

And took him out.

But they kind of ruined my experience because like, if Drew would have been, you know, good, then yeah, if if he would have been Drew, then they would have been shut out for 6-7 innings.

Oh fuck.

I said the meme.

What the 6-7 meme?

Oh ha ha.

Wouldn't have caught that in a million years.

No, I hate myself for saying that.

Dang.

Oh, it's actually the score is 6/9 in the game and 10.

Years old, Alex.

I wish.

Well, someone's going to make the joke, but he was going to have a quality start at least.

But regardless, the Rays blew the lead because guess who they brought in my favorite picture of all time?

Kevin Kelly.

Oh boy.

And then I walked over to the flag court and you can kind of see me in the video of Beavers walk off Homer, but he hit that shit right over my head, like just by you.

I went.

Over you might just have We might.

We might be banning you from Camden Yards.

I am one in five.

I was one in five seeing the O's this year.

You, you were not allowed back.

We got to stop him from going to another OS race game.

The only times that I saw them lose were the game that Aranda hit the home run, which I saw on Utah St.

It's the second furthest home run ever hit on Utah St.

that that will be marked, which is sick.

And then some random game against the Royals.

So like, I don't like this.

I'm not a fan.

Wait, didn't they lose the game that Aranda hit that ball that far?

No, well, I'm saying, Oh no.

I'm saying that the two games that I saw the O's lose were the Aranda home run game in the game in in April or May or whatever it was.

Gotcha.

So yeah, so my season ended up great, went to 11 games, they went five and six.

I was 5 and 4 coming into it.

Just got out of Wood Camden.

Everywhere else is fine, just gotta avoid Canon yards.

Well, hey, I I love to go to the Rays play and not had a lot of success in Canon yards recently, but I've I went to double digit Rays games in a season for the first time ever.

That's impressive that yeah, that's for for someone that doesn't.

Live in Tampa, it's pretty good, so I'm proud of myself, but.

I've never been to a raise away game.

Oh, I've been to.

I've been to plenty.

That's yeah, me too.

I've only I've been to four race home games, but I guess two of those were Steinbrenner games, so that I don't even know if that counts as a home game, No.

That's kind of crazy to me.

Yeah.

I've been to 8.

I've only been to four games of the Trout, four games at.

Steinbrenner that I can remember off the offhand.

Most of my race games have been at Fenway, so that's where I that's where I've been.

That's where my first game was actually.

Well I've seen them play in Philly, Baltimore, DC and Yankees.

Outside of that I can 100% remember.

Those are the four that I, yeah.

I think I've, that's a good.

Yeah.

I think I've been to four, too.

I've been to the Bronx, Fenway, DC and Camden.

Yeah.

Yeah, I mean, it's pretty impressive.

But aside from all of that, just because we haven't talked in a little bit, let's get into the meat and bones of this podcast because later in this podcast we will have the entire audio recording of the introductory press conference.

So for those that didn't see it.

This morning it is live stream, but we will have the entire audio of the press conference later in the episode, so do stay tuned for that.

In terms of the actual meat and bones of what they said during the presser, which a lot of it First off was just like them showing a commitment to the community.

I can read some of the quotes, especially that they said here, let me raise baseball.

I can read so, so this is Patrick Zalupski.

This moment is not just about ownership.

It's about stewardship.

We we recognize the deep responsibility we now carry to deliver a winning team on the field as raised fans are accustomed to and deserve and an unforgettable experience for our fans.

That's a commitment we take with humility, with with pride and with great anticipation.

Bill Cosgrove, who is a Co chair and the CEO of Union Home Mortgage, which if no one realized and I didn't realize it until the actual press conference, Union Home Mortgage is the sponsor of the Gasparilla Bowl, which is in Tampa.

So like, that's fantastic.

I knew I knew that name sounded familiar.

I knew so so talk about like synergy.

He already understands what big games and.

Things like that are like in the area because why else would they have sponsored?

That's the new Outback Bowl, right?

No, that's.

Where That's the new Saint Pete Bowl.

So that you it's the yeah, it's the under Outback Bowl.

Isn't Outback isn't the Outback Bowl in Tampa as well though?

Yeah.

Yeah, but it's.

Called the Relya Quest bowl now.

Oh, gotcha, gotcha.

But yeah, so, so Bill Cosgrove said this.

He said the Rays are woven into the fabric of this region.

They represent something special, not just in baseball, but in the lives of the people who call this place.

Home and then Ken Babi, who's the CEO or will be the CEO of this team.

I I think that what he presented was a lot of positive things.

He already has quite a hand in baseball and has some ties to Saint Pete, at least growing up and, you know, going to games and things like that.

He said a great team uses its platform to celebrate great works in the community and to pitch in when the community needs help.

The race have strong bonds throughout Tampa Bay and we look forward to maintaining and strengthening those relationships and creating new ones.

And then I can mention some other new stuff.

But basically a lot of what they said First off was the main priority for this team and for this ownership group is to get a stadium built in Tampa Bay.

That is the biggest thing.

They are trying to look for 100 plus acre development or area for mixed-use development.

Zalupski specifically mentioned the battery in Atlanta and mentioned that he and, and his and the ownership group have already gone out to Atlanta to kind of look, survey, you know, do some reconnaissance and look and see what has made that so successful.

So that's kind of more or less going to be the benchmark for what they want to try to create in the area.

So any place that they can find that's got 100 plus acres essentially is what they're looking for is, you know, the plan for that.

I know, going back to what I had put earlier, he said.

Plan A is to.

Figure it out here in Tampa Bay.

We're confident that we're going to get that done.

What else?

Yeah, I mentioned the battery stuff.

And and.

Yes, opening day 2029 hard.

I mean, which is false.

I don't, Yeah, I don't.

I love the optimism there, but I mean 3 1/2 years.

So I I.

Think it's important because if you look at what the Rays were planning on doing with this whole situation going into the new stadium in Saint Pete, the plan was to get shovels on the ground in January and have things ready by opening day 28.

So that would have given them about three years to actually build a stadium.

252627 Yeah.

And then all the time that they took before that.

So essentially, this is a similar timeline.

They just haven't found the place yet.

They haven't put out the renderings yet.

They don't know how, you know, they haven't done the cost analysis and cost studies and things of that nature.

That takes plus, plus all the lobbying they have to do for funds from local government and all that type of stuff, which takes I, I don't know, 3 1/2 years.

If they do it, awesome.

It just seems kind of hard to believe that that could ever be done.

Well, that also makes me 100% think that they will need to and they didn't mention this specifically about they didn't talk.

I mean, they've only been on this for a couple days now at this point, maybe like a week or so.

But they haven't talked yet about any short term leases or extensions that will be added to the Trop, which I can almost guarantee will happen because well, I guess the lease ends at the end of 28.

So I guess basically what they want to try to do is not have the extra year tacked on because it was already tacked on due to all the hurricane stuff and them not playing in it this year.

So I think that's the plan is literally to buy the end of the lease of the Trop to not have to tack on an extra year so that they can build the new stadium by 29 and have it ready by 29.

And there's a I've, I've seen Hopkins tweets recently too, there's some sort of plan to kind of do the development site at the Trop, just minus a baseball stadium.

So I don't know how that would, I don't know when that would be as well.

So like I mean if that's in 2029, the Trop obviously won't be there.

