Michael Kalt, who oversaw new-ballpark efforts for the Tampa Bay Rays, is leaving the team and will be opening an investment office in Manhattan for team investors.
The move seems more for lifestyle choices than anything to do with the Rays situation; with prospects seemingly bright for a new Rays ballpark somewhere in Tampa Bay, this may be the right time to take the family back home. Kalt is a New Yorker and has family there, and by all indications the 39-year-old wants to be close to them. From Tampabay.com:
Kalt and his wife had their first child in November 2012. Both sets of grandparents, plus aunts, uncles and cousins live in the New York area. Kalt said he and his wife have been thinking about moving home for several months.
“This is a really good opportunity in New York, where we want to raise our son because of family,” he said. “This is also a good time to make a move and be the least disruptive to the club.”
“One of my concerns was not to create a situation of things going backward because of my decision to leave,” Kalt said. “With a new administration coming in, it allows everyone to start fresh.”
Since joining the Rays in March 2006, Kalt has led a wide range of business initiatives including the creation of the Rays Card, an industry-leading digital ticketing and stored value platform, the design and construction of the Rays spring training home in Charlotte County and the recent renovations of Tropicana Field. Kalt has also served as the point person on the Rays’ efforts to build a new ballpark in Tampa Bay.
“Michael’s contributions and leadership during the past eight years have been invaluable to the growth of the Rays organization,” said Rays principal owner Stu Sternberg via press release. “He has influenced and bettered nearly every aspect of our business. His presence and guidance will be sorely missed.”
Kalt came to the Rays after three years in the Bloomberg administration as a senior advisor to the New York City deputy mayor for economic development. He was previously a management consultant at McKinsey and Company.
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