Commissioner Rob Manfred sees expansion in MLB's future

[C's]

See the above re: politeness

I was merely pointing out that the Grizzlies and Blazers wouldn't be in direct competition with hypothetical MLB teams in Memphis and Portland due to the differences in schedule. Don't insinuate otherwise if you don't want people reminding you what times of the year the two leagues are in season for.

Okay so you're trolling, right?

[IceCap]

See the above re: politeness

I was merely pointing out that the Grizzlies and Blazers wouldn't be in direct competition with hypothetical MLB teams in Memphis and Portland due to the differences in schedule. Don't insinuate otherwise if you don't want people reminding you what times of the year the two leagues are in season for.

Okay so you're trolling, right?

Nope.

[NJTank]

How about Buffalo?

I think the Carolinas is the best choice right now and a second team could go Portland, OKC, San Antonio or Vancouver perhaps.

[TheOldRoman]

How about Buffalo?

I think the Carolinas is the best choice right now and a second team could go Portland, OKC, San Antonio or Vancouver perhaps.

MLB is the hardest sport for a city to support. Twice the capacity of NHL/NBA and twice the games. Also, likely more luxury boxes to sell. So you not only need a strong fanbase that doesn't mind 35,000 x 81 games, you also need a really strong corporate base to buy up the suites. Although NFL has the highest prices, it's by far the easiest to support. You're only inconveniencing people eight times a season. Buffalo can pretty easily support the Bills, but the Sabres have had difficulties, from my understanding. There's no way that city would be able to support a baseball team even if the Sabres weren't there.

[rams80]

Buffalo's only lost population since their against-all-odds baseball expansion push in the 90s.

[dfwabel]

Buffalo's only lost population since their against-all-odds baseball expansion push in the 90s.

There's no long term solution for the Bills too.

[Gothamite]

The difference is that the NFL relies more on national income than local; baseball needs a larger local population and business base.

[Sport]

In the top 35 DMAs the biggest television markets without MLB teams are Portland, Orlando, Sacramento, Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Indianapolis, Nashville, Hartford, Columbus, San Antonio, and Salt Lake City. In that Order.

Let's go through these

Portland - bigger city than I thought, but the Timbers may have wrestled the market away from any other summer sports competitor. So I’d vote no on Portland whereas even 5 years ago they would’ve been an emphatic yes from me.

Orlando – Miami and St. Petersburg haven't been good representatives for Florida as major league baseball markets. I’d hesitate to give the state a third team, especially one already close to Tampa.

Sacramento – sure, but only as a landing place for the A’s. The A’s and Giants would probably have something to say about a third team moving into their territory.

Charlotte – I can see this working. Currently no summer sport competition and a growing market.

Raleigh-Durham – A major league version of the Durham Bulls would be awesome, but I think the market is probably a stretch for the big leagues. What they have going for them is only the Hurricanes to compete with on the pro level and people don’t seem that interested in the Hurricanes.

Indianapolis – Already a two sport city, I think a third team would overextend the corporate market and season ticket buyers. Plus, it’s a relatively short drive to 6 major league stadiums (only 2 hours to Cincinnati). They’re a victim of geography. If the Major Leagues started today with 30 teams they’d get serious consideration.

Nashville – right on the edge of major leaguedom I’d say yes if they didn’t already have 2 teams.

Hartford – no for the same reasons the Whalers will never come back. Too close to large, very established major league markets

Columbus – not happening because of where it’s situated between Cleveland and Cincinnati. Indians and Reds would never go for losing the Columbus market. Fans wouldn’t abandon long held allegiances.

San Antonio – Maybe. The only concern is the city seems pretty spread out from what a former resident told me and there’s not really a downtown core. It might be tough to draw 30K 81 times a year. The Spurs do well because they’re the Spurs.

Salt Lake City - Nothing against it, but I think it’s a stretch and isn’t their population dwindling?

So I vote for Charlotte and if I’m forced to choose two, Portland.

EDIT: I think MLB should also look heavily into Vancouver

[C's]

Raleigh-Durham is pure college land. There shouldn't be any major league teams there period. (same for Columbus)

Meanwhile Charlotte's population is growing like a weed and is the country's second largest financial center. If MLB wants to go Carolina then there is absolutely no excuse in the world for building anywhere but Charlotte.

[FiddySicks]

In the top 35 DMAs the biggest television markets without MLB teams are Portland, Orlando, Sacramento, Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Indianapolis, Nashville, Hartford, Columbus, San Antonio, and Salt Lake City. In that Order.

Let's go through these

Portland - bigger city than I thought, but the Timbers may have wrestled the market away from any other summer sports competitor. So Id vote no on Portland whereas even 5 years ago they wouldve been an emphatic yes from me.

Orlando Miami and St. Petersburg haven't been good representatives for Florida as major league baseball markets. Id hesitate to give the state a third team, especially one already close to Tampa.

Sacramento sure, but only as a landing place for the As. The As and Giants would probably have something to say about a third team moving into their territory.

Charlotte I can see this working. Currently no summer sport competition and a growing market.

Raleigh-Durham A major league version of the Durham Bulls would be awesome, but I think the market is probably a stretch for the big leagues. What they have going for them is only the Hurricanes to compete with on the pro level and people dont seem that interested in the Hurricanes.

Indianapolis Already a two sport city, I think a third team would overextend the corporate market and season ticket buyers. Plus, its a relatively short drive to 6 major league stadiums (only 2 hours to Cincinnati). Theyre a victim of geography. If the Major Leagues started today with 30 teams theyd get serious consideration.

Nashville right on the edge of major leaguedom Id say yes if they didnt already have 2 teams.

