Top Ten Tuesday: Cities For MLB Expansion

Like almost all businesses in the United States, Major League Baseball is losing money due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, the MLB has an opportunity to recoup some of the billions they might lose if this season lockdown continues, and league expansion to 32 teams reportedly might happen sooner than expected because of the expansion fees the new franchises would pay. Today’s Top Ten Tuesday goes over some of the best cities for MLB expansion.

 

10. Austin, Texas

The Rangers and Astros might not be happy about this, but Texas is a very unique state that could handle a third baseball franchise. Austin is an emerging city that should have a strong fanbase if a professional sports franchise hits the area—also, it being a college town will help early and late in the season when Texas students are in the city. Indianapolis and Mexico City are two other cities that just missed the cut.

 

9. Orlando Florida

Florida isn’t the beast that Texas is, but the state could probably handle a third MLB team in Orlando. Disney World brings plenty of people near Orlando, and those tourists would have something else to do between visiting amusement parks. The greater Orlando region has promise, but it cannot be ranked higher than this considering the attendance woes of the MLB’s two current Florida franchises.

 

8. Portland, Oregon

The proximity to Seattle is likely an issue, but a Portland MLB franchise could potentially get a good attendance numbers in Oregon and northern California. Like Seattle, Portland has rabid fans—as displayed by the NBA’s Trail Blazers and the MLS’s Timbers—and another Pacific Northwest team could quickly become an international favorite in Asia if the franchise hits a home run on team name and branding.

 

7. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Minor league baseball franchises were not taken into heavy consideration for this because it is unlikely that any of them would have a big impact in stopping a major league team if the MLB wants to put one in the same area. But keep in mind that the Albuquerque Isotopes of Triple-A have a large fanbase, which would almost certainly transfer over to an MLB team. New Mexico does not currently have any major professional sports franchises (MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA), so the state should be open for business.

 

6. Birmingham, Alabama

Football rules in Alabama, but it’s a great southern state that could have a Major League Baseball team of its own someplace like Birmingham. The Braves are popular in Alabama, but ideally, a Birmingham-based team would be in the American League as another option for people in Alabama to root for.

 

5. Raleigh, North Carolina

The Carolinas are among the best spots in the country for baseball, and they are well overdue for an MLB ballclub. Raleigh, North Carolina is clearly one of the top cities that should be in consideration for an MLB team. There’s even a well-organized movement online to get Raleigh a franchise.

 

4. Montreal, Canada

Most MLB fans are aware of the Montreal Expos (they relocated and became the Washington Nationals in 2004), so there is a built-in fanbase north of the border if baseball ever returns to Montreal. There’s already been talk of the Rays embarking on a joint venture with Montreal, splitting home games between Florida and Canada. The interest in Montreal appears to be real, and it won’t be surprising if MLB returns to the city somehow.

 

3. Nashville, Tennessee

Country music’s capital is growing and having success with much more than just the music industry, and sports are definitely a big deal in Tennessee (just look at the NFL Draft in Nashville and the Memphis Grizzlies’ strong fanbase). Nashville is a better fit than Memphis, but Tennessee can be a very strong state for an MLB franchise.

 

2. Charlotte, North Carolina

While Raleigh has people impressively organizing to push for an MLB team, Charlotte ultimately might be the better fit. Charlotte is situated in about the center of the Carolinas, and it is already home to the NFL’s Panthers and the NBA’s Hornets. The weather is superb for baseball, and an MLB franchise shouldn’t have trouble getting people out to enjoy an evening at the ballpark.

 

1. Las Vegas, Nevada

The only city that tops the Carolinas is the booming city of Las Vegas, which recently added NHL and NFL franchises over the past few years as sports gambling opens up more around the United States. Major League Baseball would do well to get a team in Vegas and Nashville or the Carolinas when they expand to 32 teams.