MLB expansion

[Max (Tigers GM)]

Just for fun...where should MLB go next? Vote twice..got to think Vegas would be popular at least with the teams..

[Ben (Rays GM)]

I decided to look at where current fans spread geographically in order to find places where a new team would be most useful, and so I considered this map.

deadspin.com/heres-facebooks-2015-mlb-fandom-map-1695021778

Older map, from 2015, but I think it offers some interesting information. You can see some random Yankee clusters (and Red Sox, to a lesser extent) all over the US. Now some of that is just because Yankees fans are everywhere, and that's not about to change no matter how many teams you add to a state (I'm looking at you, Florida). But I would think there are some prime Yankee clusters ripe for plucking away, just begging for their own team to root for.

The first one for me is absolutely that patch in Virginia and North Carolina. You need to consider population centers as well (sorry Montana, no matter how many Yankee counties you have you're not getting a team today) and that area includes quite a few, with over 18 million people between the two states. Charlotte isn't right in the middle of that patch, it's actually right on the edge of Braves territory, but it's a huge city (840k) and I think it would appeal to all of the NC counties as well as some of the VIrginia ones. If you want to go more centrally located in that patch I think there are two options though: either capitalize on Raleigh/Durham, right next to each other in NC (450k for Raleigh, 260k for Durham) or capitalize on the Virginia Beach/Norfolk/Chesapeake area (450k/240k/230k). In either case you go with the state name for the team, or even follow the Panthers' lead and call the Raleigh team "Carolina." Richmond isn't big enough and you start to get competition from the Nats there. I voted for Charlotte since it was the only option in the poll, but I could easily see the benefits of the other options, especially Raleigh which would still grab the attention of all of NC and I think would appeal to more of VA than Charlotte would. A Nashville team might get some of this territory as well, but are too far West to grab it all... in terms of distance they'd be farther from most of these counties than the Reds, Orioles, and Nats would be.

Next there's that huge patch in Utah/Nevada/Southern Idaho. Salt Lake City is the most centrally located in this patch, but it's too small. Las Vegas would certainly cover the Nevada and southern Utah Yankee fans, but I don't think it would appeal to the Idaho and even the Northern Utah / SLC fans. Still, I think Vegas is the best option here. It got my second vote.

An option missing from this poll, which I prefer to Vegas but for one large problem (see below), would be New Orleans. Louisiana (4.6 million) has a larger population than either Nevada or Utah (3 million each) and most of it is uncommitted, while Mississippi, which is the edge of the Braves' huge territory, is about the same size as Nevada and Utah. And New Orleans is centrally located to appeal to both Louisiana and Mississippi. Of course, if you stuck a team in both New Orleans and North Carolina/Virginia (especially Charlotte), the Braves would be pretty pissed off. I don't think that would fly. So ultimately, Charlotte and Las Vegas got my vote and I'm pretty happy with that as long as Virginia Beach and Raleigh are considered and researched as alternatives along with Charlotte.

Portland would certainly take all of the Oregon's 4 million population (cutting into the Giants' and Mariners' territories) as well as some of the Southern Idaho population. Idaho isn't very large in terms of population though and while the total population adding those two states together comes close to the total of NV+UT or LA+MS, most of those fans are already attached to a geographically close team, so it feels less necessary to me. I think the team would succeed though, possibly better than a Vegas team would.

Mexico City, San Juan, and Montreal are intriguing options of course, and I'd be all for either of them, but this exercise was more about finding the existing population centers in the mainland US that look ready to give their allegiances to a new team.

[Max (Tigers GM)]

New Orleans is a good one. Was thinking of Northern New Jersey as well. Can the metro area create a third fan base? Also I think all new stadiums should have retractable roofs...

[Ben (Rays GM)]

Oh New Jersey could work. It's interesting to see how far the Yankees expand into Pennsylvania in the map I posted. All that area could be up for grabs. The Metro area probably could support another... they'd never pass the Yankees in popularity but they don't have to in order to do well. The Mets do okay but there's not a single county where they surpass the Yankees in popularity.