So they won't have a stadium either.

So who knows where with that, with that entire development as well, so.

Yeah.

Gibby, what are your thoughts about the about the timeline of which they have at least put out in the introductory press conference?

Yeah, I mean, it's a little ambitious.

I mean, you would have to like literally get this stuff done.

Everything we just talked about, you'd have to get done in like 5 months to have a realistic shot of having that goal.

So I mean, I, I particularly don't believe it.

Maybe 20-30 is more believable, but I mean, we'll see.

I mean, it's still far away away.

So I mean, we'll, we'll see there.

I mean, what is that?

They said 2029, right?

Or 20/28/20.

29.

OK.

Yeah.

I mean, yeah, I mean, that's doable.

I I, I could see it happening if people are if, you know, ownership is very motivated and as well as the community.

Yeah, it's just I'll, I'll, I'll, I'll believe it when I see it though.

I mean, I, I really know much about this new about the new ownership because, I mean, we literally just started.

So, I mean, we'll get an idea in the next coming months of how ambitious they are about getting this done and what they're going to do going forward.

Yeah, I think it seems seems off the bat like, you know, they have pretty good intentions, so.

It will, it will be interesting to see like how difficult it will be to actually like, I mean, if they're able to lock down a, a site in Tampa, I wonder, like I wonder how, if it's actually that difficult or if Stu was just kind of playing that hardball, like, I don't know.

I wonder how I'd I don't know.

I want to know how long that process actually will look.

Well I know that I know that Mayor Jane Castor in the mayor of Tampa said that Tampa has the money.

So like I guess whatever previous things that were said about Tampa not having the money is a bunch of BS because she said verbatim that Tampa has the money.

If if the if the Rays want to move to the area, I know they can well choose.

The mayor of Saint Pete was also there.

I think that he is, you know, an an interesting figure in this because he put a lot of faith into Stew in order to try to get that plan done.

The one the one that was cancelled before opening day this year and said that the bridge has been burned between that ownership group.

But he said that if a new ownership group comes around that he would try to restart negotiations and see what's going on.

And I believe that they said that they're going to hold conferences with those on both sides of the Bay to see what works.

I understand that there's more room or more bigger plots of land if you're thinking about it on the Tampa side of things, not on Pinellas County.

So Hillsborough County, because I know like the HCC site was one that was that was put out, which is the site that's right next to Steinbrenner.

That is going to create a lot of interesting situations if if, if said things are the case.

I know there was like the fairground site has always been one that's been put tossed around the dog part, you know, the dog track site, the somewhere in Ebor, like it's the, it's the same places that have been tossed around consistently there.

And then the trop side is really the only big plot of land that I can think of in Pinellas off the top of my head.

That way, give me Ebor, give me Ebor.

That was such an exciting time when they would I don't, I mean, when was that 10 years 2018 like, oh.

Yeah, 2018-2019.

Yep.

That was fun.

That was a fun little.

That was a fun couple months of optimism.

Yeah.

And then it all went to the ground.

So yeah, that's numb thing number one, that's the most important thing is, is that.

They did say.

They did say Tampa Bay, by the way.

Yes.

They didn't say Tampa specifically you.

Know, no, they like I said, they kept it open, but I think with the whole 100 plus acres of land thing in order to do the mixed-use development, that kind of narrows things down pretty significantly because not a lot of places have that.

So that makes sense.

I understand that, but that was the biggest thing.

What else?

I thought it was funny that Bill Cosgrove's phone went off at the start of the press conference, like right, right in the middle of Zalupski's opening comments.

I thought that was pretty funny.

Ken Babi mentioned that there will be new fan experiences coming to Tropicana Field in 2026.

I don't know if that means that it's just new things that need to be there because of stuff that was damaged or whatever it is, but he mentioned like a new sound system.

He mentioned new video boards.

I don't know how damaged they are from the, you know, the hurricane, but he he mentioned some things like that stuff that will be added in.

What else do we have here?

01 of the bigger things.

This is a quote from Zalupski.

We have a self-imposed rule that none of us and none of the partners are allowed to have any influence on the baseball side.

So much like what happened with Stew and company, the decisions will be left to Eric Neander and Kevin Cash.

Babby also said in in Eric and Kevin we trust during the press conference, which I thought was pretty funny.

So there's definitely continued reliance on them moving forward.

There was mention of like I think there were a couple questions about what the payroll will be looking like moving forward, But again, the biggest concern for this current ownership group.

The new ownership group is to get a stadium in Tampa.

And then I know a big thing was the revenue that will be generated from that will be put right back into the team in order to hopefully increase revenue and increase team spending overtime.

And I don't know how different things will be in the short.

Term with that.

But I know that a big thing that was said there specifically was that that stadium is #1 thing on their mind of trying to get things going.

Any thoughts from you guys about Zulubsky's quote there?

Yeah.

I mean, I think it's just early.

I mean I think they'll they will make some eventually make some signings.

I mean we'll see if it's like just like years past if they kind of want to keep, you know that pay range about the same.

But I mean, those are, I mean, eventually you'll have to get around to, you know, what you're really going to do.

I guess we'll just kind of see, you know, once some trades come through later in the year and then to next year, we'll see how it how that all shakes out.

So I mean, we'll see if they're if they're willing to spend a little bit more money than Stu or if they're really firm on that.

We want the stadium first commitment because I mean, we do got to sign junior eventually.

You know, I mean, if you if we let junior go, I mean, unless he has some important regression or something in the next few years, which, you know, I'm knocking on wood, I think it should all, you know, work itself out.

So I think they should have like some focus on.

I mean, I obviously I don't think they're going to say it right there, but, you know, they should have some focus on getting junior side to an extended contract.

You know, I think that's one of the other main, you know, complaints that was about Stu, you know, just not keeping the players enough.

So I mean, huge fan love for Junior Caminero and I mean, his play is phenomenal.

So.

Yeah.

Yeah, there might be.

I mean, it sounds like there's kind of a way to do both like it.

I mean, if if the Tampa mayor is saying that they have the money to help out with the stadium, I mean, maybe the owners don't have to focus their financial like gains to the stadium solely.

So it seems like they could kind of focus more on actually paying, paying the players.

I mean, I mean, this is high expectations, but guy like Kyle Tucker, who I mean from the Tampa area is a outfielder who I mean, this team needs desperate outfield help, but would be an incredible fit.

He he I don't think he's a free agent, but bringing back Randy would be unbelievable.

Some Randy land back in the drop would be.

I think Randy will be a free agent.

Willie, let me look that up real quick.

That would be bringing Randy back would be.

I mean, once again, we need outfield.

He's a.

Boris client, though remember that Boris clients aren't fun.

Yeah, he's about to get paid too.

I heard his arbitrations, do I think it's going to be like 18 mil?

Yeah, he had a decent game today, 2 for five.

I mean, three guys on the Ms.

hit homers.

He was not one of them, but he went 2 for five.

He's, you know, he's always a big guy in the postseason, so nothing shocking there.

Love my guy, miss him.

But I think, I think there's a way for them to do both.

I think there's a way for them to focus on the stadium 1st and but also making kind of their introduction to the league by signing a big player, maybe not Kyle Tucker big.

I I understand he's maybe too large, but I mean, actually, who knows?

He might be kind of at a discount just because he's, I mean, I guess he played well in the wild card series, but this entire season he wasn't great.

