Upcoming 2017 World Baseball Classic Could Be the Final Edition

Low revenue could cause the 2017 World Baseball Classic to be the last one.

With the 2017 World Baseball Classic quickly approaching on the horizon, baseball fans could be in for an unwelcome surprise. Cristian Moreno of ESPN tweeted that sources have told him that this tournament could potentially be the last. As he reports, the World Baseball Classic would have to show a large increase in earnings in order for it to continue to operate.

Clearly, this would be a tragedy for baseball fans around the world. The World Baseball Classic exists as a way to earn bragging rights about which country has the best baseball talent. Beyond the fun rivalries, the tournament also allows MLB fans to see some of the best players in the other leagues who choose not to try their luck abroad.

The World Baseball Classic also allows American fans to get to see how other countries play baseball. While it is essentially the same sport with only marginally different rules between nations, different regions have very different cultural outlooks on the game. Having a brief glimpse into how Puerto Ricans, Koreans, or many other countries engage with their teams can help us expand our understanding of baseball. It can even add context for controversial moments like Jose Bautista’s bat flip in the 2015 American League Division Series.

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As great an opportunity that the World Baseball Classic is, it has always been partially squandered. Many of the top American players do not play in the tournament, resulting in repeated poor performances despite an abundance of talent. Our own Alan Rubenstein built a dream Team USA a couple months ago, but it seems unlikely that many of these players will miss Spring Training for a chance to represent their country.

Perhaps because of this issue, the World Baseball Classic has yet to become popular in the United States. Major League Baseball is bringing in high revenues, but fans do not seem as interested in watching games without their favorite players. Sure, Miguel Cabrera and Joey Votto have appeared in the past tournaments, but the lack of many big names has kept the series from gathering a wide appeal.

It is also worth noting that the lack of the Olympic brand has struggled to rally the patriotism. The tournament has essentially been a way to replace the loss of baseball from the Olympics, but marketing the games as a replacement for an Olympic sport has been a tough sell. Another potential issue has been that its coinciding with Spring Training has not only limited the talent, but also the audience. Fans are just starting to get their fix of baseball from their favorite teams, and a watered-down Team USA is not quite the same experience.

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If the World Baseball Classic ends after this next tournament, it would be a shame for baseball fans around the world. Fortunately, the sport is slated to return to the Olympics in 2020, but having another tournament can never hurt.