[Ben (Rays GM)]

Another map to check out (I like maps): static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/2014/04/17/baseball-post/f06b982d13298b7aabb3a37bee1e9d1d280e4c3b/baseball-zips2.png

I see the same gaps as before: NC/VA, NV/UT, and LA/MS. And MT/ID but there's nothing that can really be done about that one (Let's goo, Boise Potatoes!)

This map better shows how a Portland team could fit in nicely between Mariners and Giants territories. I also see another gap there in western Texas and New Mexico. A San Antonio team would do well to fill that in, and San Antonio is huge. Also NE/IA but I don't think Omaha can really support a major league team.

[Toy (Braves GM)]

As a Mets fan, this map makes me sad.

[Ben (Rays GM)]

Nope, not a single county in the US has the Mets as the number one team. Same with the A's.

But that's okay! I believe there are still more of us in this league than any other team's fans! (may have something to do with the league's earliest roots, although by now I think it's mostly just chance).

[Jon (Astros GM)]

IF expansion happens. Big if, I’ve always been more of a fan of letting new areas play. Give them a chance. They have shown they will move a team if needed like Montreal. Why I think Vegas would make a great option. Since the golden knights broke pro sports’ cherry. The other area would be tough. But I’d lean somewhere south like NOLA or somewhere like Charlotte.

[Max]

Jul 12, 2018 10:43:51 GMT -5 Ben (Rays GM) said:

Oh New Jersey could work. It's interesting to see how far the Yankees expand into Pennsylvania in the map I posted. All that area could be up for grabs. The Metro area probably could support another... they'd never pass the Yankees in popularity but they don't have to in order to do well. The Mets do okay but there's not a single county where they surpass the Yankees in popularity.

I’m from Northern NJ. The Yankees and Mets block each other (and other teams) from having minor league affiliates here. We only have independent teams in this area (a couple are from the highest independent league in the country, but it’s still independent) and it sucks. If they won’t let each other have a stupid minor league team around here, I’d say there’s little to no chance they’d both allow a major league team here. There’s infrastructure here and enough people who would go because it’s much closer than NYC, but the teams won’t let it happen unfortunately.

[Zac (Former Marlins GM)]

I don't think San Antonio will happen considering they are losing their AA team to Amarillo. I live an hour from Amarillo so I have been following this.

Montreal needs a team since they were taken away earlier. I am not sure for a second but anything would be nice.

[Micah (White Sox GM)]

San Antonio's AA team is moving because they are getting the AAA team from Colorado Springs.

[Zac (Former Marlins GM)]

Jul 18, 2018 11:59:00 GMT -5 Micah (White Sox GM) said:

San Antonio's AA team is moving because they are getting the AAA team from Colorado Springs.

Okay that makes sense now. Didn't know that part of it. 

Regardless, I still don't like San Antonio as an option. Living in Texas I like the Houston-Texas rivalry and a third team would just be weird. I do think we need another team somewhere west of the Mississippi though.

[Michael]

I lived in Tennessee and I really don’t think Nashville gets enough love, not just on this poll but in general. When the Predators made the Stanley Cup in 17, the city was fully invested and behind threat team and even last year when they won the president’s cup, despite the disappointment, the fans were backing them. Obviously hockey and baseball are different but the city of Nashville loves sports. Titans games still attract loads of people and the city’s vibe, regardless how you feel about country music, is incredible. I think Nashville would be a great city for all 4 major leagues to get into. There really isn’t a more wild and loyal fan base, imo at least, than Nashville. People “down south” are nutty and the feel in those stadiums to me, regardless of whether it’s the first game or last and whether it matters or not, the crowd is always into it.

[Max (Tigers GM)]

News today that the Rays are looking to split their future seasons between Tampa and Montreal. Saw an Expos game up in Montreal back in 1981 or 1982 and later a game in the mid-90s. Nothing memorable about Olympic Stadium for sure. Happy to see they're talking about a new ball park up there.
Never been to Tropicana Field in Tampa but I've never heard anything good about it. Too bad more fans don't come out for a pretty competitive team the last couple of seasons. They need a new park there as well...

[Dave (Dodgers GM)]

Montreal and Nashville - because we need the expos back and I need another team that is located close to where I live and Nashville qpild be close