MLB Expansion Options: Team #32
By s.a. rose
Domestic Markets
Charlotte – With the strongest minor league support as far as attendance in the last couple of years, Charlotte is a proven baseball market. The distance to Atlanta (225 miles) and Washington/Baltimore (~400 miles) is not unlike other professional sports where teams co-exist in those markets. Of course, the question to ask is whether there are enough corporate dollars in the mid-size market for a third pro sports team with the NFL’s Panthers and NBA’s Hornets already established.
Las Vegas – With the NHL moving in during the fall to be the first pro team in Las Vegas and the Raiders moving from Oakland in two or three seasons, the market might not have the corporate base to be large enough to host three teams. Depending on when the next round of expansion is set to take place, MLB can be an interested observer to see how sports fans react to the Vegas Golden Knights.
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Austin – A third team in Texas could be a possibility as Austin has replaced Las Vegas as the new title-holder of largest metro area without a professional team. Of course, when looking at Texas as a state, it is not struggling in the professional sports department and many would argue that University of Texas football would be considered the big-time as far as sporting events go. Austin is showing double-digit growth, and as a tech hub it is bringing an ideal demographic for sports with high-income young families fueling the market’s growth.
Portland – Like Vancouver, concerns about climate are overblown and a regional rival for the Seattle Mariners might help somewhat ease the Mariners’ worst travel schedule in MLB. Like Austin, Portland’s demographics would also fit MLB and the fan support shown to both the Timbers (MLS) and Trail Blazers (NBA) would likely transition to rabid support of an MLB expansion team.
Los Angeles Inland Empire of Riverside – A case could be made that the largest market by population without an MLB team actually has two. Riverside, California and the Inland Empire is the 13th largest market in the U.S., but don’t expect too many tears to be shed for it as Riverside is part of a metropolitan area that has two MLB teams within 70 miles of it (not too mention two NFL, two NBA, two NHL and soon to have two MLS).
At this stage, with all ownership groups being equal (which is never the case) and making an evaluation solely based on what market would be best for MLB, what city would you recommend and why for Montreal’s expansion cousin, Team #32?