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Mike A. S.
Well-Known Member
I'm sure this has been done before. But I miss baseball and I'm bored, so let's do it again! Which two cities most deserve an MLB team if/when they next expand?
From what I've heard from friends from Texas is not that many people give a shit about baseball outside of Houston, and even that's got its share of bandwagoning.I went with Portland & San Antonio, though the case for Vegas could also be made, IMO. San Antonio is probably a dumb choice though... Texas already has a lot of pro teams.
I'm torn between Las Vegas and Charlotte as my second choice. I think Nashville is an easy top choice. The other cities you mentioned that aren't on this list as also very reasonable choices.My brother and I discussed new baseball cities last week. Although, it wasn't of expansion; it was of relocating the two existing Florida teams. Last year, the Rays and Marlins were 29th & 30th in attendance and if you combine their attendance they're still 19th in the league. Last year was not an anomaly.
Of the cities cited in the poll, Jacksonville should DEFINITELY be off the table; Florida doesn't support pro sports well. Also scratch Montreal (they already had their chance and blew it), Mexico City and New Orleans (both too unstable). It's probably too soon to put one in Vegas; we need a longer term history of how fans will support the Golden Knights and Raiders.
Nashville is a good choice; they have proven they support pro sports well and their metro population has grown about 20% over the past decade.
Charlotte has grown about 20% over the last decade. The Raleigh area should also be in the mix as it has grown about 25% in the last decade. Both NC metro areas are good candidates.
Some consideration could be given to a couple of Virginia metro areas, too - Richmond and Virginia Beach/Norfolk. Both metro areas have about the same population as Nashville, Milwaukee, Jacksonville, Oklahoma City, Raleigh, New Orleans and Salt Lake City, but VA has zero major pro sports teams to support.
And Louisville would be kinda neat.
Nashville doesn't give two shits about the Braves. I doubt Charlotte does either.Went with Montreal and Portland. Nashville and Charlotte is Braves country, and I don’t want a new team eating into that. We already gave up territory with the two Florida teams
You should probably take a look at actual attendance numbers. Some adjustments are appropriate.Let's play a game. Suppose that you had all the information/data that you do have now, as far as knowing which cities are good baseball towns, etc. But all baseball leagues were starting from scratch and you got to decide the alignment for a new 20-team baseball league. What cities & alignment would you choose?
Mine:
EASTERN LEAGUE:
North Division
New York City
Boston
Pittsburgh
Chicago
Toronto
South Division:
Atlanta
Nashville
Washington, D.C.
St. Louis
Cincinnati
WESTERN LEAGUE:
Pacific Division:
Los Angeles
San Francisco
San Diego
Seattle
Las Vegas
Central Division:
Houston
Phoenix
Kansas City
Minneapolis
Denver
Hate to be the guy crapping in the punch bowl, but after the disaster MLB is making out of Covid, they won't be expanding ever again and probably will slowly contract over time. Not gonna be a dick and start a whole thread about it, but here are the teams that will go away IMO:
Tampa
Oakland
Miami
Next round maybe Milwaukee, San Diego, KC, Colorado
A 24 team league will remain, as a regional sport.
When I was living there in Nashville, I never felt like people there cared much about baseball at all. Just glad that they finally built a new stadium for the Sounds though.Nashville doesn't give two shits about the Braves. I doubt Charlotte does either.
You'd probably have to contract at least one more team to make things even.I think moving Tampa to Miami abd contracting the marlins would make more sense.
But without more roster spots, the players union will go nuts over contraction.
Which New York team are you contracting?Let's play a game. Suppose that you had all the information/data that you do have now, as far as knowing which cities are good baseball towns, etc. But all baseball leagues were starting from scratch and you got to decide the alignment for a new 20-team baseball league. What cities & alignment would you choose?
Mine:
EASTERN LEAGUE:
North Division
New York City
Boston
Pittsburgh
Chicago
Toronto
South Division:
Atlanta
Nashville
Washington, D.C.
St. Louis
Cincinnati
WESTERN LEAGUE:
Pacific Division:
Los Angeles
San Francisco
San Diego
Seattle
Las Vegas
Central Division:
Houston
Phoenix
Kansas City
Minneapolis
Denver