Hartford no for the same reasons the Whalers will never come back. Too close to large, very established major league markets

Columbus not happening because of where its situated between Cleveland and Cincinnati. Indians and Reds would never go for losing the Columbus market. Fans wouldnt abandon long held allegiances.

San Antonio Maybe. The only concern is the city seems pretty spread out from what a former resident told me and theres not really a downtown core. It might be tough to draw 30K 81 times a year. The Spurs do well because theyre the Spurs.

Salt Lake City - Nothing against it, but I think its a stretch and isnt their population dwindling?

So I vote for Charlotte and if Im forced to choose two, Portland.

EDIT: I think MLB should also look heavily into Vancouver

In regards to Sacramento, sort of. There's nothing stopping a team from moving to Sac because the Giants/A's don't hold a legal stranglehold over territorial rights to the area like the Giants have with San Jose. I'm sure the Giants would put up a fuss due to their AAA affiliate being the RiverCats, but I remember there being talk how the city specifically negotiated with MLB to prevent this in case the Sacramento market ever opened up for an MLB team.

But still, the A's are the only logical choice for Sacramento at this point (And it's still a stretch even then). Unless the A's left the market entirely for Portland or something, I just can't see the area sustaining three pro baseball teams. If they're competing with both the Giants and A's, it's instantly the worst market in the league.

[2001mark]

EDIT: I think MLB should also look heavily into Vancouver

Vancouver is going through a flux right now actually, so I read. Foreign investment skyrocketing housing/condo market... forcing families out from the city proper?

They're already well in with the Lions + Whitecaps for spring/summer/fall. And they couldn't even get the Whitecaps waterfront stadium finalized, so they're playing at BC Place or whatever sponsor named it.

No to Vancity.

Montreal... go for it.

[chrysleraspen08]

As much as I would like to see Buffalo get a major league team, it likely won't happen. One big reason why the Sabres and Bills have half decent fan support is because of the city's close proximity to Canada, so people sometimes make a day trip down to see a game and go home, and because of that, there are quite a few fans of Buffalo sports teams in the Niagara and Hamilton areas. With baseball, the Jays have dominated the market so it's hard to say if there will be enough people willing to switch over if they land a team.

I think the setup that they have now with the Bisons being the Jays farm team is currently the best thing for baseball in Buffalo. If they find a way to improve the economy and get the population to regrow, it could work.

[CubsFanBudMan]

The Portland MLB cause led me to this site a decade and a half ago (or at least the predecessor of this version of the board, three or four times removed).

But PGE Park got turned into a soccer stadium and the Beavers (and their glorious fauxbacks) got booted out of town. And it turned out great, it seems, for D.C. with the Nationals and Portland with the Timbers. Maybe not so much for Tucson. El Paso, though.

So I can't blame them. But the window appears to be closed. The OSC site went away, Maury went on to business reporting, Kahn went on to Timberwolving and the summer is owned by soccer (with just a kiss of the Hops*).

* TM Schlitz

[AnPheitseog]

As much as I would like to see Buffalo get a major league team, it likely won't happen. One big reason why the Sabres and Bills have half decent fan support is because of the city's close proximity to Canada, so people sometimes make a day trip down to see a game and go home, and because of that, there are quite a few fans of Buffalo sports teams in the Niagara and Hamilton areas. With baseball, the Jays have dominated the market so it's hard to say if there will be enough people willing to switch over if they land a team.

I think the setup that they have now with the Bisons being the Jays farm team is currently the best thing for baseball in Buffalo. If they find a way to improve the economy and get the population to regrow, it could work.

I love Buffalo, and would love to see a MLB team(pref. NL) team in Buffalo

That said to build off this:

Buffalo could support a team if Montréal doesnt get one. Built in Buffalo toronto rivals (if AL), current yankees and red sox fans would come. If the Expos come though, the Canadian interest would disappear. Also would mean sabres getting off MSG likely as well.

[NJTank]

A waterfront stadium in Vancouver for baseball would be beautiful

[pcgd]

Just take Indianapolis off any list. Indy can barely support the Pacers and people here think they invented basketball. If a MLB team is ok selling 15k a game at a ticket average of $10 like they do for the Indians currently, Indianapolis could support a MLB team. Even then, I'm not sure if all the Cardinals/Cubs/Reds fans that currently live here are switching allegiances.

Yeah the Bengals/Bears fans did but it took awhile...and it took Peyton Manning. I mean, if the Colts drafted Ryan Leaf instead of Manning, I bet they are in LA right now…

Similarly, I have my doubts about MLS doing well here despite the Indy Eleven's success, but I think since its a lower ticket commitment and sponsorship commitment it's much more doable than MLB.

[NJTank]

I was just wondering about Indianapolis.

Louisville would be good but Cincinnati is too close/. Though imagine a team called the Louisville Sluggers how cool would that be.

[smzimbabwe]

Every time I hear about MLB expansion, I'm reminded of a program I have from the 1983 MLB All-Star game which contains a 2-page spread advertisement on Vancouver being a perfect expansion city. I even saw a game there in the mid-80's (Exh. between Seattle and Montreal).

[Sport]

I was just wondering about Indianapolis.

Louisville would be good but Cincinnati is too close/. Though imagine a team called the Louisville Sluggers how cool would that be.

I think the Louisville Bats are called the Bats because Louisville Slugger wouldn't let them use the name Sluggers.

[rxmc89]

I was just wondering about Indianapolis.

Louisville would be good but Cincinnati is too close/. Though imagine a team called the Louisville Sluggers how cool would that be.

I think the Louisville Bats are called the Bats because Louisville Slugger wouldn't let them use the name Sluggers.

Even though they play at Louisville Slugger Field. Bats is a better name anyway. They came up with a good identity with it and it's easy to figure out what the name is alluding to.