[Cactus Jack]

Likely that we see MLB expansion in the coming years. We're also already in the midst of the Athletics relocating from Oakland to Las Vegas. 

Which cities are most likely to get franchises and what would you like to see? Bonus points if you can throw out some creative but realistic suggestions for mascots and branding. 

I'll give my full list and more details later, but Nashville, Charlotte, San Antonio, Austin, Salt Lake City, Portland, Montreal, Mexico City, New Orleans, Boise, and Memphis are some cities that are usually mentioned.

[plantmanky]

Based on current talent baseball needs to retract about 4 or so teams. MLB killing off MILB is really hurting the sport as far as developing players.

I could see 2 teams in Mexico coming before any other US cities.

[King Kong]

Paintsville and Pikeville, like the KY Long Rifles 

Idk but I'd like to see KY or WV get a team.  Idk what the markets would be like in these areas.  Cut into the Reds fan bases, I guess it would.  

Nashville would be a good location.  The Reds vs Braves are supposed to play later this year in Bristol TN.  I'd like to go to that one.  

I guess the only major league team TN lacks is a MLB team.  Makes sense to me at least to have a team there.  

Idk about a name lol

---

Memphis would be good to

[4 Quarters]

Based on current talent baseball needs to retract about 4 or so teams.  MLB killing off MILB is really hurting the sport  as far as developing players.

I could see 2 teams in Mexico coming before any other US cities.

Your first is spot on.

[Cactus Jack]

Based on current talent baseball needs to retract about 4 or so teams. MLB killing off MILB is really hurting the sport as far as developing players.

I could see 2 teams in Mexico coming before any other US cities.

Plantman, if you are in charge, which four cities are losing their franchise and why?

And not saying I agree or disagree with the MLB killing off MiLB, but wondering why you say that? Either way, I'd think that the NCAA's NIL hurts MiLB.


Manfred is on track to be out of the commissioner's office by 2029 and it's my understanding that he's been vocal about adding two expansion teams.

I could also see the Oakland/Sacramento/Las Vegas A's continuing to be unsettled. I could also see the situation with Tampa Bay's stadium making an already bad situation worse and the franchise ending up elsewhere. Miami and Anaheim are two more that wouldn't shock me.

I think a team in Nashville might be a given during the next round of expansion; as of late last season, it seemed like a foregone conclusion. Mexico City has had much more momentum in the past than now. Think the MLB canceled some scheduled games there and in Puerto Rico & Paris.

[King Kong]

Idk for sure but seems like there was talk of the NFL adding a team in another country.  I might have misunderstood that, not for certain, seems like I remember hearing that though. 

If the NFL does then maybe MLB will add another team out of the country.  

Japan would be a major market.  They seem to be crazy about baseball there.  A team there would likely be a money making machine.  On the downside, be a heck of a lot of long traveling!

[plantmanky]

Based on current talent baseball needs to retract about 4 or so teams.  MLB killing off MILB is really hurting the sport  as far as developing players.

I could see 2 teams in Mexico coming before any other US cities.

Plantman, if you are in charge, which four cities are losing their franchise and why?

And not saying I agree or disagree with the MLB killing off MiLB, but wondering why you say that? Either way, I'd think that the NCAA's NIL hurts MiLB.


Manfred is on track to be out of the commissioner's office by 2029 and it's my understanding that he's been vocal about adding two expansion teams.

I could also see the Oakland/Sacramento/Las Vegas A's continuing to be unsettled. I could also see the situation with Tampa Bay's stadium making an already bad situation worse and the franchise ending up elsewhere. Miami and Anaheim are two more that wouldn't shock me.

I think a team in Nashville might be a given during the next round of expansion; as of late last season, it seemed like a foregone conclusion. Mexico City has had much more momentum in the past than now. Think the MLB canceled some scheduled games there and in Puerto Rico & Paris.

Baltimore & washington can battle it out, loser goes.  (honestly both could go)
LA Angels exist why?
Cincy & Pittsburgh can battle it out, loser goes
White Sox can go, Chicago doesnt need 2 teams. 

When MLB cut the number of MILB teams in half, it also kicked away half the potential talent and development.  Granted many of those MILB teams were huge money pits, but it was to drastic of a cut at once.  

Nashville doesnt work for an MLB team if you have Atlanta, Cincy, Pittsburgh and St. Louis all close.

[4 Quarters]

Based on current talent baseball needs to retract about 4 or so teams.  MLB killing off MILB is really hurting the sport  as far as developing players.

I could see 2 teams in Mexico coming before any other US cities.

Plantman, if you are in charge, which four cities are losing their franchise and why?

And not saying I agree or disagree with the MLB killing off MiLB, but wondering why you say that? Either way, I'd think that the NCAA's NIL hurts MiLB.


Manfred is on track to be out of the commissioner's office by 2029 and it's my understanding that he's been vocal about adding two expansion teams.

I could also see the Oakland/Sacramento/Las Vegas A's continuing to be unsettled. I could also see the situation with Tampa Bay's stadium making an already bad situation worse and the franchise ending up elsewhere. Miami and Anaheim are two more that wouldn't shock me.

I think a team in Nashville might be a given during the next round of expansion; as of late last season, it seemed like a foregone conclusion. Mexico City has had much more momentum in the past than now. Think the MLB canceled some scheduled games there and in Puerto Rico & Paris.

