Minor League Baseball sells St. Pete headquarters to amusement ride manufacturer

The site of Minor League Baseball’s headquarters in St. Petersburg will now be home to an amusement ride manufacturer known for working with major theme parks.

Minor League Baseball, formally known as the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues Inc., sold its headquarters in St. Pete to Baltimore-based Premier Rides Inc. in a $2.35 million deal, according to public records.

The deal follows the recent reports that MiLB, which has been headquartered in northern St. Pete for several decades, is planning to leave the city.

The Tampa Bay area has five minor league teams: the Dunedin Blue Jays, Clearwater Threshers, Tampa Tarpons, Lakeland Flying Tigers and Bradenton Marauders. During the Covid-19 pandemic, MiLB suffered a major loss of revenue due to the cancellation of the 2020 MiLB season. Recent reports indicated that MiLB, which employs 55 workers, would be moving out of its headquarters and operate out of the Major League Baseball office in New York.

The MiLB did not immediately provide a statement regarding the sale of the property and its future.

The property at 9550 16th St. N. has two existing structures. One structure is a 10,285-square-foot building from 1998 and the other is a 3,600-square-foot building that was constructed in 2009.

Premier Rides, a well-known prestigious ride manufacturer in the attraction and entertainment industry, did not return calls regarding its plans for the property. However, the group has an existing presence in Florida.

Premier has worked with popular Florida theme parks such as Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for the Tigris, Florida’s tallest launch coaster; the Ice Breaker ride at SeaWorld Orlando; and the Revenge of the Mummy ride at Universal Studios Orlando.

It is also widely known for creating multiple rides and experiences for Six Flags parks in Texas and California.

While it’s headquartered in Baltimore, Premier Rides does have offices overseas in Europe and Asia.