If the Rays leave St. Pete, the city will be ready

ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - The city of St. Petersburg is taking a hard look at how it could use the 86 acres currently occupied by Tropicana Field.

The Rays’ move to Ybor City in Tampa is not a done deal, but if they do move, the city wants to be prepared.

The Rays are still playing games at the Trop, but the team announced its plan to move across the bay.

Like in most breakups, the city of St. Pete may have hoped the team would come running back, but now the city is taking steps to move on.

Plan A was to redevelop the land with a new baseball stadium. That’s what the city says it wanted.

If the Rays move to Ybor City, St. Petersburg City Council is now developing Plan B.

"That is the best site in all of Florida and maybe in the country," said City Development Administrator Alan Delisle.

The city is considering carefully what it would add to its exploding downtown district. One option would be a driver of jobs – like a research facility or tech park.

"A university or a research component it is not far from the innovation district, a stone’s throw away from Johns Hopkins and USF," Mayor Rick Kriseman said.

Mayor Kriseman says the Rays moving to Tampa isn't a done deal, and could easily fall through with funding.

He says they've got a plan ready for Plan A funding if they stay. However, the city says it will be just fine if they move away.