The Best MLB Expansion Teams to Target
MLB expansion hasn't taken place since MLB expansion teams the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays joined the league in 1998. It makes sense to make the MLB a 32-team league, right?
The Next MLB Expansion Teams?
MLB expansion fees were set at $130 million in 1998 when Arizona and Tampa Bay joined the league. Today's expansion fees are estimated to exceed $2 billion in addition to the cost of a new stadium. So which five cities are ready for the next MLB expansion teams?
5. Montreal
Since 2005 the Blue Jays have been the only Canadian MLB team. With four million people in the Montreal metro area, Montreal is one of the favorite MLB expansion teams that potential owners are targeting. The only major league sports competition in the city is the Canadiens of the NHL.
Montreal Expos played in the MLB as an expansion franchise from 1969 until relocating to Washington in 2004 primarily because they couldn't find funding for a new stadium. With such a huge market, and the Red Sox and Blue Jays more than 300 miles away, it's an enticing MLB expansion opportunity.
Young fans of both teams might also take the opportunity to travel and legally drink and smoke weed. MLB expansion into Montreal continues to heat up following calls to play half of Tampa Bay Ray's games in Montreal. The "Sister city" proposal was rejected by the MLB but it shows that the stage is set for Montreal as one of the favorite MLB expansion teams.
Today in #Nats history — May 3, 2006:
MLB agrees to sell the Nationals to a group led by Ted Lerner for $450 million. In 2002, the 29 other MLB owners collectively bought the Montreal Expos for $120 million and then moved the failing franchise to DC in 2005 pic.twitter.com/1VCyYG9WXF — The District Dugout (@DistrictDugout) May 3, 2020
4. Charlotte
Charlotte is an MLB expansion candidate and is unique as the only American city to have an NFL, NBA and an MLS teams, but no MLB franchise. It's also one of the fastest growing cities in America which helps it stand out among the other potential MLB expansion teams.
Major League Soccer team Charlotte FC joined the league in 2022. They set MLS attendance records with over 73,000 fans attending their first home match and they continue to hold one of the highest average crowds in the league.
The city's Minor League Baseball team the Charlotte Knights has one of the strongest minor league average attendances in the country and is in a long term affiliation with the Chicago White Sox.
Great shot of the Charlotte Knights Stadium - love living near such a great city. Just waiting for the MLB team...👀 pic.twitter.com/5uoRFBTSJo
— CarolinaCardExchange (@CarolinaCardEx1) November 14, 2021
3. Las Vegas
Las Vegas is a city that had no major league sports team in the city until the Golden Knights joined the NHL in 2017. Las Vegas has all the money to make an MLB expansion team happen.
A $4 billion precinct has rocketed the chances of Vegas becoming home to the next NBA expansion team. There are also investors lining up with Vegas as the favorite for the next MLS expansion team.
MLB expansion in Vegas isn't all just about the money. The Las Vegas Aviators regularly sells-out its home games and were averaging the highest Minor League Baseball attendances before COVID hit.
The success of the Golden Knights, the Oakland Raiders relocation to Vegas and the Aces relocation from San Antonio has transformed Vegas from a destination city, into a sporting city. Even Major League Baseball wants the MLB in Las Vegas. They were reportedly willing to drop the costs of relocation if the Oakland Athletics relocated to the city.
MLB wouldn’t charge the Oakland A’s a relocation fee if the team moves to Las Vegas, according to a source. That would save the team hundreds of millions of dollars on a potential move to Southern Nevada. https://t.co/eELLz4OH13#vegas #oakland #Athletics
— Mick Akers (@mickakers) June 27, 2022
...I'll be back tomorrow with part two!
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Wolfgang Sport started in 2017 as a way to connect my passion for American and British sports. Today it's evolved into a blockchain sports blog pushing the boundaries into the crypto world and embracing Web3 technologies.