Baltimore & washington can battle it out, loser goes.  (honestly both could go)
LA Angels exist why?
Cincy & Pittsburgh can battle it out, loser goes
White Sox can go, Chicago doesnt need 2 teams. 

When MLB cut the number of MILB teams in half, it also kicked away half the potential talent and development.  Granted many of those MILB teams were huge money pits, but it was to drastic of a cut at once.  

Nashville doesnt work for an MLB team if you have Atlanta, Cincy, Pittsburgh and St. Louis all close.

Plantman, I agree, points well made.

[King Kong]

You know guys, we don't gotta just limit ourselves to the United States or another country even. Why stop here? We can put a mlb team on the moon, or even Mars! There's talk about humanity wanting to get started on Mars anyway, this would be a perfect idea 

---

   

Perfect!  My friends here got us covered!

With their technology, you know technology us humans will never understand, it'll just be a short spaceship ride to and from. 

I'm ready to get the ball rolling on this 

[King Kong]

I believe all of or most of the cities CJ listed, are set to host MLB games during the next few years, or games near by them. 

Bristol TN is set to host the Reds vs Braves at Bristol Motor Speedway.  First MLB game ever in TN this making history.  They're also trying to break the attendance record for a MLB game. 

Bristol Racetrack is definitely big enough to break a attendance record.  Idk it'll hold 150-160 thousand plus.  Then during a race throw in all those outside the stadium and camping, you're likely pushing 200 thousand. 

I'm studying on attending this game.  Ticket prices are higher than for a normal game though. 

I believe this game might be a trial run in determining if TN gets a MLB team.

[4 Quarters]

I believe all of or most of the cities CJ listed, are set to host MLB games during the next few years, or games near by them. 

Bristol TN is set to host the Reds vs Braves at Bristol Motor Speedway.  First MLB game ever in TN this making history.  They're also trying to break the attendance record for a MLB game. 

Bristol Racetrack is definitely big enough to break a attendance record.  Idk it'll hold 150-160 thousand plus.  Then during a race throw in all those outside the stadium and camping, you're likely pushing 200 thousand. 

I'm studying on attending this game.  Ticket prices are higher than for a normal game though. 

I believe this game might be a trial run in determining if TN gets a MLB team.

I read where they're trying to sell 140,000 tickets.  I really don't believe it has anything to do with Tn. getting  a MLB team.  It's just more of the Smith family circus acts.  However, I do like it.

[King Kong]

I believe all of or most of the cities CJ listed, are set to host MLB games during the next few years, or games near by them. 

Bristol TN is set to host the Reds vs Braves at Bristol Motor Speedway.  First MLB game ever in TN this making history.  They're also trying to break the attendance record for a MLB game. 

Bristol Racetrack is definitely big enough to break a attendance record.  Idk it'll hold 150-160 thousand plus.  Then during a race throw in all those outside the stadium and camping, you're likely pushing 200 thousand. 

I'm studying on attending this game.  Ticket prices are higher than for a normal game though. 

I believe this game might be a trial run in determining if TN gets a MLB team.

I read where they're trying to sell 140,000 tickets.  I really don't believe it has anything to do with Tn. getting  a MLB team.  It's just more of the Smith family circus acts.  However, I do like it.

The record for the largest attendance at a college football game might have been set at Bristol Motor Speedway as well.  Can't remember the year but between Tennessee and Virginia Tech.  Which Bristol is shared by both states. Thats pretty neat. 

The Braves and the Reds are my two favorite MLB teams.  I'm glad it's them two going to be playing there. I'd be in half Braves gear and half Reds lol

[P. Fanning]

It's past time to bring back the Montreal Expos!

[plantmanky]

It's past time to bring back the Montreal Expos!

I don't disagree, but Montreal doesn't really want an MLB team, or there isn't a big push to get one back.  That's why I think Mexico City is a better option

[Cactus Jack]

When I said I'd post my thoughts later, I actually meant "almost a month later". Anyway....

1. Nashville:
This one just seems like a really good fit and MLB seems to agree. It's a city that's rapidly growing. The Nashville Sounds (AAA affiliate of the Brewers and previously of the A's, etc.) seem to do well, so the interest is there. If girls in “Bride Tribe” bachelorette party tees and visiting guys who give “I’m country but my parents pay my bills” vibes loved Major League Baseball, it’d pretty much be a match made in heaven. More importantly, they play in a new downtown stadium that's within a ~1.25 mile walking distance from Nissan Stadium, Bridgestone Arena, and Printer’s Alley.

Don’t underestimate the last point, or if you do, look to the current Oakland/Sacramento/Las Vegas A’s fiasco. The original plan was for a ~$1.75 billion dollar stadium on the Vegas Strip, but now there’s real uncertainty as to where the A’s will play both in the coming years and beyond. Their Oakland bridge has burned and seems past the point of no return; Sacramento doesn’t seem to want them back for another season, at least if they’re only going to be there temporarily; ground hasn’t been broken in Las Vegas as some of the financial details are still being negotiated as construction costs rise. Aside from the astronomical cost for the land that will site a stadium with the lowest seating capacity in the league, skeptics see a city full of transplants and tourists in a not-so-large media market. If this sounds familiar, watch the Rays host the Yankees and see if there’s more retirees from the Northeast rooting for the Yankees than lifelong residents rooting for the Rays. What separates Tampa from Vegas is it’s sister city (St. Petersburg) the relative wealth in the outlying region.

