For years, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has been open about the league adding expansion teams. With baseball’s popularity rising worldwide and league revenue continuing to set records, it seems like the perfect time for expansion. There are plenty of questions that come with adding a few new teams, but the most intriguing is where these teams will be. One of the cities that have thrown their hats in the ring is Sacramento, California. Mayor Martha Guerruero announced last week that the city will try to get an expansion team. But this would be a terrible move for MLB.
Sacramento is Not the Right Spot for an MLB Expansion Team
One of the biggest reasons for a city to land an expansion team is local interest. The league will only place a team in a city where it believes it can draw good attendance numbers. Normally, these are based on a number of factors, such as city population and how local minor league teams draw. However, there is an MLB team in Sacramento, with the Athletics playing at Sutter Health Park. Since moving to Sacramento, the A’s have drawn the lowest attendance in baseball.
Sure, there are other factors at play here. Like the fact that the A’s are only in Sacramento until the stadium in Las Vegas is ready, and that they play in a minor league park. These definitely hurt attendance numbers, but you think that if the city had a real interest in an MLB team, they would sell out the ballpark every night. It’s not like the A’s have fielded bad teams either. They have one of the most intriguing young cores, led by guys like Shea Langeliers, Nick Kurtz, and Tyler Soderstrom.
There is also going to be tons of competition for the attention of the local population. There are currently five teams that call California home. Even after the A’s leave, there are still four teams. These are also some of the successful teams of the last 25 years, with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres consistently in the playoffs the last four years, and the San Francisco Giants a decade removed from their dynasty. Their best bet is to get disgruntled A’s fans, but with how bright their future is, it’s unlikely many switch allegiances.
Several other better options are expected to have interest in an expansion team as well. Both Nashville and Portland have been very vocal about getting an MLB team. Nashville even has a name and investor group on board, ready to go. Portland may not have the plans for what a team will look like, but it does have plans for an MLB ballpark. There is also the fact that Montreal will likely join the running, and there has been interest in bringing a team back there ever since the Expos left. All three of these cities are better fits for the MLB.
While there are definitely some advantages of putting a team in Sacramento, it is just not the right spot for the MLB right now. The league should focus on putting teams in areas they know will generate a following from day one.
