Fansided

MLB Open to Expansion in Las Vegas

By Nick Fustor |
May 11, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; General view of NFL Wilson Duke football at the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign on the Las Vegas strip on Las Vegas Blvd. Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis (not pictured) has pledged $500 million toward building a 65,000-seat domed stadium in Las Vegas at a total cost of $1.4 billion. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (not pictured) said Davis can explore his options in Las Vegas but would require 24 of 32 owners to approve the move. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
May 11, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; General view of NFL Wilson Duke football at the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign on the Las Vegas strip on Las Vegas Blvd. Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis (not pictured) has pledged $500 million toward building a 65,000-seat domed stadium in Las Vegas at a total cost of $1.4 billion. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (not pictured) said Davis can explore his options in Las Vegas but would require 24 of 32 owners to approve the move. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred sees expansion to Las Vegas as a possibility.  With all four major sports eyeing the city, it soon could become known for more than gambling.

While Major League Baseball is notoriously averse to any sort of gambling, Las Vegas looks to be a very real option for an expansion team in the future.  Commissioner Rob Manfred called Vegas a “viable option” while speaking to YES Network on Tuesday.

The announcement comes on the heels of the NHL’s decision to add a team in Vegas, while the NFL and NBA are also exploring the possibility.  The Oakland Raiders are openly exploring a move to Vegas, while the city seems to be the next step for the ever growing NBA.

The move would be a smart one for MLB, as the Las Vegas metropolitan area is home to some two million residents, while tourists pile in by the masses year in and year out.

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With MLB growing at a faster rate than ever – both financially and in the media – adding more teams seems to be the clear next step in keeping up with the NFL and NBA.  If the MLB is looking to expand in the next few years, adding teams to Montreal – which looks to be very interested in bringing a franchise back – and Vegas would give the league two major markets to compete in.

Plus, baseball’s biggest star Bryce Harper is from Las Vegas.  With his free agency coming up in 2018, MLB may want to consider adding a franchise there soon – although it wouldn’t happen that quickly – if they hope to jump start the franchise and give the league a coming home story a la LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Despite the league’s dark history with gambling – note that Pete Rose is still at odds with the league – Vegas may be too good of an opportunity to pass up.

While speaking to YES, Manfred said the notion that an MLB franchise can’t move to Vegas because of casinos is long in the past and that he would not disqualify it as an option.

The MLB better act quick if they hope to secure one of the better names associated with Vegas, or they may be stuck with something lame like the Gamblers.  ESPN recently released a list with very possible names for the city’s NHL expansion franchise, including names like the Dealers and Sin. Although the Strippers would arguably be the best name for a franchise, ever.

They could opt to name themselves the Harper’s, because, well, Bryce Harper just might be that popular once he’s ready to enter free agency.

Next: Phillies Sign Top Pick Moniak

There’s a saying that goes, “There is a very easy way to return from a casino with a small fortune.  Go there with a large one.” Let’s just hope MLB manages to stay out of trouble in the Sin City.

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