If MLB were rewarding 2 expansion teams today, they would be in Nashville and Salt Lake City. Manfred said 2 cities one on each coast. Both Nashville and SLC have infrastructure sites, money from billionaire funders wanting to own a team and state/city funds & land. I don’t see Austin getting a team (unless the money benefits the other owners’ pockets) in the upcoming expansion. Too close to Houston’s media market and MLB wants to add a team somewhat closer to either Seattle or Denver and fill a void in the south.
Is it though? I used to live in Montreal and would go to games when I was a kid. I haven’t heard anything concrete about an ownership group or where a stadium would go. The city has to fork over nearly 1 billion just to fix the roof at Olympic Stadium still.
32 teams seems to small for a country with no promotion/relegation in sports and with a population of 335M+ plus 1 Canadian team for 38+ Million. How about 36 teams with 6 divisions of 36. My picks are Nashville, Charlotte, Austin, Portland or Vancouver, Salt Lake City, and bringing back the Expos!
I don't think the Mariners would resist a Portland expansion team; in fact, I think they'd welcome a future rivalry. I also think it's more realistic they expand from 32 teams to 36 since 34 teams would require an odd number of teams in both leagues (17). If it was up to me, they'd go to four divisions (NL East, NL West, AL East, AL West) with a 32-team expansion and keep that for a later expansion to 36. As for locations, I think Nashville and Salt Lake City seem like the leading candidates at this point, and I'd also include either Oakland or Las Vegas, depending on whether or not the As relocation succeeds. I'd also want to see the Montreal Expos resurrected, and if MLB can settle the likely issues with the Yankees' and Mets' territorial rights, then they should bring a team back to Brooklyn as well. For the 36th team, I'd suggest Portland, but ideally not the current proposal since it would require demolishing a nice golf course. Each division would probably look like this: NL East Montreal New York Mets Brooklyn Philadelphia Pittsburgh Cincinnati Washington Atlanta Miami NL West Nashville Milwaukee Chicago Cubs St. Louis Colorado Arizona San Diego Los Angeles Dodgers San Francisco AL East Toronto Boston New York Yankees Baltimore Tampa Bay Cleveland Detroit Chicago White Sox Minnesota AL West Kansas City Texas Houston Salt Lake City/Utah Las Vegas Oakland Los Angeles Angels Portland Seattle
I would sooner see the Rays move to Nashville than add 2 more teams. It doesn't seem likely that they'll get a new ballpark in that part of Florida anytime soon. Move the struggling teams before expanding again. I'm not sure that the Marlins are going to last another 10 seasons in South Florida, either. Over-expansion isn't the answer.
Depends on what you think is a “huge” population. Utah holds 80% of its population along the Wasatch Front (all within less than a 45 min drive to SLC) which accounts for almost 2.7 Million people. I think MLB wants to expand into new markets over going to already existing areas. This is why I don’t think the Expos will come back or a third team in TX for a while.
I know Manfred said to have one team in the west and one in the east, but the west has been ignored for too long, the existing teams that are farthest from other teams are the Mariners and Rockies, I think they need to put a team in SLC and either Portland or Vancouver BC
I don't know about the Carolinas getting a team because there are a LOT of New Yorkers and the NYC tri state area, who either own summer houses, or have moved down there. So there's a ton of transplants from up north, who will attend MLB games, but they would support their teams from up north. So they'll be many people rooting against a Carolina team.
Oakland stays in Sacramento permanently...Nashville and Salt Lake get the first round, and Charlotte and Montreal get the second round. I know the league wants balance, but you have to put the teams where the people are.
I'll give my opinion in order that I think they'll get chosen. Also, if Montreal were to get a team, I think it'll be through relocation. The following teams are just strictly expansion cities. 1 - Nashville, 2 - Salt Lake City, 3 - San Antonio, 4 - Portland, 5 - Oklahoma City, 6 - Charlotte. I also think they'll announce adding two at a time and have a preliminary plan for when they have those teams chosen. I think we'll hear about expansion fairly soon, it wouldn't surprise me if it was announced in 2024. Not the teams being announced, but a public statements asking for prospecting teams to submit bids. So the first bit of expansion would take place around the 2028 season. By 2026, they'll announce another round and those two teams will be selected and their first season would be the 2030 season. Then it would take another 5-10 years for the next round, so by 2040ish. I also think the following cities could eventually be in the running 10-15 years down the line. Indianapolis, Vancouver, San Juan, Mexico City, New Orleans, Omaha and/or Albuquerque. Just my 'pie in sky' viewpoints!!
Neither San Antonio, Oklahoma City or Charlotte has a formal bid like Nashville and SLC do. Unless they put one together in the near future, they probably aren't happening.
