The Tampa Bay Rays are officially under new ownership after a $1.7 billion sale closed Tuesday morning, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal .

The sale came after Major League Baseball owners approved the deal last week.

Jacksonville home developer Patrick Zalupski led the sale , acquiring the team from former principal owner Stu Sternberg , who held the team for nearly 20 years.

Throughout those two decades, striking a successful deal to build a new stadium proved elusive for Sternberg. Now, Zalupski and the new ownership group — which includes Ken Babby , owner of the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and the Double-A Akron RubberDucks — will carry that mantle forward in search of a solution.

“Major League Baseball is pleased to welcome Patrick and his pa

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