The low likelihood of the city getting an NBA team anytime soon is a plus, and while Vanderbilt baseball may steal some shine, the biggest question marks may be pushback from other teams in the region and whether the average household income in their market and ability to draw fans from around the region in lean years after the "new" wore off while competing with the Titans (NFL) and Predators (NHL).



2A. San Antonio & 2B. Austin:
You'll most often see San Antonio and Austin discussed together, whether as a regional team (e.g., the Rangers being branded as the "Texas Rangers" to have more appeal for the Dallas, Ft. Worth, Arlington and Denton markets) or with each standing alone and being compared to one another for the best fit.

I don't think the regional approach to an "ASA" (Austin-San Antonio) branded team really works for an MLB team. Most of those projections rely on a stadium in the New Braunfels area (population 100K), which is about a 30-60 minute drive from each of the city centers in ideal conditions, but likely a solid 1.5-2 hours in game traffic. In other words, it’s far enough away to be inconvenient for everyone and really convenient for nobody in the same way it’d be for Reds fans if the team moved to the King’s Island area. Unlike the Chicagos, New Yorks, Boston, Dodgers, or Diamondbacks, there aren’t good public transit options. At best, you’d do the “New Orleans resident on Saturday Night in Death Valley” and schedule rideshare or a private driver to take you he game and back (and yes, this is a real thing, for those who can afford it due to the lodging, parking, and last call times in Baton Rouge. In the end, it might not be ideal, but it’s probably not worlds different to pay a driver instead of a hotel and parking attendant). Though I don't see it working well for an MLB team, the New Braunfels-area stadium would probably work pretty well for an NFL team, as it's much easier to sell a season ticket holder on making that trip for 7-10 home games per year instead of ~80.


San Antonio is among the 10 most populous cities in the US, with estimates of 60+ new residents per day in recent years. I've always thought San Antonio was more of an MLB city than an NBA city. They have the Missions, a AA affiliate of the San Diego Padres, whose numbers aren't truly reflective of how well an MLB team could do given a handful of issues that are capable of being fixed—namely location, marketing, and the stadium itself. For example, I’d consider Applebee’s Park, which came about 5-10 years later, to be a better stadium.

San Antonio is a convention city with downtown tourist attractions, but the Missions' stadium isn't really close or accessible for tourists or for many residents in general. That’s also been one of the largest criticisms of the Spur’s AT&T Center. It’s not just distance either, as both locals and visiting fans talk about the lack of things to do in the immediate vicinity of those venues. These aren’t one-to-one comparisons by any means, but I’ve attended games at both the old Candlestick Park and the current Comiskey Park—and whether fair or unfair, the Missions and Spurs venues have those vibes and even most locals aren’t going to make the walk to or from the venue to a nearby restaurant or bar like you’d see at Wrigley Field or Camden Yards.

The national media covered how the badly aging Alamodome has hosted its last Final Four until they've rebuilt or made major renovations. Cavernous comes with a high seating capacity, but the concourses are tiny, the sight lines aren't great, the luxury boxes that are available leave much to be desired, and the technology and presentation (video boards, interactive fan exhibits, etc.) are literally decades behind. There's a strong movement toward building a downtown sports/arena district, but those usually don’t include putting even the Minor League team in the area. Getting up to par with other Final Four/Super Bowl host sites like Atlanta, Houston, Indianapolis, or Dallas means it makes most sense to have an NFL team as the permanent tenant. If it’s only an NBA and eventual MLB team, the city would have to justify a new sports palace that’s scrounging up as many concerts, AAC and XFL football games, high school state championships and All-Star events, NCAA Sweet 16’s, non-CFP bowl games, and WWE events as possible while sparsely hosting big events like a late round CFP Playoff Game or Final Four.

Even assuming their arena district is a go and it includes an MLB stadium or a MiLB stadium capable of coming one, San Antonio isn't an ideal market for a having a professional team in each of the Big Three (NFL, NBA, MLB). There are lots of transplants moving in and others passing through, but as is, the overall household income, level of educational attainment, and other wealth metrics skew to the lower end of distributions with comparable cities. As for corporate sponsors, USAA just relocated their HQ and the Air Force isn't sponsoring an arena, so there go two of the area's larger employers. Worst case, maybe a national or multi-national company steps up with a check in hand, but that's tough to count on when they could do the same for almost any other city.


Austin doesn't have the population of other MLB cities, coming in at just under one million people in the city itself and ~2.4 million in their large metro area, but they continue to experience a huge influx of new residents and there's a fair amount of wealth that extends to their surrounding areas. One of those is Round Rock, current HQ of Dell and home of the Express, the AAA affiliate for the Texas Rangers. The Express play at Dell Diamond, so this seems like the obvious choice for a title sponsor. If not, Oracle and [gulp] Tesla are among other companies with serious cash with HQs or a large presence in the area.