So maybe we could get him at a discount, but I think they'll get like a, they'll give like kind of like a Danny Jansen type deal where there's a lot of money for us.

Whereas I mean, he got what, 8 NIL for a catcher.

That's yeah, I.

I, I, I think that's a good thing to expect is maybe not like the big splash deals of like 30 mill a year to this guy, you know, 25 a year to this guy.

I think if we realistically, I think we should look more in the realm of guys that are 8 to 15,000,000 a year.

I think that the Rays are going to try to bring in more of those guys in the new ownership that'll become more of a commonality.

Instead of trying to bring in Ahmed Rosario.

I want a one and a half, $1,000,000 deal or trying to get some sort of a discount on film a ton for like 6 mil if for over 2 years or whatever it is.

I think it's going to be we, we won't have to look for cheap.

It'll be I, I, I think realistically the contracts that are 8 to 15 a year, I think will become more commonplace and.

Maybe.

They'll have the money later on to go make a big splash for someone, but realistically, I think that makes the most sense.

I think that this offseason, don't expect anything crazy.

Maybe like one or two signings like that, maybe 3.

I wouldn't expect anything crazy this year because of all the stuff that they're going to have to do in order to secure a stadium knowing the aggressive timeline that they've already, you know, announced and put out today.

So that's at least my thought.

Process of it.

And I think, I think it's extensions are probably more likely to like I could see us extending Pepeo or somebody or I mean Junior, obviously he's one of like 1A to extend, but maybe lesser, not lesser like in terms of talent, but lesser I guess in terms of attention.

Yeah, Pepio I think would be a great one.

Maybe also extending Rasmussen.

He'd probably get a lot of money but or under players like that who who deserve an extension but just won't get as much attention as Junior does.

So.

Yeah, I think that's a good point.

It's it is a really loaded free agent class though.

Well, that's why I'm saying I think don't expect the big flashy deal, but maybe more of the mid, the mid deals.

I think could become an incredibly way more commonplace for this team moving forward so.

AKA Hassan Kim deal but better.

With the guy who's not going to be hurt for the.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Not a scammer.

Not a scammer.

Yeah, let's see who else.

Oh, an interesting quote here from Babi, he said.

We're very aware and in touch with the fatigue around this issue for the last 21 years regarding the stadium situation.

We know that fatigue is real.

We know that we have a lot of work to do ahead of us and that work begins today.

I think that was fantastic that they acknowledged how fucking annoying it's been with this stadium shit.

Something that has really been a thorn in the Rays side since.

I don't even know like 2009 is 1.

Of those.

Yeah, but I mean, like I remember getting, I remember my my 2009 pocket schedule that I got when I went to go see the Rays for the first time really as a fan.

And I got a pocket schedule.

And on the pocket schedule.

Inside the pocket schedule were renderings for the sailboat stadium that was supposed.

To be, Oh yeah, that's right, the sailboat.

Yeah, the.

Yeah, yeah.

The Sail Stadium that was supposed to be on the waterfront in Saint Pete, That never happened.

That was the first of at least three stadium proposals that ended up getting canned over the last 20 years or so.

So I, I'm a very, very appreciative of what he said because I the, the fact that he acknowledged it day one that we're sick and tired of this garbage and we want to get something finalized and finite.

And something done is I, I, I think a good step for this like, like they, they said the right buzzwords today that I think are good.

Yeah, it wasn't like the the generic coach speak like it was like under it was actually voicing those frustrations kind of just makes it's it's more natural, it's more real and it makes us feel better.

So yeah.

That is true.

He didn't mention anything specifically about trying to extend Junior or none of them did.

I think that is definitely going to be something big moving forward and we'll have to see what's going on there.

Same thing with figuring out where the stadium location is going to be, all of that stuff.

You know, the, the, IT seems like the ownership group acknowledge that the team is going to be happy to move back to the Trop.

And there's already been a lot of people that are happy that the team is moving back to the Trop even though it's not in the best spot.

They're they're just happy that that the team is moving.

To where it should be home.

So that's good to hear.

Yeah.

It just, I thought the vibes were good today.

They didn't say anything stupid, which I think is really important.

There were a lot of interesting points that that were made and I think were were done well.

They released kind of the limited partner list.

Shane Battier is on there.

Former NBA champion with the Miami Heat.

That's your guy.

I believe shut up.

I think a former Florida State quarterback, Drew Weatherford, Am I getting that name right?

I think he oh, I thought they said Adam Sandler for a second.

Holy shit.

That would have been that would have been crazy.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Drew.

Weatherford, Florida State quarterback from O4 to O8.

Pretty interesting.

Let's see what else we got here.

We got Brett Morgan of Morgan Auto.

He's actually a follower of us.

I, I sent a text to him and, and, or I sent Adm to him and said Congrats about being, you know, part of the ownership group for the team.

And he said thanks.

So that was pretty cool.

Hopefully we'll get him on a podcast soon because I know I'm a big Rays guy.

So that'd be pretty cool to get someone from the Usher group.

Not the composer John Williams, but someone named John Williams is on this.

Which it would be incredibly funny if it was the world famous music composer John Williams, the guy who did Star Wars and Indiana Jones.

Dude if he did a Rays Symphony that would be crazy.

You might be in.

The grave before that happens.

Come on, we can't do that.

Whatever you do, John Williams just put tantric.

Goes Yeah, you said we're getting a new sound system.

Put it to use.

Maybe that's what it is.

Maybe that's one of those things.

He's all going to be here for a limited time.

So yeah, I don't know a lot of these people, but some interesting names off the jump which which is pretty interesting.

Where's my master's guy?

Oh yeah, Fred Ridley, we also, we, we, we mentioned him before he's, he's part of the ownership group or we'll be part of the executive board for the team.

I'm hoping that means we get some Masters ground passes moving forward and there's some Ray's Masters collabs going forward.

Like that'd be pretty sick.

Hook us up, dude.

I would love to get him on because I think it would be legitimately cool to talk with him just.

We'll be quiet in in the luxury.

Oh, could you imagine if if we had him on like, no, no baseball talk.

Literally all golf, all golf questions.

So.

Fred question Junior Caminero extend him or not?

He's like who?

Yeah, I I will say interesting point because it had been mentioned before, the Tampa Bay Rowdies who the Rays had bought are part of this ownership takeover Zalubski and company.

Will also own the Rowdies, the Rowdies if they they, it says here.

The race have no plans to sell the Rowdies and the group looks forward to supporting the organization's staff and fans as part of the new ownership structure.

Important note there.

And I know that there have been talks about trying to get the Rowdies into a new stadium.

Maybe they'll share a stadium with the Tampa Bay Sun moving forward.

Maybe all the teams move to Tampa instead of Saint Pete, which I'm sure would not be great for Saint Pete because I know that Saint Pete loves having professional sports there in any capacity, capacity, shape and form.

And so overall, I think I'm, I'm, I'm excited, I'm optimistic, I'm positive.

There's a lot of positive things going on with this team, which is good because the end of that season sucked ass, especially watching that stupid Beavers home.

I, I walked home inside.

I walked back to my car in silence, like it was like a 20 minute walk of silence back to my car after watching that so.

That was a fitting end to the I mean, I guess it wasn't the actual end to the season, but that was.

