If the Tampa Bay Rays decide not to move forward with a deal to build a stadium and surround it with condos, restaurants, shops and office space, it may be awhile before anything else breaks ground there.

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch had a message for the Tampa Bay Rays: Either take the previously negotiated stadium deal or walk away from the plan. Welch made the remarks during his annual state of the city address on Tuesday.

Mayor Ken Welch said the city is ready to pivot if plans for a Tampa Bay Rays stadium and surrounding redevelopment fall apart. Welch’s comments during his State of the City address Tuesday seemed like a footnote compared to past mayoral addresses,