Portland would have to fix the crime issue. Boise Idaho is less than 800,000 people in the Metro population. Zero chance. Nashville, Salt Lake City, Charlotte, San Antonio. Oklahoma City would be interesting.
Rumor also with expansion they may bring back the 4 division format and may do Regional Realignment for the divisions . I can't wait to see how everything ends up after they expand and i don't see that happening tell the A's & Rays are in new Stadiums looks like 2030 to 2035 .
I hope they restore the four division format, but they shouldn't get rid of the NL and AL. If it was up to me (which I know it isn't), then we'd just have NL East, NL West, AL East and AL West with eight teams each.
Prior to re-establishing TB’s land agreement, MLB was in the process of scheduling a split of games played at MTL & TB. Land for the site is currently being developed in MTL.
Years ago Vancouver had built a group for trying to get an expansion team. They had a huge advocate in their mayor and some billionaire funders (they usually don’t say who those people are) but I haven’t heard anything about it in a while. San Juan and any Mexican team will never happen. San Juan won’t have the money to help pay for infrastructure. I love San Juan but the economy won’t be suitable right now. Mexico would seem like an obvious choice (Monterey, maybe) but the US dollar disparities, rough economy, government uncertainties and tv market (like Canada) won’t help revenue for the other teams for nationally televised games. Montreal has backers and some funders but the local government isn’t all on board in helping to fund for a new park. Also, like Mexico & Toronto, currency and tv market shares
My 3 expansions 2025-29 Nashville and Portland Oregon 2030-39 San Antonio, and Charlotte 2045-50 Buffalo or Montreal , and Either Sacramento or San Jose AL gets Portland, Charlotte and California team NL gets Nashville, San Antonio and Buffalo or Montreal Boise Idaho no way Salt Lake city is an interesting idea. If the A's play there and get support. Maybe instead of Buffalo or Montreal.
Lifelong Giants fan from Sacramento. I love the Giants as I spent my tween to teen years with them during their World Series winning years. That said, if Sacramento got it's own team, I'd have to rep them. It's been my dream for Sac to have another Big league team besides the Kings.
Austin / San Antonio are not large enough , wealthy enough and that area has to have a dome ..more $$$$ to build and tax the inhabitants. I still see more $ in Canada than Texas .Toronto ( a 2nd team) , Montreal or Vancouver.
The San Antonio Sheriffs The Nashville 6-Stringers The Charlotte Monarchs The Salt Lake Hornets The Idaho Snakes The Portland Jackals The Sacramento Gold Strikers
Boise zero chance even though it's growing metro population of 800,000. Charlotte/Austin/Montreal make the most sense. Kansas also makes zero sense where you put that team? Most of that states small Population is in the Royals market.
Boise isn’t a top city to get a team but it has been in discussion due to money groups trying to get traction to build infrastructure for an expansion team. Same with Vancouver.
Exactly right. There's no city in Kansas (not even Wichita) that is big enough to support a Big Four team. Boise isn't big enough either, nor do I think they will be anytime soon.
I'm curious how much non-research you did for this video. A third team in Texas or Florida is not happening this go round. The Mormons have decided to launder tithe money in sports instead of hoarding it, so they will get a team in Utah. Nashville is pretty much guaranteed with the ownership group and public money on the table. Why stop at just the new cities? That's not even the most interesting part of a potential MLB expansion.
Boise makes no sense. Way too small. Also your point that Canada having pandemic policies ruins their relationship with MLB is out of reality too. I'm not saying a new team will or won't come to Canada, but a 2020 emergency policy didn't burn long-term bridges with the league.
Idaho will NEVER host a major league of any kind. Boise is probably the most isolated major city in the mainland US. And it's a stretch to call it major currently. Major leagues seem to be on the trend of de-saturating in the largest population centers so I think no on Texas or Florida as well.
Dude, listen when yoy start talking about cities supporting other teams..you need to include Major League Soccer teams such as cities like Nashville Tenn, Charlotte NC and Salt Lake City Utah that have well supported MLS franchises playibg to well over 90% capacities. Conw on you shoukd kniw and acknowledge this. If you don't like the sport I understand..but don't ignore the elephant in the room because it is there and it is getting more popular by the moment .
They have been saying soccer will become nationally popular since Pele played for NY in the 60s. Still waiting. There are a few cities but that's it. No even women's soccer very much.
You have 6 teams to choose from, take your pick. 1. Chicago Cubs 2. Chicago White Sox 3. Kansas City Royals 4. Milwaukee Brewers 5. Minnesota Twins 6. St. Louis Cardinals Plus you also have the Iowa Cubs.
