Future MLB Expansion

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Been watching this for a couple of years. But want to see what everyone else's take is. Current commissioner Rob Manfred apparently want to add 2 MLB teams by 2029 when his term expires. Before announcing they need to figure out the Rays and A's situation. Manfred has said he wants to add a team in the East and one in the West.

My thoughts are the A's need to end up in Vegas and the Rays in Orlando. Tampa has failed at supporting that team as has Oakland. As for the new teams it would seem that Nashville and Salt Lake City are the front runners. With Charlotte and Portland a distant 2nd in both cases.

I know we have a lot of Cards and Braves fans on the board. But a lot of y'all live in Nashville or not to far away. Would any of you flip your fandom over to a new Nashville MLB team?

 

[AttalaDawg72]

I’m actively looking for an MLB team. I’ve never had a team. I’d root for a Nashville team.

 

[DawgsGoneWild]

The Jackson Mets has a nice ring to it

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

Braves fandom in MS, up through the 90s/early 2000s was huge. Since then it seems to have tapered off. Of course CFB has become even more popular, especially beginning with he rise of he evil one, Saban.

Placing a team in a tourist city, like Nashville, would seem to be a good choice.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Been watching this for a couple of years. But want to see what everyone else's take is. Current commissioner Rob Manfred apparently want to add 2 MLB teams by 2029 when his term expires. Before announcing they need to figure out the Rays and A's situation. Manfred has said he wants to add a team in the East and one in the West.

My thoughts are the A's need to end up in Vegas and the Rays in Orlando. Tampa has failed at supporting that team as has Oakland. As for the new teams it would seem that Nashville and Salt Lake City are the front runners. With Charlotte and Portland a distant 2nd in both cases.

I know we have a lot of Cards and Braves fans on the board. But a lot of y'all live in Nashville or not to far away. Would any of you flip your fandom over to a new Nashville MLB team?

Been a Cardinals fan for a long long time. I wouldn’t change unless the ownership doesnt get their head out of their asș at some point. Likeliness to change for me would be maybe 15%.

 

[DAWGSANDSAINTS]

Been watching this for a couple of years. But want to see what everyone else's take is. Current commissioner Rob Manfred apparently want to add 2 MLB teams by 2029 when his term expires. Before announcing they need to figure out the Rays and A's situation. Manfred has said he wants to add a team in the East and one in the West.

My thoughts are the A's need to end up in Vegas and the Rays in Orlando. Tampa has failed at supporting that team as has Oakland. As for the new teams it would seem that Nashville and Salt Lake City are the front runners. With Charlotte and Portland a distant 2nd in both cases.

I know we have a lot of Cards and Braves fans on the board. But a lot of y'all live in Nashville or not to far away. Would any of you flip your fandom over to a new Nashville MLB team?

Tampa/St Pete badly needs a new stadium.
That dump the Rays have to play in - the city leaders and owner should be ashamed of that atrocity.
Would not support a MLB team right in the geographic middle between my two faves

 

[Faustdog]

Tampa/St Pete badly needs a new stadium.
That dump the Rays have to play in - the city leaders and owner should be ashamed of that atrocity.
Would not support a MLB team right in the geographic middle between my two faves

It's really bad. I drove by it without realizing what it was and was shocked that it was an MLB stadium.

They need to move the team to Tampa proper. It's a pain to get from Tampa to St. Pete just for a baseball ballgame.

 

[Colonel Kang]

1. I think you could see MLB use expansion as a means to get a salary cap. Players love expansion because it brings about more jobs. Offering expansion may give owners the leverage to get a salary cap.

2. Tampa is a good market as long as the stadium is in the right place.

3. Nashville is definitely an expansion city but it can only be an expansion city, a team cannot move there.

4. A's to Vegas for sure. MLB needs to figure out Silicon Valley. It's in the Giants area but are people traveling to San Fran from Silicon Valley for games? Silicon Valley has over 3 mil people. Giving the entire Bay Area & Silicon Valley to the Giants should create another Mega Market team if no other team locates there.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Curious what metrics they look at besides just population and money. Charlotte, Austin/San Antonio and Nashville metros seem obvious, probably in that order. I don’t know if Tampa/Orlando market can really be merged or not, kind of like Austin/San Antonio.

Not sure an equidistant stadium would work, but in those super hot climates, you need an indoor stadium. And it worked for DFW area. Name it regionally, like the Florida Rays and the Lone Star Illegals. San Austin Tacos maybe. San Marcos and Lakeland.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

Oakland fans didn’t fail the team. Oakland’s owner did.

 

[johnson86-1]

3. Nashville is definitely an expansion city but it can only be an expansion city, a team cannot move there.

what is this about? Is there some sort of role related to Nashville because of hour close it is to existing markets?

 

[Tall Dawg]

Live with the Cardinals….die with the Cardinals. And, they need to get their crap straight soon!

