MLB: Potential Destinations for Expansion
By David Hill
2. Mexico City
Even though baseball may be considered “America’s Game,” and be as much a part of the national identity as apple pie and eagles, the rabid following that the game has in Latin America puts America’s support of baseball to shame. With various Winter Leagues throughout the Caribbean, and the following the game has, it is time for a major league franchise to call the area home.
Perhaps the best option would be to put a team in Mexico City. In fact, Rob Manfred has even discussed placing a team in Mexico City in the past, considering the country to be a relatively untapped market. Not only could an expansion team in Mexico have an entire country to support the franchise, but it could help bring in more Hispanic players and fans.
Mexico City, and the idea of expanding to Mexico as a whole, is not without potential pitfalls. Even ignoring that the city is at a higher elevation than Denver, and the blanket of smog covering it, there are major questions surrounding corruption and the potential safety of any players in the country. Mexico is also a relatively poor country; while it ranks 15th in Gross National Product, the country is 80th in GNP per capita, behind such countries as French Guiana and Estonia.
A team in Mexico City would certainly be supported by the country given their love of baseball. However, there is a major question of whether or not enough fans would be able to afford to see a potential expansion team play there, even if the security issues were resolved.
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