The Rays have made the playoffs the last five seasons, which only three other teams have doneGetty Images
The Rays “seem certain to go where they’ve never been payroll-wise” in surpassing $80M, and “likely” $90M, for the first time, according to Marc Topkin of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. The team’s previous high was $78,245,400 in 2022. Principal owner Stuart Sternberg said that the hike “doesn’t come easily,” and he is “swallowing more than hard because it’s going to lead to real losses this year.” Topkin noted the Rays have made the playoffs the last five seasons, which only three other teams have done, and “want to extend that streak while avoiding being eliminated in their first round like the last three years.” Sternberg said that if they do not win this year, the team could “pull back” for 2025, which “adds to the stakes.” Meanwhile, attendance last year was up nearly 30% from 2022, which Sternberg said was the "first time it moved up a nice amount” since 2007-08, with the 1,440,301 total their highest since 2014. He added that the team has “gotten ‘a really great response’ from sponsors,” both in adding newcomers and increasing existing arrangements. Topkin wrote “good vibes about the team should help in the push to get their planned new stadium.” Sternberg: “The arrows are pointing up across the board right now. So I wanted to make sure we gave it a chance to continue to grow, and see if we can get things up to a point. And I’ll feel even better when we get the stadium deal done, and we just roll right into that” (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 3/16).