Like San Antonio, Austin would realistically need a retractable roof or dome. One of the biggest reasons the Rangers built a new stadium within 25 years of their last was due to the lack of shade and cooling in the summer Texas heat, and that’s in a city four-plus hours north. Sourcing the funding for a retractable roof or dome and parking that wouldn't be even more of a logistical nightmare in an already landlocked area with notoriously terrible traffic wouldn't be cheap, especially with construction costs rising and the need for governmental entities to fund (or at least be involved in) additional construction to area roadways.

Finally, the University of Texas at Austin is the state's flagship university and has a strong following in almost all sports, so there'd be some cannibalization of fans and their market-share, as baseball is probably second to football.


While both cities offer a lot of positives for a prospective franchise, It's very unlikely that we see MLB teams in both San Antonio and Austin during our lifetime, so the first to get a team essentially blocks the other from ever being a serious contender. If an NFL Franchise sniffs either area, expect huge pushback from Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys and less from the Houston Texans. If it’s an MLB team, expect strong pushback from the Houston Astros and somewhat less from the Texas Rangers.



4. Charlotte:
Good market, would also score well in demographics, and as the banking hub of the Southern US, could attract plenty of high-level corporate sponsors. Truist Field is home of the AAA Charlotte Knights and has a nice urban feel, but it'd probably take some serious work to expand and get up to MLB standards. Proximity to the Research Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) certainly helps, but those are also 2.5 - 3 hours away, which isn't quite as close as you'd like either.

Downsides include being closer to Atlanta than you'd like given how entrenched the Braves are nationally and that the Hornets/Bobcats (NBA) and Panthers (NFL) have had their moments, but don't do much to make anyone think of Charlotte as a great sports city, so adding another professional team risks being a flop.

Out of all of the cities, Charlotte has some really attractive options in terms of the financials for the average fan and potential corporate sponsors, and unlike other towns on this list like Austin, Salt Lake City, or Nashville, they don’t have any real competition from a local college with an established fan base and tradition that would need to be won over. However, something about them feels off, namely that cities like them and Atlanta just aren’t seen as great sports towns.



5. Salt Lake City:
Would grade well in lots of metrics-- growing city that's shown very loyal support for the Jazz and a population base that seems less likely to see a huge demographic shift where long-time residents move to other growing regions (e.g., people staying in the area due to the large Mormon influence, not transplants who've moved in leaving for cities with more nightlife). The average household and per capita incomes in the region are going to be higher than most of the cities on these lists, especially Southern and/or non-tech driven cities, even when adjusted for cost of living.

Salt Lake City is a good distance from most other major league teams (Denver is closest and Las Vegas could be close), but that area isn’t exactly known for a high population density.

Downsides are that the weather and climate are far from ideal for baseball, and buliding a dome/retractable roof in a city that doesn't seem to care about hosting conventions, CFP playoff games, and Final Fours could be a tough sell. There's also some but not tons of corporations that could provide sponsorships, and there's probably a good portion of the population who can scratch the sports itch by following BYU and the Jazz.

Given some of the recent incidents at sporting events (i.e., a couple of ugly racial incidents at Jazz games and the BYU volleyball controversy), I could see why the player’s unions and leagues might be a bit hesitant.

Overall, they grade really well in terms of being an area that has enough long term support from diehard locals that they become something like the Green Bay Packers insofar as you see the city’s skyline and think “how does this place support a pro team”. At best, you could put them in a dome and you’d probably see a team that fares pretty well in attendance, or at least one that isn’t going to be a constant source for rumors of relocation like the Jacksonville Jaguars.



6. Orlando:
I can see the appeal at first glance. The weather is great. Disney brings lots of tourists into the area, and the area has grown and diversified enough that Universal Studios takes some overflow. Though it wasn’t always easy, the Orlando Magic survived. It’s Florida, so you’d expect that the residents have attractive financial demographics, but if not, there’s still enough to financially support a team if you did it in tandem with tourists.

Then you really think about it. The weather is great... if you can deal with rain. Disney brings a lot of people... but probably doesn’t want travelers spending money at another site and is already a drain on family’s wallets. The Orlando Magic survived... barely and their greatest days were early on when they had Shaq. The average resident’s financial demographics are lower than you probably initially suspected and it’s Florida... a state that can’t get people to show up for the Rays or Marlins, so why would it make sense to add another team or take another swing in what’s historically proven to be a fickle market.

Pass.



7. New Orleans:
Like San Antonio, I think of this as more of an MLB or NFL city than an NBA city, but here we are. Culture is great for both it’s uniqueness and authenticity, and the support for LSU Tiger baseball shows that the people of Louisiana are interested in the game.

New Orleans probably has the population and demographics to support a team in each of the Big Three sports for an extended period, but I’d think one would eventually have to go, and there’s next to no chance that it’s the Saints. NBA franchises have had very mixed success in Southern US cities, so maybe the Pelicans are eventually shipped to Seattle or another locale. For those in the area who are strictly baseball fans, they should probably hope that the Pels leave and their arena is used for in-season neutral site events, early round NCAA match-ups, etc.

I feel strongest about this city ultimately proving to be one of two things within 10-15 years. Outcome #1—the New Orleans Voodoo (the only team I’ve suggested a name for) becomes a huge hit with a cult following, as residents and tourists who’ve loaded up on gumbo and hurricanes on their way into the ballpark cheer create a raucous atmosphere and one of the best home field advantages in the league, or Outcome #2 – a huge dud when a bad team never gets their footing or sees support really take off becomes a constant reminder of all of the reasons why another of the finalists was actually the better choice.

