New group to drum up business support for team’s proposed move across bay

TAMPA — Tampa Bay Rays 2020 held a kickoff reception on Wednesday where the nonprofit organization announced the formation of a sub-group, called Rays 100, made up of Tampa Bay business and community leaders who are dedicated to ushering in the next generation of Rays baseball in Ybor City.

According to a press release, Mike Griffin and Jason Woody will lead the Rays 100 as vice chairmen.

Griffin, a senior managing director at Savills Studley Occupier Services, sits on the Port Tampa Bay board of commissioners and is the immediate past chairman of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce board of directors. Woody is the president and CEO of the Lion’s Eye Institute for Transplant and Research, based in Tampa. 

The Rays 100, the release states, will secure financial support for the Tampa Bay Rays’ proposed move from St. Petersburg to a new, yet-to-be-built stadium in Ybor City through significant pledges of corporate sponsorships and ticket sales.

The group will also advocate to elected officials and actively promote Tampa Bay Rays 2020 to its members’ circles of influence, according to the release, in a bid to garner widespread support for the team’s future from the Tampa Bay community.