St. Petersburg business leaders urge Kriseman to keep working with Rays They sent a letter a day after Mayor Rick Kriseman said he âcanât negotiateâ with Sternberg while Raysâ ownership is embroiled in a lawsuit. Â Â St. Petersburg business leaders sent a letter to Rick Kriseman on Thursday imploring him to still work with the Tampa Bay Rays toward a stadium deal. The day before, Kriseman said he "can't negotiate" with Sternberg while the team's owner remains managing partner and shrouded in legal controversy. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ] Updated 1 hour ago ST. PETERSBURG â City business leaders sent a letter to Mayor Rick Kriseman imploring him to resume working with the Tampa Bay Rays on a stadium deal that would keep the team in the Sunshine City â despite the legal battle between a group of the teamâs minority owners and principal owner Stu Sternberg.