Well, I got slept by the Jays, so that was a fitting end.

Yeah, no, it was, it was a it was a really fun season.

And I mean that 100% sarcasm.

So I loved it.

But but no, I'm excited.

But on the bright side, I'm excited about the fresh start that we're going to get.

They they, I, I don't know if they said it during the press conference today, but they have said it that like no, nothing else in the front office will change either.

So that'll be nice to have that consistency as well.

But yeah, it'll be nice to just get a fresh start back in the trop.

It's it's exciting.

Kind of.

I'm ready.

Get back, get through the are you?

Ready to go back to the trop?

I'm ready.

I'm.

Ready.

You're ready to go back to America's Ballpark.

Then we can start hammering that shit that everyone's there for the next three years.

Let's go, Let's go.

Yeah, we're not ready.

Wait, we're almost we didn't realize that we're almost back to raise the roof instead of just raise the.

Yeah, Yeah.

We're like, we're like raise the roof right now because half of that we're.

Almost the roof.

Yeah, we got half of it on Raise the Roof.

Did people get mad?

I I feel like people, some.

People got some people got mad because of the timing, but I was like, I was like no one got hurt.

Like it sucks, but like, I don't know, it's not too bad.

I, I, I get like, people like it.

It probably was like a little bit insensitive.

At the same time, it was like it was a funny joke.

Hey, it's our name and we no longer had a roof.

So yeah, I, I think.

I.

Think everything, anything goes there.

Before we.

We can end it.

We can end it there, and we don't have to get in the sad news, do we?

No, I'm just kidding.

I just, it's lead the way, Alex.

Yeah, So as much as I don't want to bring this up because it is, it's sad news and a good it's sad news.

I don't really know how to describe it, but I'm I'm sure you guys saw Brett Phillips retired a he provided one of the best, probably the greatest moment in race history as of right now, unless something changes in the winter World Series in the next.

Five years which?

God I hope so, but I mean the man was a legend in the area.

He was not good by any stretch of the imagination.

Let's be fully honest with ourselves.

Somehow he managed the two war season 1 of the years.

It was like 21 or 22, which probably is the most insane thing I've ever said in my life that.

He was worth two wins as a player.

But I mean, he provided a lot of moments for us as Rays fans.

In a very short period of time was an absolutely great human being, exuded happiness and positivity.

I'm sure that you guys have very fond memories of him, but thoughts about?

Brett officially retiring, which I'm surprised he hasn't retired earlier because like, I don't know the last time that actually pitched like played on a Major League roster.

Like.

Played a Major League game like it's.

Been a bit yeah.

I mean, he'll, I mean, you'll always go back to the World Series.

I mean, I just remember being with all my friends and him actually getting that hit and then, you know, just the Dodgers seemingly breaking down and crumbling in front of me as, you know, this really at the at the time, just irrelevant, you know, barely made the roster kind of guy on the on the team.

But I mean, you just knew at some point, you know, the game was going to come to him and you know, Kevin Cash puts him in there or he might have just been a lot.

Or was he pinched hit?

He was pinched, hit right.

That's a really good question.

I I can't remember, but him to come in that moment, you know, really provide us a spark.

And I mean, he had countless other moments too.

You know, I remember that that girl with with cancer and he hit the home run like right after the interview or right after the interview with her, during the interview with her, with Tricia Whitaker.

I mean, yeah.

I mean, dude just cut and provide countless moments, all his bullpen moments.

I mean, he also just knew how to have fun on the field.

I mean, his slogan, baseball is fun, really just captivated on what he was all about.

I mean, he's just probably one of the best people to ever exist in the sport of baseball.

So shouts out to him.

And I mean, he's just affected so many franchises.

I mean, he's been on so many teams.

I feel like he had a memorable moment basically every step of his career almost.

So yeah, I mean, he's just he's the greatest.

Love, love Brett Phillips for all for all my life.

For all my life.

Evan yeah, I I mean, that's such a good poll, Gibby I totally forgot about the the the girl with cancer that during that I.

Feel bad not remember her name.

It's.

Clobey Grimes, I didn't remember it either.

I just looked, I just looked it up.

But she just started school, so she's in school.

So she's, yeah, she's doing well.

So hell yeah, that's news of the day so far.

But yeah, that was.

I mean, you can't watch that moment and not tear up.

I feel like.

As for like the I guess I mean that's the serious story.

As for the not so serious stories, I mean, his moment against in the World Series is it might not be the best.

I think.

I think Brasso's home run is still my like most of.

Fastest Men Brasso's home run was so much cooler because the vibes.

Yeah, and just the whole Chapman story, but but that's what makes baseball the best.

Like Brett Phillips guy who nobody knew comes in with a World Series game on the line and that doesn't happen in any other sport but baseball.

And to answer your question, could be he was so he was pinch ran for for G man.

And so I guess it just.

Came up to him.

That's right.

But that's, yeah, that's what makes baseball the best.

You never know who's going to have the bat in their hands when it matters the most.

So that was, I'll never forget watching that game as well, having that game on the side Tvi wasn't listening to it, but because I was in college, so somebody else.

Here insanity.

I mean, my friends were doing flips in my apartment bedroom or my apartment living room.

It was insane.

I didn't I, I didn't even know what happened.

I was like, wait, what?

Like it was one of like, I know obviously we're we're biased fans, but I truly think that that was one of the craziest endings to any any sort of big game in my lifetime.

So.

I mean, I remember, yeah, I remember putting my head down because I thought Randy was out and I was like, I didn't even look at the screen.

And then my friend was like, look up.

And then I see them all running across the field.

And then Brett Phillips airplane.

Yeah, I was like, all right, I guess we're going going like I was like, all right, at least we're going to extras.

But I mean, that's what makes sports the best is like, it's it.

I don't know.

I wouldn't.

Do anything for that moment again.

Yeah, and the thing that's so cool about it is like we didn't even win the whole thing that year, but it's like it's about the journey.

Like in that that moment.

Yeah, still was a lot of fun, just like the Brasso moment was just like that entire playoff run was.

But yeah, thanks Brett.

That was that was a hell of a moment.

And all time reaction to all time celebration.

The airplanes.

Yeah, they shouldn't have celebrated as hard because then they would have won the damn series in two games.

Nah, dude, we had to take it when we could.

We'll.

Get the We'll get the World Series eventually.

In another 12 years, the Rays will lose in seven games, and then they'll actually win the World Series the next time after that.

So that's, that's, that's the timeline right now.

That's what does that put us at 20?

40 It's about.

2048 They're going to win a World Series, guys.

Guaranteed.

It's all about the losing.

Yeah, bring bringing.

Boards for 2044.

My fault the four years earlier.

New new ownership group should bring Brett Phillips in too.

So that could be.

An IA 100% agree.

That'd be sick if he was in some sort of a position within the organization.

I think Brett wouldn't even need to get paid for it either.

I think he'd just do it for volunteer work.

Yeah, but I think that he would want to get paid.

Yeah, no, I mean, I'm kind of kidding.

I'm just saying like that's how much he loves.

Oh, A.

100 percent, 100%.

Seems like he loves being with people and with the fans, so a.

100%, So we already talked about Brett, we talked about the whole ownership thing.

All of that is now done for you guys.

We're going to run our Siki Gad.