I see little to no in-between. It’s either going to be a hit with strong support even in lean years whose fans are rewarded with an occasional deep playoff run that’s a new “must visit” for hardcore baseball enthusiasts who want to visit as many stadiums as possible, or it’s going to be another Pelicans—a lowly franchise that is an afterthought to LSU Football, the New Orleans Saints, LSU baseball, and Mardi Gras.

Of the US cities, this one seems the most unrealistic, at least for the foreseeable future. The MLB doesn’t seem to consider the city to be a serious candidate and the city doesn’t even have a Minor League team at the moment.



8. Montreal:
Know the least about Montreal as a city, but know they have a HUGE population compared to most teams on this list (1.7 million in their city and over 4 million in their metro). Would imagine that they have the type of high roller fans and businesses that could support a team, but American sports (NBA, NFL, MLB) have never really taken off outside of Toronto and the city has already had and lost a franchise once. Again, I don’t know tons about their situation, but I don’t remember there being huge waves of support for keeping the Expos, nor do I recall it being a situation like the one with the Seattle Supersonics where there’s a widespread notion that they shouldn’t have lost their team and/or should at least be at the top of any lists for expansion or relocation. For other reasons that could make this venture off-topic, I think the likelihood of them wanting and/or getting a franchise has probably diminished for the foreseeable future.



9. Mexico City:
Huge population, and if the league wanted to go international, it’s probably the best baseball city of realistic candidates (in terms of fan support, interest in the game of baseball for the average sports fan, etc.).

Each of the Big Three professional sports leagues have taken a glance at it by hosting some games there and trying to market toward their residents. Some of those seemed to be more successful than others—one that really sticks out to me is the Texans-Raiders game where fans were shining laser pointers into the QB’s eyes & at least one other (Rams-Chiefs) was marred by terrible field conditions.

Like athletes who don’t want to play in Canada due to higher taxes, international travel, and the distance from home/having to relocate their families, I could see pushback from the player’s union or (potential) players that wouldn’t be there for many American cities whether justified or not.

As is, I see Mexico City as more of a place that hosts a couple of games or more per year and as less of a permanent host, at least for the next decade or so.

[King Kong]

When I said I'd post my thoughts later, I actually meant "almost a month later". Anyway....

1. Nashville:
This one just seems like a really good fit and MLB seems to agree. It's a city that's rapidly growing. The Nashville Sounds (AAA affiliate of the Brewers and previously of the A's, etc.) seem to do well, so the interest is there. If girls in “Bride Tribe” bachelorette party tees and visiting guys who give “I’m country but my parents pay my bills” vibes loved Major League Baseball, it’d pretty much be a match made in heaven. More importantly, they play in a new downtown stadium that's within a ~1.25 mile walking distance from Nissan Stadium, Bridgestone Arena, and Printer’s Alley.

Don’t underestimate the last point, or if you do, look to the current Oakland/Sacramento/Las Vegas A’s fiasco. The original plan was for a ~$1.75 billion dollar stadium on the Vegas Strip, but now there’s real uncertainty as to where the A’s will play both in the coming years and beyond. Their Oakland bridge has burned and seems past the point of no return; Sacramento doesn’t seem to want them back for another season, at least if they’re only going to be there temporarily; ground hasn’t been broken in Las Vegas as some of the financial details are still being negotiated as construction costs rise. Aside from the astronomical cost for the land that will site a stadium with the lowest seating capacity in the league, skeptics see a city full of transplants and tourists in a not-so-large media market. If this sounds familiar, watch the Rays host the Yankees and see if there’s more retirees from the Northeast rooting for the Yankees than lifelong residents rooting for the Rays. What separates Tampa from Vegas is it’s sister city (St. Petersburg) the relative wealth in the outlying region.

The low likelihood of the city getting an NBA team anytime soon is a plus, and while Vanderbilt baseball may steal some shine, the biggest question marks may be pushback from other teams in the region and whether the average household income in their market and ability to draw fans from around the region in lean years after the "new" wore off while competing with the Titans (NFL) and Predators (NHL).



2A. San Antonio & 2B. Austin:
You'll most often see San Antonio and Austin discussed together, whether as a regional team (e.g., the Rangers being branded as the "Texas Rangers" to have more appeal for the Dallas, Ft. Worth, Arlington and Denton markets) or with each standing alone and being compared to one another for the best fit.

I don't think the regional approach to an "ASA" (Austin-San Antonio) branded team really works for an MLB team. Most of those projections rely on a stadium in the New Braunfels area (population 100K), which is about a 30-60 minute drive from each of the city centers in ideal conditions, but likely a solid 1.5-2 hours in game traffic. In other words, it’s far enough away to be inconvenient for everyone and really convenient for nobody in the same way it’d be for Reds fans if the team moved to the King’s Island area. Unlike the Chicagos, New Yorks, Boston, Dodgers, or Diamondbacks, there aren’t good public transit options. At best, you’d do the “New Orleans resident on Saturday Night in Death Valley” and schedule rideshare or a private driver to take you he game and back (and yes, this is a real thing, for those who can afford it due to the lodging, parking, and last call times in Baton Rouge. In the end, it might not be ideal, but it’s probably not worlds different to pay a driver instead of a hotel and parking attendant). Though I don't see it working well for an MLB team, the New Braunfels-area stadium would probably work pretty well for an NFL team, as it's much easier to sell a season ticket holder on making that trip for 7-10 home games per year instead of ~80.


