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Devil Rays new owner promises big changes

Posted on: Thursday, 6 October 2005, 13:28 CDT

By Robert Green

ST PETERSBURG, Florida (Reuters) - New York investor Stuart Sternberg took control of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Thursday and promised to make major improvements in the struggling baseball team.

Sternberg, 46, replaces Vincent Naimoli as principal owner. Naimoli, 68, had run the team since he was awarded the Tampa Bay franchise in 1995.

"The time has come for dramatic changes in this baseball team," Sternberg told a news conference.

"We're going to waste no time in making improvements. We need to be a lot better," he said.

The Devil Rays have never had a winning season since they began play as an American League expansion team in 1998. Their best record was 70-92 in 2004, the only year they did not finish last in the American League East division.

This season, the Rays had a 67-95 record, the second worst in the league ahead of Kansas City. Manager Lou Piniella quit on Sunday after three seasons and General Manager Chuck LaMar was fired on Wednesday.

Tampa Bay's attendance was the lowest in the major leagues with 1.1 million fans. Naimoli has been criticized for not spending enough money to improve the team.

Sternberg said the payroll for players would increase, but he would not say by how much.

He said the team would make a greater effort to reach out to fans across the region. As a first step, he said parking, which cost $10 a game, would be free at all 81 homes games next season.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said he welcomed the change.

"In the time since he has become an investor in the team, I have gotten to know Stu and have been impressed with his acumen and enthusiasm," he said. "I am confident he will ably carry the stewardship of the Devil Rays forward."

Sternberg, a former partner at the Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, and five partners bought a 48 percent interest in the team in 2004.

Source: REUTERS

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