After the Siki Gad, we are going to run the entirety of the press conference, all of the questions that were asked to Zalupski and company, the opening remarks, everything like that.

All of that will be after the break, so stay tuned.

We're going to run our Siki Gad and we'll be right back in this latest episode.

I've raised the roof.

Hi everyone, Alex here with a quick word from our sponsor Seegeek.

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Use code Raise the roof, that's Ray's spelled RAYS at checkout for $20 off your first purchase with Seegeek.

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Thanks so much to SeatGeek for sponsoring us, and let's get back to this latest episode of Raise the Roof.

Great.

Thank you, Rosie.

Good morning.

On behalf of myself, Ken Babbie, Bill Cosgrove, thank you all for being here.

Today is an incredibly exciting day for us personally, for our families, for our partners, and I hope for the entire Tampa Bay community.

We are honored and feel privileged to be the new owners of the Tampa Bay Rays.

This moment is not just about ownership, it's about stewardship.

We recognize the deep responsibility we now carry to deliver a championship caliber team on the field and a world class experience for our fans.

That's a commitment we make with humility, with pride, and with great anticipation.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Commissioner Rob Manfred and to the other team owners for their support and encouragement throughout this journey.

And I especially want to thank Stu Sternberg for building a franchise is known for its innovation and success, and for trusting our group to carry that legacy forward.

Stu, your leadership has laid a foundation that we are proud to build upon.

I am also deeply grateful that so many of our partners are here with us today to celebrate.

This is a shared moment with so many great people who participate in this process to get us here today.

I am especially excited to announce that Ken Babi will be leading the day-to-day business operations as as the CEO of the team.

Ken brings a passion for excellence and a deep respect for the culture that already exists within this organization.

I am also looking forward to working with baseball.

President of Baseball Operations Eric Meander and manager Kevin Cash will continue to build a championship culture.

Be assured that we plan to do a lot of listening and a lot of brainstorming.

We want to be methodical and we will have purpose and vision in all we do, but it's also essentially move with a sense of urgency.

It's no secret that we need a new forever home to secure the Rays long term future in Tampa Bay and delivering upon that objective will be our first priority.

Our goal is to have a world class ballpark ready for opening day 2029.

We acknowledge this is aggressive and perhaps audacious, but time is of the essence.

The ballpark will anchor a best in class mixed-use development of likely at least 100 acres containing hotels, office, retail, restaurants, bars, music venue.

This list.

I am sorry.

I'm.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

First time.

First time.

I'm so sorry.

Excuse me, Paula, would you take this and shut it off for me, please?

I'm so sorry.

Well, I I think we broke the ice, Patrick, So I'm so sorry.

It said don't mess with Bill.

Did you?

Did you catch that?

OK, I'm sorry.

No.

Worries.

It's a song.

It's an old song, Patrick.

The ballpark will anchor a best in class mixed-use development of likely at least 100 acres containing hotels, office, retail, restaurants, bars, music venue.

This list of criteria is effectively everything we believe to be essential to delivering a world class live work play experience.

We are also determined and pledged to you to build a championship caliber team and believe we believe this development will generate the revenue needed for long term sustainable success.

This in turn will create jobs for our community, supporting economic growth and opportunity in this region for generations to come.

To be clear, it is our first and highest priority to find that home here in Tampa Bay.

We understand the history and how important it is to get it right for the fans, our employees, the entire Tampa Bay region and Major League Baseball.

We're confident that working together, we'll find the right path forward.

Thank you.

So thanks, Rosie.

Before I start my comments, Ken, would you please make sure your phone is shut off?

I apologize for that.

Good morning, everybody.

My name is Bill Cosgrove.

We are, on behalf of my family, we are really excited and honored to be part of the Tampa Bay Rays.

You know, I, I've had my entire life a love of the game of baseball.

And you know, sitting here, you never really expect to get here.

So you have to mention your hometown.

And mine is Bedford.

OH, and you know, the sandlots of Bedford and all my friends have been calling me and it's really, really exciting.

My career, you know, cashew this, you know, my career peaked at the age of 14 when a kid named Frankie threw me a curveball of which I'd never seen before.

And, and after that it it was kind of all over.

But my passion for the game, his his remained ever since.

Also, as a family, our passion for Tampa Bay, our love affair has grown.

15 years ago, we built a house about an hour South of here on the Gulf Coast and we, we just love the region.

Union home Mortgage, our company has a relationship with the Tampa, Tampa Bay Sports Authority and the Union home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl that we've been part of for the last five or six years feeding Tampa Bay as well that group.

So, so we've really just, you know, given our heart to the area and especially now with the Tampa Bay Rays, we're looking forward to, to doing more of that.

I, I've got to say for a second be before I, I turn it over to Ken.

Over the past months, I've gotten an opportunity to know many, many people of the Tampa Bay Rays organization, you know, from Stu and Matt and Brian and Eric and, and just meeting Kevin on down Rossi, everybody, Mel, the organization is wonderful.

The culture is wonderful.

The people are just world class and we're excited really to be a part of it.

We understand that, you know, it's all about winning, you know, on the field, winning in the community and that's, that's what we intend to do.

Thank you, Bill.

Thank you, Patrick.

Good morning.

Today is the realization of a lifelong dream.

Baseball has always been an integral part of my life since as far back as I can remember, my father served as general counsel the Baltimore Orioles.

And as a kid, I spent countless hours watching them build Camden Yards, watching, learning and falling in love with the game.

I was fortunate to have a front row seat to watch the way a ballpark in the development can change a community.

In March every year we'd come down to Saint Petersburg, and I even had the opportunity to serve as a bat boy for the Orioles at Al Lang Stadium, where I had the chance to go back this past Saturday night and watch the Rowdies win for nothing.

Our first game in owning the team.

It was fun to be back there.

Baseball and sports and in general have a wonderful way of bringing community together truly like nothing else.

My journey as a team owner started in Akron, where I had a chance to meet Bill and our ownership of the Akron Rubber Ducks, and then on to AAA in Jacksonville where I met Patrick and our work began together.

It's really unbelievable being in this room today.

It's humbling and it's deeply personal to me and my family and all of our families.

So many people have helped us along this journey.

From the beginning, our focus has always been to make baseball a fun and unforgettable experience.

Accessible, affordable, creating lifelong memories for families, for friends, to take moments away from life's busy paces.

Baseball provides the perfect platform in life to do that.

It's exactly why we're here.

We will create a world class fan experience here in Tampa Bay for our fans and we will do it one at a time in incredibly unique ways on the field.

As Patrick and Bill of both mentioned, we're committed to continuing the great work that Eric and Kevin and the team are doing to be a championship culture on the field and we're going to continue to support them.

And we can't wait to work together to realize all of our dreams together and bring that championship back here to Tampa Bay.

I look forward to supporting them in the organization.

And the reality is the foundation of what Matt and Stu and Brian and the work that's been done here for decades, the foundation is strong.

We're here to help add value where we can.

The same is said on the business side of the organization.

We plan to continue that same championship culture.

While we recognize we have incredible work ahead of us, we've brought together an incredible special local group of partners that we believe will help us continue to cement the right relationships to be successful.

We will also seek input from public officials.

Mayor Caster, Mayor Welsh, it's an honor to have you with us today.

We look forward to working with you to be successful here.

We have other county officials in the room.