San Antonio is among the 10 most populous cities in the US, with estimates of 60+ new residents per day in recent years. I've always thought San Antonio was more of an MLB city than an NBA city. They have the Missions, a AA affiliate of the San Diego Padres, whose numbers aren't truly reflective of how well an MLB team could do given a handful of issues that are capable of being fixed—namely location, marketing, and the stadium itself. For example, I’d consider Applebee’s Park, which came about 5-10 years later, to be a better stadium.

San Antonio is a convention city with downtown tourist attractions, but the Missions' stadium isn't really close or accessible for tourists or for many residents in general. That’s also been one of the largest criticisms of the Spur’s AT&T Center. It’s not just distance either, as both locals and visiting fans talk about the lack of things to do in the immediate vicinity of those venues. These aren’t one-to-one comparisons by any means, but I’ve attended games at both the old Candlestick Park and the current Comiskey Park—and whether fair or unfair, the Missions and Spurs venues have those vibes and even most locals aren’t going to make the walk to or from the venue to a nearby restaurant or bar like you’d see at Wrigley Field or Camden Yards.

The national media covered how the badly aging Alamodome has hosted its last Final Four until they've rebuilt or made major renovations. Cavernous comes with a high seating capacity, but the concourses are tiny, the sight lines aren't great, the luxury boxes that are available leave much to be desired, and the technology and presentation (video boards, interactive fan exhibits, etc.) are literally decades behind. There's a strong movement toward building a downtown sports/arena district, but those usually don’t include putting even the Minor League team in the area. Getting up to par with other Final Four/Super Bowl host sites like Atlanta, Houston, Indianapolis, or Dallas means it makes most sense to have an NFL team as the permanent tenant. If it’s only an NBA and eventual MLB team, the city would have to justify a new sports palace that’s scrounging up as many concerts, AAC and XFL football games, high school state championships and All-Star events, NCAA Sweet 16’s, non-CFP bowl games, and WWE events as possible while sparsely hosting big events like a late round CFP Playoff Game or Final Four.

Even assuming their arena district is a go and it includes an MLB stadium or a MiLB stadium capable of coming one, San Antonio isn't an ideal market for a having a professional team in each of the Big Three (NFL, NBA, MLB). There are lots of transplants moving in and others passing through, but as is, the overall household income, level of educational attainment, and other wealth metrics skew to the lower end of distributions with comparable cities. As for corporate sponsors, USAA just relocated their HQ and the Air Force isn't sponsoring an arena, so there go two of the area's larger employers. Worst case, maybe a national or multi-national company steps up with a check in hand, but that's tough to count on when they could do the same for almost any other city.


Austin doesn't have the population of other MLB cities, coming in at just under one million people in the city itself and ~2.4 million in their large metro area, but they continue to experience a huge influx of new residents and there's a fair amount of wealth that extends to their surrounding areas. One of those is Round Rock, current HQ of Dell and home of the Express, the AAA affiliate for the Texas Rangers. The Express play at Dell Diamond, so this seems like the obvious choice for a title sponsor. If not, Oracle and [gulp] Tesla are among other companies with serious cash with HQs or a large presence in the area.

Like San Antonio, Austin would realistically need a retractable roof or dome. One of the biggest reasons the Rangers built a new stadium within 25 years of their last was due to the lack of shade and cooling in the summer Texas heat, and that’s in a city four-plus hours north. Sourcing the funding for a retractable roof or dome and parking that wouldn't be even more of a logistical nightmare in an already landlocked area with notoriously terrible traffic wouldn't be cheap, especially with construction costs rising and the need for governmental entities to fund (or at least be involved in) additional construction to area roadways.

Finally, the University of Texas at Austin is the state's flagship university and has a strong following in almost all sports, so there'd be some cannibalization of fans and their market-share, as baseball is probably second to football.


While both cities offer a lot of positives for a prospective franchise, It's very unlikely that we see MLB teams in both San Antonio and Austin during our lifetime, so the first to get a team essentially blocks the other from ever being a serious contender. If an NFL Franchise sniffs either area, expect huge pushback from Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys and less from the Houston Texans. If it’s an MLB team, expect strong pushback from the Houston Astros and somewhat less from the Texas Rangers.



4. Charlotte:
Good market, would also score well in demographics, and as the banking hub of the Southern US, could attract plenty of high-level corporate sponsors. Truist Field is home of the AAA Charlotte Knights and has a nice urban feel, but it'd probably take some serious work to expand and get up to MLB standards. Proximity to the Research Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) certainly helps, but those are also 2.5 - 3 hours away, which isn't quite as close as you'd like either.

Downsides include being closer to Atlanta than you'd like given how entrenched the Braves are nationally and that the Hornets/Bobcats (NBA) and Panthers (NFL) have had their moments, but don't do much to make anyone think of Charlotte as a great sports city, so adding another professional team risks being a flop.

