Major League Baseball has long been considering expanding from 30 to 32 teams. The Oakland Athletics are moving to Las Vegas. The Tampa Bay Rays have secured a new stadium deal. As a result, expansion is back on the table. But where will these two new teams end up? Let’s examine some potential MLB expansion locations. We will consider factors like interested cities, existing infrastructure, and fan base strength. Additionally, financial viability and the pros and cons of each location will be evaluated.

Cities Interested in Hosting an MLB Team

Several cities have expressed interest in hosting an MLB team in recent times. MLB may be looking to expand into smaller markets than in the past. This change could open up opportunities for cities that were previously considered too small for an MLB team. These cities include:  

• San Antonio, Texas: San Antonio is the seventh-most populous city in the United States. It is not terribly near Houston or Dallas. Both of these cities have MLB teams.  
• Austin, Texas: Austin is the capital of Texas. Its population is expected to exceed a million in the next couple of years. It also has one major professional sports team, Austin FC of Major League Soccer.  
• Charlotte, North Carolina: Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina. It has been mentioned as a potential MLB expansion location for years.  
• Nashville, Tennessee: Nashville is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. It already hosts professional teams in the NFL and NHL.  
• Portland, Oregon: Portland has a rich history of minor league baseball and a large population.  
• Montreal, Quebec: Montreal was home to the Montreal Expos before they moved to Washington, D.C., in 2005 to become the Nationals.  
• Mexico City, Mexico: Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world. Baseball is extremely popular in Mexico.  
• Salt Lake City, Utah: Salt Lake City has a robust sports culture and a supportive fan base.  

Cities with the Necessary Infrastructure

All of the cities listed above have the necessary infrastructure to host an MLB team, including stadiums, transportation, and lodging.  

Cities with a Strong Baseball Fanbase

Many of the cities listed above have a strong baseball fanbase and history. These include:

• New York City: New York City is home to two MLB teams. The Yankees and the Mets represent the city in MLB. The city has a long and storied baseball history.  
• Los Angeles: Los Angeles is home to the Dodgers and Angels and has a large and passionate baseball fanbase.  
• Chicago: Chicago is home to the Cubs and White Sox and has a strong baseball tradition.  
• Boston: Boston is home to the Red Sox and has a long and passionate baseball history.  
• Nashville: Nashville has a minor league baseball team, the Nashville Sounds, which regularly draws large crowds. Nashville has a younger median age than the national average. This demographic is attractive to MLB as it looks to attract younger fans.  

Cities That Could Financially Support an MLB Team

All of the cities listed above have the financial resources to support an MLB team. This includes the ability to generate revenue from ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, and media rights. Some cities have even offered public funding for new stadiums. For example, Salt Lake City has offered $900 million in public funding for a new ballpark. Median household income is another important factor in determining a city’s ability to support a major league team. MLB may also prefer some geographic cushion between new franchises and existing ones. This preference could affect which cities are ultimately chosen for expansion.  

The following table shows the median income in each potential expansion city:

City	Median Income
Las Vegas	$61,711
Charlotte	$60,668
Sacramento	$60,006
Nashville	$59,213
San Antonio	$56,756
Portland	$55,518
Salt Lake City	$49,855
Montreal	$48,181

Existing Stadiums in Potential Expansion Cities

Several of the cities being considered for MLB expansion already have stadiums. These stadiums could potentially be used or renovated to accommodate an MLB team. These include:

• San Antonio: San Antonio has the Alamodome, which has hosted exhibition games in the past. There are several other stadiums in the San Antonio area. These stadiums could potentially be used or renovated for an MLB team.  
• Austin: Austin has Q2 Stadium, a soccer-specific stadium that could potentially be used for baseball.  
• Charlotte: Charlotte has several stadiums suitable for an MLB team. These include Bank of America Stadium and Truist Field.  
• Nashville: Nashville has Nissan Stadium, which is primarily used for football but could potentially be used for baseball as well.  
• Portland: Portland has Providence Park, a soccer-specific stadium that could potentially be used for baseball.  
• Montreal: Montreal has Olympic Stadium, which was home to the Montreal Expos.  
• Mexico City: Mexico City has Estadio Azteca, which is one of the largest stadiums in the world.  

Pros and Cons of Each Potential Expansion Location

City	Population (millions)	Median Income	Existing Stadiums	Pros	Cons
San Antonio	2.66	$56,756	Alamodome	Large population, growing economy, diverse fanbase, potential to connect with a Latin audience	Proximity to Houston and Dallas (197 miles) , lack of a strong baseball history, low-income city
Austin	2.42 (metro)	Not available	Q2 Stadium	Fast-growing city, strong economy, no major pro sports teams besides Austin FC, potential to partner with San Antonio on a TV deal , Austin’s expanding tech and big company community , vibrant cultural scene could synergize with an MLB team	Potential opposition from the Rangers and Astros, lack of a suitable stadium
Charlotte	2.76	$60,668	Bank of America Stadium, Truist Field	Large population, strong sports culture, growing economy, potential to host the All-Star Game and other major events , strong corporate presence	Competition from NASCAR, lack of a clear stadium plan, lack of an active business-based recruitment group
Nashville	2.05	$59,213	Nissan Stadium	Fast-growing city, passionate sports fans, strong economy, relatively far from other MLB teams (248 miles from Atlanta) , strong tradition of minor league baseball	Potential opposition to public funding for a stadium, potential issues with the proposed stadium site
Portland	2.51	$55,518	Providence Park	Strong sports culture, growing population, potential for a new stadium, potential to be a rival for the Seattle Mariners	Concerns about transportation to a potential stadium site, potential for a new stadium to displace Black and Latino communities
Montreal	1.792 (4.38 metro area)	$48,181	Olympic Stadium	Strong baseball tradition, large market, good baseball tradition	Uncertainty about public funding for a stadium, early struggles of the Montreal Expos as an expansion team
Mexico City	9.209 (as of 2020)	Not available	Estadio Azteca	Huge market for baseball, new stadium	Distance from other MLB cities (750 miles from Houston) , concerns about safety, high altitude could significantly affect the game , potential financial burden of paying players in USD while generating revenue in pesos

Conclusion

Major League Baseball expansion is an exciting prospect for fans and cities alike. While there are many factors to consider, the cities listed above all have the potential to be successful MLB markets. MLB will need to weigh the pros and cons of each location. They should consider factors such as population and median income. Existing stadiums, fan base, corporate support, and potential for regional rivalries are also important. There is also some opposition to expansion due to a few franchises struggling financially. Ultimately, the decision of where to expand will come down to a vote by the 30 team owners.  

Based on the available information, Nashville and Salt Lake City appear to be strong contenders. Both cities have demonstrated a strong commitment to attracting an MLB team. They have the financial resources to support a franchise. Additionally, they have relatively few competing major sports franchises. However, Charlotte and Montreal also have a lot to offer. It would not be surprising to see either of those cities chosen for expansion. I personally hope to see the Expos return to the field as soon as possible. It would be exciting to have a rivalry with the Toronto Blue Jays!

It will be interesting to see which cities are ultimately chosen and how they fare in the league. The expansion process is likely to be complex and competitive. However, it has the potential to bring Major League Baseball to new markets. It can also create exciting new rivalries for fans to enjoy.

Over the next few days I will be discussing potential cities more in depth. Stay tuned!!