ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch says he plans to move forward with redeveloping the Historic Gas Plant District with or without Major League Baseball.

“We want to move forward in a way that doesn’t preclude if there’s new ownership in the next year or two - or four - that understands our priorities, and is willing to build bridges and rebuild that partnership with city council and the county commission that has really been damaged,” he said.

“Then we’ll do our development in a way that allows baseball to happen, but it’s not going to put on hold the development we’ve been waiting for.”

In the hours following the announcement from Rays Co-Owner Stu Sternberg, Welch said he was disappointed but not surprised that this was the decision the Rays made regarding the $1.3 billion ballpark deal.

“For some reason after signing the agreement, the Rays have gone back on it with no real credible explanation,” he said. “So if it takes another owner to make that happen, then I’d be supportive of it. But, that owner needs to understand the city and our priorities and the history of the Historic Gas Plant.”

Welch made it clear the trust between the city and current Ray’s owners has been broken and he would only consider keeping baseball in St. Petersburg if the team was under new ownership.

“Keeping your word is very important. Keeping the trust of a community is very important,” he said. “Why would I go back to the same group and trust them this time? That bridge has been burned. We’ll meet our obligations and if there’s a new ownership group, I’m perfectly willing to have that conversation.”

In the announcement from the Rays, Sternburg referenced a series of events beginning in October that no one would have anticipated as being the reason for the decision. The reference, likely speaking to Hurricane Milton which tore the roof off Tropicana Field, and the subsequent delays in funding votes at the county and city level.

At the time of the delayed votes, Ray’s leadership stated the holdup was making the project more expensive.

Welch said Thursday he’s never seen proof of those claims.

“I’ve seen nothing… not even something written to a napkin to explain their cost overruns. I’ve seen no evidence whatsoever,” he said. “The reason the land was sold at a lower price was because all cost overruns would be from the Rays, so we’ve done everything possible.”

As of Friday morning, the City of St. Pete still plans to fulfill its obligation of fixing the current Tropicana Field so the Rays can return in time for the 2026 season. Sternburg said the Rays are excited to return to their home field next spring. The team will play its 2025 home schedule at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.

The current lease for Tropicana Field runs through 2028.