Out of all of the cities, Charlotte has some really attractive options in terms of the financials for the average fan and potential corporate sponsors, and unlike other towns on this list like Austin, Salt Lake City, or Nashville, they don’t have any real competition from a local college with an established fan base and tradition that would need to be won over. However, something about them feels off, namely that cities like them and Atlanta just aren’t seen as great sports towns.



5. Salt Lake City:
Would grade well in lots of metrics-- growing city that's shown very loyal support for the Jazz and a population base that seems less likely to see a huge demographic shift where long-time residents move to other growing regions (e.g., people staying in the area due to the large Mormon influence, not transplants who've moved in leaving for cities with more nightlife). The average household and per capita incomes in the region are going to be higher than most of the cities on these lists, especially Southern and/or non-tech driven cities, even when adjusted for cost of living.

Salt Lake City is a good distance from most other major league teams (Denver is closest and Las Vegas could be close), but that area isn’t exactly known for a high population density.

Downsides are that the weather and climate are far from ideal for baseball, and buliding a dome/retractable roof in a city that doesn't seem to care about hosting conventions, CFP playoff games, and Final Fours could be a tough sell. There's also some but not tons of corporations that could provide sponsorships, and there's probably a good portion of the population who can scratch the sports itch by following BYU and the Jazz.

Given some of the recent incidents at sporting events (i.e., a couple of ugly racial incidents at Jazz games and the BYU volleyball controversy), I could see why the player’s unions and leagues might be a bit hesitant.

Overall, they grade really well in terms of being an area that has enough long term support from diehard locals that they become something like the Green Bay Packers insofar as you see the city’s skyline and think “how does this place support a pro team”. At best, you could  put them in a dome and you’d probably see a team that fares pretty well in attendance, or at least one that isn’t going to be a constant source for rumors of relocation like the Jacksonville Jaguars.



6. Orlando:
I can see the appeal at first glance. The weather is great. Disney brings lots of tourists into the area, and the area has grown and diversified enough that Universal Studios takes some overflow. Though it wasn’t always easy, the Orlando Magic survived. It’s Florida, so you’d expect that the residents have attractive financial demographics, but if not, there’s still enough to financially support a team if you did it in tandem with tourists.

Then you really think about it. The weather is great... if you can deal with rain. Disney brings a lot of people... but probably doesn’t want travelers spending money at another site and is already a drain on family’s wallets. The Orlando Magic survived... barely and their greatest days were early on when they had Shaq. The average resident’s financial demographics are lower than you probably initially suspected and it’s Florida... a state that can’t get people to show up for the Rays or Marlins, so why would it make sense to add another team or take another swing in what’s historically proven to be a fickle market.

Pass.



7. New Orleans:
Like San Antonio, I think of this as more of an MLB or NFL city than an NBA city, but here we are. Culture is great for both it’s uniqueness and authenticity, and the support for LSU Tiger baseball shows that the people of Louisiana are interested in the game.

New Orleans probably has the population and demographics to support a team in each of the Big Three sports for an extended period, but I’d think one would eventually have to go, and there’s next to no chance that it’s the Saints. NBA franchises have had very mixed success in Southern US cities, so maybe the Pelicans are eventually shipped to Seattle or another locale. For those in the area who are strictly baseball fans, they should probably hope that the Pels leave and their arena is used for in-season neutral site events, early round NCAA match-ups, etc.

I feel strongest about this city ultimately proving to be one of two things within 10-15 years. Outcome #1—the New Orleans Voodoo (the only team I’ve suggested a name for) becomes a huge hit with a cult following, as residents and tourists who’ve loaded up on gumbo and hurricanes on their way into the ballpark cheer create a raucous atmosphere and one of the best home field advantages in the league, or Outcome #2 – a huge dud when a bad team never gets their footing or sees support really take off becomes a constant reminder of all of the reasons why another of the finalists was actually the better choice.

I see little to no in-between. It’s either going to be a hit with strong support even in lean years whose fans are rewarded with an occasional deep playoff run that’s a new “must visit” for hardcore baseball enthusiasts who want to visit as many stadiums as possible, or it’s going to be another Pelicans—a lowly franchise that is an afterthought to LSU Football, the New Orleans Saints, LSU baseball, and Mardi Gras.

Of the US cities, this one seems the most unrealistic, at least for the foreseeable future. The MLB doesn’t seem to consider the city to be a serious candidate and the city doesn’t even have a Minor League team at the moment.



8. Montreal:
Know the least about Montreal as a city, but know they have a HUGE population compared to most teams on this list (1.7 million in their city and over 4 million in their metro). Would imagine that they have the type of high roller fans and businesses that could support a team, but American sports (NBA, NFL, MLB) have never really taken off outside of Toronto and the city has already had and lost a franchise once. Again, I don’t know tons about their situation, but I don’t remember there being huge waves of support for keeping the Expos, nor do I recall it being a situation like the one with the Seattle Supersonics where there’s a widespread notion that they shouldn’t have lost their team and/or should at least be at the top of any lists for expansion or relocation. For other reasons that could make this venture off-topic, I think the likelihood of them wanting and/or getting a franchise has probably diminished for the foreseeable future.