I want to thank you for your continued commitment to our work, community leaders, corporate partners, a number of folks in the room that make this machine go.

And you have our commitment that we're going to do our best to do our part as well.

Because at a core, baseball is more than just a baseball team that sells beer, hot dogs and tickets.

We'll do those things too.

We will use the game of baseball to do good in the community to make Tampa Bay a better place to work, live and play.

Tropicana Field is our current home and we can't wait to get back there on April 6th next year.

I want to thank the Mayor and his team in Saint Petersburg for the incredible work that's going on behind the scenes to get Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, ready for baseball in 2026.

At the end of this week, we'll have 12 of our 24 panels on the roof.

That's worth of.

Everybody in the community has answered the call, and that's not a reference to Bill's phone.

One at a time each and unique ways to be able to deliver.

And we're deeply appreciative of your help.

We look forward to building this reality together with our team and with our staff and with the community.

We plan to do our part 2A Tropicana Field.

And as we get close to spring, we'll be announcing a number of fan experience changes that you can look forward to that the ownership group will be putting back into Tropicana Field.

New video boards, new sound system, of course, the new roof that everybody's looking forward to.

We're going to do our part to be able to stand up and celebrate coming home next spring.

Finally, I'd just like to speak directly to the members of the Rays staff and family, from a business operations team to the baseball OPS department, from the analytics to the ushers, to everybody that goes to make this work.

We're making an enormous investment in buying the Tampa Bay Rays because we believe in you.

It's always about the people.

We believe in the entrepreneurial, resilient way this group has come together through so much over these last few years.

We believe in your culture, we believe what the previous regime has created, and we want to build to sustain it.

Your resilience and strength is inspiring, and together we're going to work to build something even more incredible for Tampa Bay, capping it off with a World Series trophy.

We can't wait to be here and we can't wait to get to work.

I want to thank Patrick and Bill for the trust and the investment of what we're building together, and we're ready to get going.

Thank you.

We'll now open it up for questions.

Please.

State your name and affiliation.

Mark Topkin, Tampa Bay Times.

Patrick, given the the grand vision you just expressed for a stadium and a a full complement of other activities around it, can you share where in the process are you?

And it would seem to be only a limited number of sites that could accommodate that.

Have you identified them and do they include both sides of the Bay?

We're encompassing all of Tampa Bay.

We're evaluating sites currently part of our, you know, part of our arrangement was Stew and through the process was that we would not in any discussions with any public officials until we had officially closing the team which happened last Tuesday.

So we're now full steam ahead on site evaluation, feasibility analysis.

There's probably more sites that meet the criteria than you would realize.

We kind of early in the process did at least a high level analysis of what we thought would meet the criteria.

And let me maybe talk a little bit about criteria as well, because that's I think a really important thing for us.

And it's, you know, land is very critical.

We spend a lot of time studying, evaluating, meeting with the Atlanta Braves have been incredibly generous with their time and resources to let us look at the battery.

We think the battery is the gold standard of what we want to, we want to build and develop here in Tampa Bay.

And you know, that venue that that development really now is an incredible experience for the fans, the community, the players, But it's, it is what you have to have in today's Major League Baseball to be successful.

We think without that revenue generation, you it's going to be really, really challenging or nearly impossible to compete with the major markets.

So for us, this is critical to building a championship team.

We have to meet this criteria.

You know, we think it's likely, as I said, 100 plus acres.

If you ask the Braves, they'll tell you, you know, not what was the was the one thing you do differently.

If you could they say land, land, land, right, more land and they're now over 100 acres.

So we think, you know, we'd love to be more is better, but it's also balance of location, quality of location with amount of land.

And there's a point that that'll intersect.

So it's not just well over, this is 500 acres, you know, 30 miles outside of Tampa.

That's not what we're looking for.

We want a great location and as much land as we can get.

So hopefully that answers your question.

Ashley Kreitzer, Tampa Bay Business Journal Patrick, if you were a betting man or if you had a goal, how quickly will we see a proposal for a stadium and this development you just referenced?

We're, we're, we're just getting started.

We've got a lot of work ahead of us.

We're going to have meetings this week with you know, Saint Pete with Tampa and really just getting our bearings right.

So there's no other than I think we know that we need a again, we've got to achieve this criteria.

We've got to deliver this world class development to generate the revenue to produce a consistent championship caliber team.

We don't want to be one year great and five years bad and have to go all in and it's not we want to build a sustainable championship team.

And I think the revenue generation that can come out of this development will will provide that.

So timing we're we're, we're getting to work and we've got a lot to do, a lot to do.

It's going to be challenging, but we're confident that we can be successful here in Tampa Bay.

Adamberrymlb.com Just you've talked about the sustainable championship culture as far as the team on the field.

Do you guys expect to continue what's been done as far as investing in player payroll or could you see?

Potentially more than that going forward.

A great question.

I mean the, the economics of the club have not changed since we acquired them.

And so again, you'll hear a common theme.

Obviously we've got it.

We've got to create this development.

We have to have the revenue.

It's critical to our success, you know, continue what we've done.

These guys done an incredible job.

I mean, blown away.

More I learned from Eric and Kevin, it's just we have an incredible organization, we have a, a self-imposed rule that none of us and none of the partners are allowed to talk to or have any influence on the.

Baseball operations.

0.

These guys are are exceptional.

Now I think we have a way we can provide a lot of help on the business side, sponsorship, you know, growing our community outreach, fan experience and we're excited to get to work on that.

Ryan Bass, Vandals Sports Network Patrick Bill, nice to meet you guys again.

Good to see you.

Can I have a quick question for you?

Just you mentioned fan experience.

I don't know how big a part that is of of kind of your origin joining this organization from this ownership group.

What have you noticed since you've been here?

I know you've been here a couple weeks, taking some notes, you know, observing.

And then what do you hope?

To put your stamp on in terms of the fan experience back at Tropicana Field and for raised baseball.

Yeah, thanks, Ryan.

I, I think right now, you know, we're just taking it all in and digesting and I think having the road map to getting back to Tropicana Field in Naples, our, our goal.

We're spending a lot of time as a staff thinking about how we can get in there and make that express expression.

I think I think Tropicana Field is going to look better than it has ever looked in April.

The city behind the scenes is doing wonderful work.

The team is doing work, spending a lot of time together thinking about how we can enhance that experience because we are going to be there despite our our, our objective of being in a new ballpark in 29.

We want to be competitive and we want to be successful on the field of course, but intend continuing to invest in our fans and the experience from food options, accessibility, pricing, talked about some of the amenities and we'll talk closer to the start of the season about some of those new initiatives.

But yeah, I think right now there, I think at this point we're taking it all in.

There's certainly conversations to be had, but my favorite part of this has just been being able to talk with with fans over the course of the last few weeks.

And we'll do more of that through the winter and into the spring.

You know, we work in a business where you get a chance to ask your customer every day what we could be doing better.

And that's exactly what we intend to do.

And that'll be important in developing our fan plan of getting back to the trop and and also thinking about next year as well.

Yeah.

Thanks, Ryan.

Hi, Evan Axelbank from FOX 13.

Good to meet you.

After weeks of talking about you and writing about you, first thing I just want to ask is do you, you just mentioned that the economics of the club have not changed.

Do you envision being able to pay for the ballpark yourselves or will you be asking for a public subsidy?