 

[Colonel Kang]

what is this about? Is there some sort of role related to Nashville because of hour close it is to existing markets?

Not sure. That’s the rule I’ve heard though. Dave Dombrowski has it in his Phillies contract that he’ll be the GM of this team as well

 

[ZombieKissinger]

Im watching the Rays now because of Jake, but I think I’d get on board if Charlotte got a team. Have enjoyed MLB the last few weeks and could probably get back into it, especially with State struggling. I watch the Saints and Cowboys but haven’t been into NBA or MLB. Grew up a Braves fan and lived in ATL for years but never really got into it at that stage in my life

 

[patdog]

1. I think you could see MLB use expansion as a means to get a salary cap. Players love expansion because it brings about more jobs. Offering expansion may give owners the leverage to get a salary cap.

2. Tampa is a good market as long as the stadium is in the right place.

3. Nashville is definitely an expansion city but it can only be an expansion city, a team cannot move there.

4. A's to Vegas for sure. MLB needs to figure out Silicon Valley. It's in the Giants area but are people traveling to San Fran from Silicon Valley for games? Silicon Valley has over 3 mil people. Giving the entire Bay Area & Silicon Valley to the Giants should create another Mega Market team if no other team locates there.

2. Maybe. But if I’m the Rays owner, I’m looking to move to Orlando. But at the very least they’ve got to get out of St Pete on the Tampa side.

3. Why not? The Oilers moved from Houston.

 

[patdog]

Oakland fans didn’t fail the team. Oakland’s owner did.

I think they both failed each other. Sat next to an A’s fan in Fenway a couple of years ago. We talked about their situation. Asked her if she had any hope of keeping the team. She said no. I felt pretty bad for her.

 

[Hugh's Burner Phone]

Make Dollar General a sponsor and put it in Noxapater. Have the Nox Generals.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Curious what metrics they look at besides just population and money. Charlotte, Austin/San Antonio and Nashville metros seem obvious, probably in that order. I don’t know if Tampa/Orlando market can really be merged or not, kind of like Austin/San Antonio.

Not sure an equidistant stadium would work, but in those super hot climates, you need an indoor stadium. And it worked for DFW area. Name it regionally, like the Florida Rays and the Lone Star Illegals. San Austin Tacos maybe. San Marcos and Lakeland.

Ownership, fan engagement, and political support. Slat Lake is a tiny market comparatively, but is at the top of the list. Their ownership group has dedicated $3.5 billion to developing the ballpark and amenities around it, the state legislature has earmarked $900 million towards the stadium/team, and the mormons support everything with zeal. The Jazz have now had 330+ consecutive sellouts.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Ownership, fan engagement, and political support. Slat Lake is a tiny market comparatively, but is at the top of the list. Their ownership group has dedicated $3.5 billion to developing the ballpark and amenities around it, the state legislature has earmarked $900 million towards the stadium/team, and the mormons support everything with zeal. The Jazz have now had 330+ consecutive sellouts.

How has the Utah Hockey Club done this season?

 

[L4Dawg]

I'm a Braves fan. If the Nashville team is in the National League I probably wouldn't support it much. If it was an American League team then yeah, I'd support it . It would be interesting to see which TV market we would be assigned to. We get the Braves. We get the Predators. We do not get the Titians much, we seem to be in the Saints zone. I don't know why, Atlanta and Nashville are both closer than NOLA.

 

[ETK99]

MLB has become unwatchable IMO. Adding two low rent teams won't help.

 

[HotMop]

The A's are breaking ground in Las Vegas in June, this is a done deal.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

The A's are breaking ground in Las Vegas in June, this is a done deal.

There are baseball people who are still skeptical that Fisher can get this done.

 

[QuaoarsKing]

{Trigger warning: Heresy)



Not only should they expand, they should realign to more geographic divisions/leagues to foster more intense rivalries. There was a time that I wouldn't have agreed with this, but after talking to a few Astros and Rangers fans about how much more fun it's been to have the in-state division rivalry since 2013, I think MLB should do this everywhere.

Depending on where the expansion teams go, you might move a couple of teams on the edges around.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

1. I think you could see MLB use expansion as a means to get a salary cap. Players love expansion because it brings about more jobs. Offering expansion may give owners the leverage to get a salary cap.

2. Tampa is a good market as long as the stadium is in the right place.

3. Nashville is definitely an expansion city but it can only be an expansion city, a team cannot move there.

4. A's to Vegas for sure. MLB needs to figure out Silicon Valley. It's in the Giants area but are people traveling to San Fran from Silicon Valley for games? Silicon Valley has over 3 mil people. Giving the entire Bay Area & Silicon Valley to the Giants should create another Mega Market team if no other team locates there.

Baseball badly needs a salary cap. Otherwise the East and west coast teams are going to gobble up all the big free agents every year. And I realize that’s going on for a long time but it has accelerated in the last 10 years.

