City officials and members of the public discussed whether the team should change their name to the St. Petersburg Rays during a council meeting Thursday.

A motion by council member Gina Driscoll asked Mayor Ken Welch’s administration to include the name change in stadium negotiations, as well as present a report on the matter during the council’s Jan. 4 meeting.

But after some debate, the council removed the name change from the request, instead asking the administration to provide ways to “elevate St. Petersburg.” The amended motion passed 6-2.

The vote came after council members heard from St. Petersburg residents about switching the Rays’ name. The majority of those who spoke during public comment were in favor of calling the team the St. Petersburg Rays.

The idea was pitched by former St. Pete Mayor Rick Baker, who was among the speakers.

“… St. Petersburg, if it’s going to put in hundreds of millions of dollars and incredibly valuable property into the enterprise, then at least we ought to have a discussion about whether the team name could be St. Petersburg, right?” Baker said.

Mayor Ken Welch and Rays president Brian Auld were also present. They explained why they were firmly against the name change.

“We are the Tampa Bay Rays. For more than 25 years, the Tampa Bay Rays have proudly called St. Petersburg our hometown. And that’s what we want for the next 25 years and decades beyond,” Auld said. “Our name is deliberately inclusive. Our fans live throughout Tampa Bay in West Central Florida, and they come to St. Petersburg to watch their Rays play.”

He also said there would not be a new ballpark or development project if they were required to change the team’s name.