And how much will that subsidy be in relation to the previous subsidies?

That were asked for.

Great, great question.

And these are high profile small community businesses.

And so, you know, I think it's critical to have a public private partnership.

We don't know.

Again, we just closing the team Tuesday.

We're excited about that.

We're excited to be here today and answer these questions, but we've got a lot of work to do.

So how that looks, the structure, is it upfront, is it over?

There's so many nuances to how a deal could come together, but we're confident that Tampa Bay wants to see us be successful.

We want to be successful.

I think everybody wants to deliver a championship team and so this is going to be critical to doing that and we look forward to working with Tampa Bay to get that done.

I know you said that the stadium location you would encompass all of Tampa Bay, your search for it.

Previous ownership group has tried numerous times to get into Hillsborough County, Tampa because it's the population center as they saw it.

Would that be where you start your search?

I mean, would that be the most preferable location on this side of the bridge?

We're we're.

Looking at everywhere, I mean, honestly, it's, it's a great region.

We want to, we just don't want to pigeonhole ourselves into one location or one site.

We really want to evaluate everything, be methodical, be disciplined, complete our feasibility.

We'll generate pro formas and and really try to determine which site is going to meet the criteria we've laid out the best and deliver the revenue and the experience we're looking for to create that championship team.

So much of the the public private partnership has to be a win for the community and for the team.

And we'll come forward doing our part.

But we need the partnership of the community to be able to make this work.

And that ultimately will be a a public private partnership that's going to add jobs, deliver value, we think, find really unique ways of being able to make Tampa Bay a better place to work, live and play and create something frankly, that isn't here today.

Hi, Louis Slovia with the Business Observer.

Kind of piggybacking, piggybacking on those last couple of questions, the previous ownership group.

And has tried this and unfortunately it never worked out what did.

What are you doing differently that will make it work this time?

And what is your Plan B if it doesn't work out?

Focus on Plan A right now.

Yeah, yeah.

Plan A is to figure it out here in Tampa Bay.

And again, we're confident.

We're confident that we're going to get that done.

We're, we know it's going to be challenging, but to Ken's point, you know, it's, it's our job as well to, to lay out the vision and have the community buy into that.

We can't just come and say, hey, that's right.

You have to give us this.

It's, it's a partnership.

And so we've got to work together.

We've got to provide economic reports and studies and work together with, with the counties, with the municipalities, the cities to come up with the best cohesive development we can, we can generate together.

So we're looking forward to to tackle on that head on, all right.

Perfect.

Jeff Patterson with WFLATV and I've, I've heard what you said about not wanting to pigeon hole yourself into one location over the other, but I also just heard you say we're looking at everywhere.

So everybody wants to know what side of the Bay you'll land on.

But does that include also when you say everywhere in the region, does that include Jacksonville or Ohio?

Or.

Orlando.

So where are you looking?

You know, I'm trying to narrow it down a little bit.

If I can answer, Ohio's a no.

I wasn't going to say that.

I can do that.

I can do that.

Put down Ohio.

I've got that covered.

But it's it's our first and highest priority to be successful right here in Tampa Bay.

I think that is the clearest answer.

And also to the prior question, we're very aware and in touch with the fatigue around this issue over the last 21 years.

You know, we certainly haven't lived it first hand, but being alongside the staff, understanding and listening, so much of this is about listening and asking questions.

We know that fatigue is real and you know, we know that we have a lot of work to do ahead of us and and that work begins today.

John Struble Roundtable Sports You guys are obviously tasked with air of uncertainty and quite the work ahead to secure all of your future plans.

But through more of a short term lens, how excited are you about the progress of Tropicana Field and getting this team established back in its home after an unprecedented season?

Yeah.

I mean, you know, as I said, it's been a little bit of my home away from home.

You know, we haven't been able to have official meetings with public officials as Patrick mentioned ahead of the the the the closing of the transaction.

What I have been able to do is spend a good amount of time in Tropicana Field and seeing the work that the city's been able to do and our partners at AE Com is doing and the staff to be able to get this ready.

I mean, when I say they've answered the call, they have answered the call in a meaningful way unanimously to step up to be able to get baseball ready so we can open up here in April against the Chicago Cubs.

And I think that work is, is is really quite heroic.

And when you look of course, of what the region has been through with not one but two storms to get the roof back on, to get the building open, we think it's going to look great in the spring.

And obviously we're looking at both the short term goals of getting back, but also finding our forever home.

For sure.

We've got to be a little ambidextrous about the way that we operate.

And I think, you know, being focused, of course, on the long term while also keeping keeping our eye on the ball in front of us is, is, is the task at hand.

And we're, we're up for the challenge.

Hi, Colleen Wright with the Tampa Bay Times.

You mentioned that your goal is to have a world class ballpark ready for 2029 and it would anchor, you know, best in class mixed-use development.

That sounds very similar to what the previous owners had in line and it was already approved by Saint Petersburg and Pinellas.

Would you revisit those plans or?

Given the time is of the essence, does that make Tropicana Field a more attractive option?

Great, Great question.

We think, I think the second one maybe Tropicana feel, I think in the short term that's a great.

We're we're really excited to get back there.

As Ken said, we we need to be back there.

We need to be in a Major League ballpark.

I think the team wants to be there, the fans want to be there.

Long term.

We we're looking for our forever home and that is in the Tampa Bay region.

We believe it'll be it.

We need a new, we need a new ballpark.

I think that's been, I think I don't think that's disputed by anybody on either side of the Bay.

A new ballpark is critical to delivering what we want to accomplish over the long term or anything of that that.

Was perfect.

Scott Smith, FOX 13 congratulations gentlemen.

SO2 parter, the extension of a lease at the Trop, is that a discussion that's been had yet?

And to follow up, you guys mentioned the high level kind of evaluation process.

Did that, did the results of that proceed or was it contingent upon your, your offer in a sense, did you, did you pursue those, you know, options, side options prior to making the offer for the purchase?

I think, I think it's premature to talk about the extension on Tropicana Field.

As we said, we're just eager to get right back in there in the spring and and put everything we can both by the way, the public money going in, but the team making the commitment as well to show how committed that we are to returning to our home.

And I think that that's that's where our focus is.

Hello, Veronica Brazina with Saint Pete Rising.

Quick question and again, Congrats to to all of you on on the purchase and welcome to Tampa Bay again.

But I want to ask what are your thoughts on the current proposal submitted by Arcanvest and their partners as well?

Yeah.

I think we, you know, we're, we're digesting it.

I think like everybody else's.

We're familiar with the folks who are put that together.

Obviously we are, you know, I would say energized and encouraged by any development that's happening in the region.

We we look across, you know, all the entire region and are encouraged just by how much growth as you go through and see cranes and development.

It's very inspiring.

And So what we'll have a chance to sit down and understand that proposal and, and obviously work alongside our partners at the city and understand what that what that means.

But I think right now we're, we're still in the process of digesting it.

Yep.

Good morning, gentlemen.

Congratulations Tom Krasnicki from WDA Radio, the radio Home of the Rays.

Thank you.

Thanks.

You're welcome.

So have you gone about the process from a baseball standpoint and identifying the roster, maybe key pieces, core pieces that you'd like to maybe commit to for the long term future I'll.

Take.

That one.

Always want to reiterate, yeah, yeah, these guys are prohibited.