 

[patdog]

{Trigger warning: Heresy)



Not only should they expand, they should realign to more geographic divisions/leagues to foster more intense rivalries. There was a time that I wouldn't have agreed with this, but after talking to a few Astros and Rangers fans about how much more fun it's been to have the in-state division rivalry since 2013, I think MLB should do this everywhere.

Depending on where the expansion teams go, you might move a couple of teams on the edges around.

Conferences in NFL & separate leagues in MLB are relics from the past we’d be better off without.

 

[kired]

Semi-cards fan here, I'd absolutely switch to a Nashville team

 

[msudawg1200]

Would love for Nashville to get a team. My daughter is getting married in December, and they'll be living in Nashville. I can go stay with them and be about 2 hours in Nashville, so I can go watch my Reds play them.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

4. A's to Vegas for sure. MLB needs to figure out Silicon Valley. It's in the Giants area but are people traveling to San Fran from Silicon Valley for games? Silicon Valley has over 3 mil people. Giving the entire Bay Area & Silicon Valley to the Giants should create another Mega Market team if no other team locates there.

The Giants have had the Silicon Valley/San Jose rights for years. At one time when they were still at Candlestick, they explored having a new stadium at San Jose.

Those rights are a reason the As were locked in Oakland.

Travel to and from Silicon Valley is also easy.

The Giants’ Ballpark is maybe two blocks from the San Francisco Caltrain Terminal.

People can park at train stations and take the train up or take buses home.

When the Giants were at Candlestick, I took a bus to and from Palo Alto to games when I was there for a few months.

 

[Dawgbite]

The A's are breaking ground in Las Vegas in June, this is a done deal.

I know that officially they’re not breaking ground until June but I was in Vegas last week and there is all kinds of dirt work being done on the site.

 

[leeinator]

Hearing mostly that Nashville and Las Vegas may be the front runners for a MLB team. Las Vegas has also made it clear it would like to poach the Memphis Grizzlies. Grizzlies's majority owner is from the LA/Las Vegas area originally and there has been speculation he might move the team to Vegas, but right now I think there's a "no move" clause when he purchased the Grizz. I think it was good for "X" number of years before he could though. They are becoming a definite major league city.

 

[RocketDawg]

Gotta be Nashville.

Or - could be Austin. The cities are pretty much the same size.

 

[onewoof]

Bring on the Jackson Repeat Offenders

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

How has the Utah Hockey Club done this season?

Considering it was a rushed liquidation, with very little notice, they have been a hit. The basketball arena doesn't have steep enough second decks to handle the size of the ice vs a much smaller bball court, so the view is blocked for about 6,000 seats. Renovations will be made by 2027.




They're supposed to be picking a new name in the next month or two and it seems like Mammoth is going to be the winner. I preferred Outlaws, but that's probably to inappropriate for the LDS folks.

 

[L4Dawg]

View attachment 791039

Considering it was a rushed liquidation, with very little notice, they have been a hit. The basketball arena doesn't have steep enough second decks to handle the size of the ice vs a much smaller bball court, so the view is blocked for about 6,000 seats. Renovations will be made by 2027.


View attachment 791053

They're supposed to be picking a new name in the next month or two and it seems like Mammoth is going to be the winner. I preferred Outlaws, but that's probably to inappropriate for the LDS folks.

The Predator’s numbers are astounding because they absolutely SUCKED this year…and they were supposed to contend.IVE been to a couple of games, it’s a hell of a lot of fun!

 

[GloryDawg]

Can the A's afford a move?

 

[jethreauxdawg]

MLB has become unwatchable IMO. Adding two low rent teams won't help.

Why has it become unwatchable for you? I think it’s more enjoyable to watch than it has been. The new rules that have caused the pace of play to speed up are great.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

Curious what metrics they look at besides just population and money. Charlotte, Austin/San Antonio and Nashville metros seem obvious, probably in that order. I don’t know if Tampa/Orlando market can really be merged or not, kind of like Austin/San Antonio.

Nashville is obviously booming. My understanding is that is driven by tourism. Does it have enough non-tourism industry to support a MLB team? I don’t know what the MLB looks for. Charlotte is about 50% larger than Nashville.

 

[patdog]

Why has it become unwatchable for you? I think it’s more enjoyable to watch than it has been. The new rules that have caused the pace of play to speed up are great.

I’ve watched more games in the last year than in the last decade. Pace of play is so much better. Emphasis on home runs & strikeouts sucks though. But that’s all baseball these days. If I get to an extra inning game where they’re starting with a man on 2nd, I’m turning it off.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

I’ve watched more games in the last year than in the last decade. Pace of play is so much better. Emphasis on home runs & strikeouts sucks though. But that’s all baseball these days. If I get to an extra inning game where they’re starting with a man on 2nd, I’m turning it off.

Agreed. The extra inning rule is the only change I don’t like. I’m still hopeful the pick off limitations will lead to more small ball, less reliance on home runs.