One of MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred’s biggest goals has been to expand the league to at least 32 teams. He has gone on record several times about which cities the league is considering. While plans to expand have been put on the back burner due to the CBA negotiations, that hasn’t stopped cities from expressing interest and putting together bids. To date, six cities across North America have shown some interest in adding an MLB franchise. Here are the potential cities, ranked by how much sense it would make to put a team there.
6. Orlando, Florida
Orlando has been pushing for an MLB team for years. The group, the Orlando Dreamers, led by former MLB players Barry Larkin, Johnny Damon, and David Eckstein, has been pushing for Central Florida to get a franchise. The biggest argument for Orlando is that it’s the 15th-largest media market in the US and the largest without an MLB franchise. This will be huge when the MLB renegotiates its TV deal and will help them land a better contract.
However, two teams already in Florida have struggled with attendance. Both the Tampa Bay Rays and the Miami Marlins have ranked in the bottom five for attendance for the past decade. They have been unable to average over 20,000 fans per game during that time as well. This is despite the fact that the Rays have found success during this streak. The Dreamers can point to the Magic and Orlando FC attendance all they want, but it’s apples and oranges. Baseball, for some reason, does not draw crowds in the Sunshine State.
5. Montreal, Quebec
A return to Montreal has been talked about for over 20 years. Ever since the Expos packed up and moved to Washington, D.C., to become the Nationals, fans have dreamed about an Expos return. Montreal is usually the first city fans mention when expansion is discussed. The city itself also seems interested, as WatchMojo owner Ashkan Karbasfrooshan has been petitioning for this for years. He has said he is willing to lead the project and that other wealthy people in Montreal are also interested.
But it is unclear how willing MLB is to return to The Paris of North America. While the Expos are remembered fondly, their existence was marked by a lot of drama and instability. There were even plans in 2001 to contract the team due to the ballpark and poor revenue. The Canadian economy is also a problem. With the Canadian dollar weaker than the American dollar, expenses will rise, and the bottom line will shrink. This could create headaches and cause old problems to re-emerge.
4. Portland, Oregon
One of the most popular West Coast spots for an MLB expansion team is Portland. There are several reasons for this, the main one being that it would give a state and media market with very little pro sports representation. It will also help the Seattle Mariners with their travel. The closest team to the Mariners is the San Francisco Giants, which are over 600 miles away. Adding a team in Portland would give the Mariners an easy road trip. It will also add another layer to the state rivalry between Washington and Oregon.
The biggest proponent of an MLB team in Portland is the Portland Diamond Project. They have even gone far enough to come up with a plan to build a ballpark. This stadium would be located on the waterfront of Zidell Yards. From the pictures given, it would be one of the nicest ballparks in the majors and a must-visit for every baseball fan. Portland’s biggest problem is competition. Another western city has a stronger resume than Portland. With MLB only wanting to put one team out west, it doesn’t look good.
3. Raleigh, North Carolina
Of all the cities listed, you will hear the least about Raleigh, North Carolina. Interest in bringing an MLB team doesn’t last as long as in places like Montreal or Portland. But when you look at its credentials, it has a very strong case. It is one of the fastest-growing markets in the United States and the 22nd-largest TV market in the country. A website is even driving people to sign the petition and show the league there will be community interest from day one.
But the biggest reason Raleigh could land a team is that people are ready to own the ball club. Carolina Hurricanes and Portland Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon has publicly expressed interest in bringing baseball to Raleigh. Former Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry is also rumored to be interested. The state government also has bipartisan support behind this idea, which will help secure public funding for a stadium. Raleigh answers many of the money questions that come with an MLB expansion team, which could give it a leg up.
2. Nashville, Tennessee
No city has a stronger story for an expansion franchise than Nashville. For years, they have been one of the most popular cities thrown around when talking about expansion. The Nashville Stars have been working for years to bring a team to Music City, and they have many strong advocates. Guys like Bruce Bochy, Don Mattingly, and David Dombrowski are all in support of this. They also have big names from outside the sports world, like Luke Combs, Darius Rucker, and Justin Timberlake.
Nashville also has a rich baseball history. They are the home to several minor league teams, as well as several Negro League teams. But when you talk about baseball in Nashville, the first thing people bring up is Vanderbilt. Over the years Vanderbilt has built it’s self as the gold standard of college baseball. It is on pair with the likes of Alabama football and Duke basketball. Putting an MLB team in the same city as an elite college program would be fantastic. It would create storylines and create lots of “hometown hero” stories.
1. Salt Lake City, Utah
Many consider Salt Lake City to be the most likely spot for an MLB expansion team. There bid is the strongest of any of the possible contending cities. For years The Larry H. Miller company has spent a lot of time and effort building Salt Lake City into a sports hub. With the success of the Utah Jazz and Utah Mamoth in terms of attendence, it’s clear they know what they are doing. So if they want to get behind bringing an MLB team to the crossroad of the west, you know it will be in good hands.
But it is not just the Miller’s who want to bring a franchise to Utah. Govenror Spencer Cox has stated he is fully behind the endever, which answers potentially funding issues. There is also already an agreement between the Millers and the State of Utah to build a stadium in the west side of the city known as The Power District. Consturction has already begun on this as well. With all of these factors cosnider, Salt Lake City has the most to offer the MLB and it will be a shock if they do not get a team.