The short.

Answer the short answer exactly, yeah.

Eric just had his press conference last week.

That's right, we, we support everything, he said at the press.

Conference.

It speaks for itself.

And and Eric and Kevin, we trust.

Yes, yes.

Hi guys.

Congratulations, Rock Raleigh Tampa Free Press WDAEI know you said that Atlanta is like the crown jewel.

That's an open air stadium.

It's a little more humid down here.

Is there any possibility of a retractable roof with the new stadium that you're going to have?

Built great yeah no great point on on Atlanta Truist Park is open air.

We envision a fully enclosed domed climate controlled non retractable ballpark.

We think this, there's a lot of issues and maintenance with retractable roof.

Most of the owners we've talked to would actually now recommend against it.

They wish they hadn't done it so.

But we envision a fully enclosed, which we think becomes a world class concert venue, you know, A150180 events a year.

We really think this is something that could be much, much greater and more encompassing than just a ballpark.

One more question.

Well, Ken, Patrick heard a lot from you.

Bill, I want to hear from you for a second.

I know you mentioned a lot of your experiences here in Tampa Bay, especially with the Gasparilla Bowl.

How has that experience been?

What have you kind of noticed about the community here and and what were you?

Will your role.

Be with this ownership group.

Yeah, I appreciate that.

So it you know, it's it's been wonderful.

We, you know, Tampa reminds me of of kind of a Midwestern town where I'm from.

You know, the people are warm, wonderful, very prideful of the area of Tampa Bay.

And so it, you know, for, for our family, it's all, it's always felt like home.

I think that for my role in this organization, for the most part, this is the way I look at it.

I think it'll evolve.

Ken has his, you know, he's the CEO, he's running day-to-day, running the business operation.

Everything revolves around him.

Patrick, you know, being the control person speaks for itself.

I think I'm here to be another set of ears and eyes for both of them, interact with them, help them out.

You know, we, us 3, we really have a great open discussion.

We're A-Team.

It's not really individuals, we're A-Team.

I think my, I'm looking forward to the impact within the organization.

As I said earlier, it's AI have been in awe of the people and the quality of the people and their commitment to Tampa Bay and winning.

So I'm I'm looking forward to building those relationships deeper and really adding value anywhere I can.

And we're back on this latest episode of Raise the Roof as we conclude things.

Thank you guys so much for all the support over the entire season.

I think, I said.

That on the.

Last podcast, but I didn't have you guys here with me, but like sincerely, thank you guys so much.

We met so many of you guys this year at games.

It was so cool.

I mean I can't believe that I went to double digit rays games.

I feel like I wasted a lot of time because they sucked.

Oh yeah, trust me, I was like.

You went to a lot.

In in the 1000° heat.

Yeah, I was like you'd suffered for their way more than me.

But yeah, I mean, genuinely, thank you guys so much for the support.

We still got plenty of stuff coming in the offseason.

Like I said, we're going to try to get more interviews with people, maybe some people with the ownership group.

I have some backlogged episodes, like we recorded an episode with Avery over at Gate 14, which is kind of funny because literally the Blue Jays, hopefully by the time that we released the Blue Jays will still be in the playoffs.

We just released a podcast with Andy Koska and Josh Soroka to Orioles podcasters, Orioles reporters who kind of gave their perspective on the new Rays ownership thing from the OS perspective, as they just had a new ownership group come in.

So it's a very interesting episode here there.

I'm hoping Avery Avery's episode should be really, really cool too, just because he kind of gives his twist and spin on things.

While also talking about the Blue Jays and and how things have gone with them because it's gone really well, like the kind of success that I wanted for the Rays, but it is what it is.

So yeah, like genuinely guys, thank you.

We got so much more coming out, but at least for now, if you guys want to follow what we got going on here, Razor roof, it's razor roof TB on social media.

That's Twitter slash X Instagram and blue sky, our YouTube channels.

Razor Roof be sure to subscribe, turn on those post notifications so you guys know when new uploads happen.

Be short to a what?

Is is that year five in the books total?

Like that's 5.

Full season, yeah oh I yeah, I guess technically because I mean, we did like the.

20 season doesn't count Full season, Year 5 or year, year, year.

4 So we've done like 5 and a half.

5 1/2 or 4 1/2 Gotcha.

Yeah, one.

One real season, 1 Four real seasons, one fake year.

That's crazy.

That's why we think about.

I know why, hey, there's plenty more to do because I don't want to stop doing this and I love recording with you guys and it's.

Can we can the race be talent wise like they were back when we started this though please, Because that was a lot more we.

Just need.

We just need Jimmy and Choi back.

Yeah, we do.

I mean, that's really what's been missing the whole.

Time actually bring, bring Can Brett Phillips unretire bring him back?

To him.

Listen, like if anyone's not telling you it's because Ji Manchoi left, they're they're a liar as a as a race podcaster and they don't, they don't have any credibility as far as.

It's all it might be very.

True it it might be a tiny bit because of Blake smell too, but I think it's more because of Ji Manchoi as well.

Yeah, well, if you guys continue to listen to us, we're the legend.

If you guys want to continue to us, talk a bunch of stupid shit on the podcast, subscribe to the podcast.

We're on Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, all the good stuff.

Be sure to follow us there.

Be sure to Heart Radio.

Yes, exactly the same iHeartRadio that WDAE is on.

What, what?

What is?

What's G man up to?

Probably KBO.

Probably KBO.

Hey, before the outro, you know, USF over North Texas.

Let's get it.

Oh, wait.

Oh G man, that's actually kind of a big development.

I Since he went unsigned in the 2025 season, he had to return to South Korea to begin his compulsory military.

That's right.

Oh.

He plans to enter the KBO League in 2027.

So.

Interesting so hopefully he will continue his career as I watch Jose Caballero, former Ray bat.

But yeah, for the podcast continue to support us as you guys have been be sure to like be sure to subscribe.

Be sure to leave us a review, hopefully a five star review.

Share this with your.

Family, your friends, anyone know who's a baseball fan or a race fan that wants to add a podcast into their podcast feed?

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It's all raise the roof all in caps RAYS, the roof at checkout.

Be sure to use those codes in the offseason because you can go watch USF hopefully become the Group of Five team to get into the College Football Playoff.

You can watch the Bulls.

Big game Friday, right?

Big game.

Friday.

Against North.

Texas team.

That's kicked our ass the last two years.

Yeah #24 USF.

We really got we really got to put it on them.

So use you seeking to go to that game.

Is that game in Tampa?

I don't think it is, no.

It's.

In North they might.

If you want to drive all the way.

To that North Texas.

You can go watch the lightning try to get a shit ton more penalty minutes and finds.

Yeah, go to Pogey Stadium.

A pogey that.

No, sorry.

Dat 2 Stadium.

You can go.

Where is North Texas?

Is it Dallas?

Denton, TX.

You can go see, you can go see Baker Mayfield take take the Bucks to another NFC South championship.

Any other things?

USF basketball is coming up.

What?

It's Dallas Fort Worth area.

Oh God, there are a lot of sports in this area, a lot of things to go see and do, concerts, everything like that.

So if you guys want to use that UC kick and everything else.

But with all that being said, thanks so much for listening.

Here's to the offseason, and as always, raise up.

Raise up baby.

Raise up baby.

Joe Bolas.