If there's one U.S. city that can't wait for diplomatic relations to warm up with Cuba, it's St. Petersburg.
For months, city officials have more than hinted at their interest in breaking ground on a future Cuban consulate.
"We're not as big as our neighbors across the bay," said Ben Kirby, spokeman for St. Petersburg mayor Rick Kriseman, "but we're the right city to host a consulate."
Kirby says they have been positioning for this opportunity for some time.
"We're building an international profile for the city of St. Petersburg," said Kirby. "You've seen Mayor Kriseman travel to Chile. He's been to Cuba. He's been to Canada and he's really carried the banner of St. Petersburg as an international city."
Though space in downtown St. Petersburg for development is dwindling, officials say there are still several blank spaces, older buildings, and even a baseball stadium site to potentially choose from to build a consulate.
"Take this building, for example," said Kirby while standing in front of the First Baptist Church on 4th Street North, across from Williams Park. "The building is pretty much a facade. The rest of it has been torn down and it's been like this for a year. So it's ready for development, and it's also right next to City Hall."
With the Tampa Bay Rays scheduled to play an exhibition game next month in Cuba, it's all starting to seem more than coincidental.
"When the president goes to visit Cuba on that historic visit, will Mayor Kriseman be going along with him? Has he been invited? I can't comment on that right now," Kirby said.
Even just the possibility of St. Petersburg being considered as a site for a future Cuban consulate is music to the ears of many residents ready for a taste of Cuba here at home.
"I think as much demand as there seems to be for going to Cuba, for St. Pete to actually get the consulate here is an absolute coup," said St. Petersburg resident Brian Bailey. "It's going to be great attention for St. Pete."