In your lifetime, do you see Major League Baseball starting an expansion team? If so, in what cities?

Question

In my lifetime, I do see Major League Baseball establishing another expansion team from scratch and I could see a professional team in either Charlotte, North Carolina or Vancouver, British Columbia Canada.

Answer 1

The Duluth Democrats and the Raleigh Republicans.

Ok, seriously, my impression is that MLB is not interested in expansion for now or for the forseeable future. Indeed, there is still some faint talk of contraction going around. But you never know what the future may bring. In addition to the cities you mentioned, I could see Las Vegas, Portland, or any of several Southern cities (Memphis, Nashville, Birmingham, etc.) as being possibilities.

Answer 2

Baseball was talking about CONTRACTING just a couple of years ago... so I don't think there will be an expansion for at least a decade - and that assumes no major league teams suffer attendance problems like Montreal did. In many respects there are too many teams now for a QUALITY game - but quality does depend on your definition...

When it does happen - and it probably will... I'd tend to think it will happen in whatever large cities don't already have teams AND are far from existing teams. For example, referencing the top 50 US Cities (by population, according to http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0763098.html ) that don't have teams, I would expect you might get teams in 2 of the following:

*San Antonio, TX (MAYBE - they are about 2 hours from each of the current Texas teams)
*Memphis, TN
*Charlotte, NC
*New Orleans, LA (IF - BIG IF - the area eventually returns to size following Katrina - as I understand it, 50% of the population has essentially moved out of the area).
*Portland, OR

Given the current break up of teams, I would expect at least one team to end up in the Western Division and both teams in the AL. Or they might break it up into 4 divisions each league, doing away with the wildcard. But I doubt it - the wild card generates A LOT of interest and if you did away with it, not as many teams would be in contention down the stretch.

I would love to see a couple of teams in the "far off" environments - like Hawaii and Alaska... but unless they bring back the concorde AND allow it to fly over land (they didn't because of the sonic booms), then I wouldn't expect it - a 12 hour flight from NY to Hawaii would not go over well with most of the players and the Player's union... and I think the Hawaiian team (if there was one) would HATE it because ANY away game would require AT LEAST a 6 hour flight.

Lastly, I know some people have suggested Vegas... but forget that idea - until and unless the commissioner's office gets over the concern of how gambling on baseball would be happening there, it's just not going to happen - but outside of that, it probably would be a great city for a team.

Answer 3

The next expansion is into the Pacific rim. The other North American cities are vying for ailing teams that need to move, i.e. the Florida teams. MLB is working on an Aisian expantion to happen within the next 20 to 30 years ti include teams in South Korea, Japan, and possably Australia and Hawaii. Baseball expects the talennt pool in Aisa to grow enough in the time frame so as not to dilute the league.

Answer 4

I see Las Vegas because that can draw fans and Memnphis is a big sports town. Also in New Orleans I could see a team. I cant see any in the mid west soly for the fact there arnt enough people to make money off of and its to remote out there. Also we will not expand to other countrys again after the disaster in Canada and San juan fans aint got the money and no team wants to be run in mexico

Answer 5

I see maybe expanding to Mexico City as well. In my opinion, the next 5 cities should be:

Charlotte, NC or Norfolk, VA
Mexico City
Portland, OR or Vancouver, BC
Las Vegas
San Juan, PR

Answer 6

I've already seen a few. Montreal, Toronto, Arizona, Florida, Tampa. I really doubt that if the MLB expands it'll be in Canada. I think that they will expand into Latin America. Peurto Rico or Mexico is likely to be where they open new teams

Answer 7

I think that before an expansion team starts from scratch, a current team will relocate from it's current home. Take the Floria Marlins, for example. Home field attendance is just horrible. There have been rumors for a while that they will relocate.

Answer 8

Believe it or not, I think this will happen. Here are my picks (in order)

1-Las Vegas, Nevada
2-Portland, Oregon
3-Monterrey, Mexico
4-Charlotte, NC
5-Norfolk, Va

Answer 9

these cties got the best chance

oakland,las vegas,portland(oregon),dallas,boise,buffolo,charlotte, salt lake city,miami,clevland,porland(maine),san antonio,and memphis.

I think maybe 2 of these cities will get a team but i have no idease witch ones cuase all of them got a fair chance

Answer 10

Vegas baby.