9. Mexico City:
Huge population, and if the league wanted to go international, it’s probably the best baseball city of realistic candidates (in terms of fan support, interest in the game of baseball for the average sports fan, etc.).

Each of the Big Three professional sports leagues have taken a glance at it by hosting some games there and trying to market toward their residents. Some of those seemed to be more successful than others—one that really sticks out to me is the Texans-Raiders game where fans were shining laser pointers into the QB’s eyes & at least one other (Rams-Chiefs) was marred by terrible field conditions.

Like athletes who don’t want to play in Canada due to higher taxes, international travel, and the distance from home/having to relocate their families, I could see pushback from the player’s union or (potential) players that wouldn’t be there for many American cities whether justified or not. 

As is, I see Mexico City as more of a place that hosts a couple of games or more per year and as less of a permanent host, at least for the next decade or so.

Awesome post CJ! I could see this making it in a magazine article.  You've got a real talent for this kind of stuff 

Of the teams listed I'd have to pull for Nashville and Charlotte getting teams.  Going for the teams that'd be closer. 

Something I hadn't thought much of is New Orleans getting a team.  That'd definitely be interesting.  They already had NFL and NBA teams.  Throw in the New Orleans culture be a neat place to watch a game.  Be pretty cool walking into a MLB stadium and being able to order a craw-dad-boil! Ol Kong here would have a field day eating at the stadium 

[Cactus Jack]

Awesome post CJ! I could see this making it in a magazine article.  You've got a real talent for this kind of stuff  ;)

Of the teams listed I'd have to pull for Nashville and Charlotte getting teams.  Going for the teams that'd be closer. 

Something I hadn't thought much of is New Orleans getting a team.  That'd definitely be interesting.  They already had NFL and NBA teams.  Throw in the New Orleans culture be a neat place to watch a game.  Be pretty cool walking into a MLB stadium and being able to order a craw-dad-boil! Ol Kong here would have a field day eating at the stadium  :)

Thanks, I really appreciate it.

I'm guessing the weather in New Orleans would lead to lots of rainouts. There's probably some more history and politics that I'm not aware of as well. Not shocked that there's an NBA team, or that there's no MLB team, but surprised that Biloxi is the closest MiLB team, but the Babycakes played in Metarine from '93-'19 and were branded as New Orleans.

The city has the potential for one of the most iconic atmospheres in the game. Don't know if the MLB is ready to send the Cubs, Cardinals, or Yankees into a playoff game down there on a late Saturday night.

God forbid you packed the stadium with rowdy Cajuns and Dodgers or Phillies fans looking for trouble.


In all seriousness, I've been to an LSU game as a fan wearing the visiting team's gear and we were treated really well overall. I can see how having "Tiger Bait" screamed at you as you walk in might be too much for some and the fans were talking a lot as we got blown out, but most of it seemed to be in good fun. Would not suggest starting anything or wearing Alabama gear in the middle of the student section, but we were welcomed to a tailgate on the way in and didn't have anything thrown at us despite being surrounded (there was a kid in front of us and an older guy to one side).

For anyone who hasn't been though, the visitor's section has tall chainlink fences on either side, and I did get the impression that there was a reason for that, at least at one time. I can see a world where the Kentucky fan's experience might not be like everyone else's.

[King Kong]

Awesome post CJ! I could see this making it in a magazine article.  You've got a real talent for this kind of stuff 

Of the teams listed I'd have to pull for Nashville and Charlotte getting teams.  Going for the teams that'd be closer. 

Something I hadn't thought much of is New Orleans getting a team.  That'd definitely be interesting.  They already had NFL and NBA teams.  Throw in the New Orleans culture be a neat place to watch a game.  Be pretty cool walking into a MLB stadium and being able to order a craw-dad-boil! Ol Kong here would have a field day eating at the stadium 

Thanks, I really appreciate it.

I'm guessing the weather in New Orleans would lead to lots of rainouts. There's probably some more history and politics that I'm not aware of as well. Not shocked that there's an NBA team, or that there's no MLB team, but surprised that Biloxi is the closest MiLB team, but the Babycakes played in Metarine from '93-'19 and were branded as New Orleans.

The city has the potential for one of the most iconic atmospheres in the game. Don't know if the MLB is ready to send the Cubs, Cardinals, or Yankees into a playoff game down there on a late Saturday night.

God forbid you packed the stadium with rowdy Cajuns and Dodgers or Phillies fans looking for trouble.


In all seriousness, I've been to an LSU game as a fan wearing the visiting team's gear and we were treated really well overall. I can see how having "Tiger Bait" screamed at you as you walk in might be too much for some and the fans were talking a lot as we got blown out, but most of it seemed to be in good fun. Would not suggest starting anything or wearing Alabama gear in the middle of the student section, but we were welcomed to a tailgate on the way in and didn't have anything thrown at us despite being surrounded (there was a kid in front of us and an older guy to one side).

For anyone who hasn't been though, the visitor's section has tall chainlink fences on either side, and I did get the impression that there was a reason for that, at least at one time. I can see a world where the Kentucky fan's experience might not be like everyone else's.

Good point about the New Orleans weather.  Basketball inside and football you play on through most weather.  Yeah baseball probably would have alot of rainouts with alot of make up games, with only limited time to do so. I can definitely see as to where that'd be a issue.