Can Charlotte support a Major League Baseball team?

[DesiredFan382]

Do you think the city of Charlotte will eventually land a expansion MLB team this decade or next decade or will the city likely get a relocated team?

 

[DJ]

No and no.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Probably, but MLB probably prefers other markets before the Carolinas.

Nashville and Portland are more likely domestic markets, imo. Montreal, Vancouver, Mexico City, and other locales probably are ahead of Charlotte.

 

[calsnowskier]

Vegas, NOLA, Montreal, Vancouver (Mariners may fight that), Nashville…

All before Charlotte.

 

[broncosmitty]

Atlanta is the team of the South.


There’d be a lot of pushback from that franchise on sharing.


I assume Vegas and Montreal are first in line if/when expansion happens again.

 

[calsnowskier]

Atlanta is the team of the South.


There’d be a lot of pushback from that franchise on sharing.


I assume Vegas and Montreal are first in line if/when expansion happens again.

Doesn’t have to be expansion. The A’s and Rays are both pretty strong relocation prospects.

 

[TheLonestarDUCK]

Possibly

Charlotte, Portland Look Like Leading Candidates for Inevitable MLB Expansion - Cubs Insider

If Major League Baseball would like to get an influx of cash to boost revenues in the wake of the pandemic, the quickest and easiest way is through expansion. All indications are that the league does intend to expand at some point, with Rob Manfred going so far as to lay out at least six …

www.cubsinsider.com

 

[catman]

Possibly

Charlotte, Portland Look Like Leading Candidates for Inevitable MLB Expansion - Cubs Insider

If Major League Baseball would like to get an influx of cash to boost revenues in the wake of the pandemic, the quickest and easiest way is through expansion. All indications are that the league does intend to expand at some point, with Rob Manfred going so far as to lay out at least six …

www.cubsinsider.com

Not sure either community could support a major league team. Portland may be too close to Seattle to develop their own fan-base. Charlotte has major league sports already (as does Portland) and sports fans may not be able to support multiple teams in the same market, especially when there are other teams close to them. As was said, Atlanta is the team in the south and Washington is not that far away, nor is Cincinnati.

 

[TheLonestarDUCK]

Not sure either community could support a major league team. Portland may be too close to Seattle to develop their own fan-base. Charlotte has major league sports already (as does Portland) and sports fans may not be able to support multiple teams in the same market, especially when there are other teams close to them. As was said, Atlanta is the team in the south and Washington is not that far away, nor is Cincinnati.

I think the largest tv market without a team can support one. Portland TV market is bigger than 5 or 6 existing teams.

 

[catman]

Maybe, but as I said, Seattle is pretty close for them to build a fan-base.

 

[TheLonestarDUCK]

Maybe, but as I said, Seattle is pretty close for them to build a fan-base.

That’s like saying Milwaukee and Minneapolis couldn’t support 2 teams or St Louis & KC

 

[calsnowskier]

That’s like saying Milwaukee and Minneapolis couldn’t support 2 teams or St Louis & KC

Those fan bases were built in a different time, with different market constraints (and different franchise valuations).

 

[TheLonestarDUCK]

Those fan bases were built in a different time, with different market constraints (and different franchise valuations).

True - but I think it would work

 

[Cedrique]

I think Charlotte could support mlb. It's the perfect sport in that it doesn't conflict with college basketball. The timing is not great though with the Braves just winning the world series.

 

[catman]

That’s like saying Milwaukee and Minneapolis couldn’t support 2 teams or St Louis & KC

That is nothing like it. Portland has shown no desire to support a baseball team. There are far better choices for expansion. Montreal, Mexico City, San Juan, all are far better choices.

 

[TheLonestarDUCK]

That is nothing like it. Portland has shown no desire to support a baseball team. There are far better choices for expansion. Montreal, Mexico City, San Juan, all are far better choices.

You obviously are not close to the situation.

 

[calsnowskier]

That is nothing like it. Portland has shown no desire to support a baseball team. There are far better choices for expansion. Montreal, Mexico City, San Juan, all are far better choices.

Mexico City will not get a team any time soon. Mexico isn’t stable enough by half.

 

[msgkings322]

Mexico City will not get a team any time soon. Mexico isn’t stable enough by half.

And it's ridiculously far away. Road trips there would be untenable.

 

[catman]

Montreal looks like they will have the first shot at a new or transferred team. Portland will have to show me something more to beat out Las Vegas for a team. The only way I could see them getting a team in Portland is to transfer an existing team there. They would be able to have some "name" players to rally around.
My point about Portland is based on the fact that they couldn't support a triple A team very well. Similar reason to why New Orleans won't likely get a major league franchise.

 

[catman]

And it's ridiculously far away. Road trips there would be untenable.

I agree with this, but some day they will have one. There could be a "World" League, made up of the mega franchises, The Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, Cubs or White Sox and Giants, along with a few other cities around the world.