The Tampa Bay Rays are finalizing plans for a new stadium in downtown St. Petersburg, a positive development for Florida baseball fans.
Indirectly, this could lead to big things for baseball in new markets.
The commissioner of Major League Baseball, Rob Manfred, has repeatedly shown interest in increasing the framework of the circuit to 32 teams. To move forward with this project, which would be a first expansion since 1998, the current 30 markets needed to have an adequate stadium.
The 30,000-seat stadium proposed by the Rays is part of a US$6.5 billion development project, including social housing, retail, bars, restaurants and a Black History museum. The Oakland A’s have been looking for a new solution for years, but they appear to be on the verge of moving to Las Vegas, a project that still must receive approval from MLB.
If we assume that these two franchises get the green light to build their new stadiums and that baseball goes from 30 to 32 clubs, it will still take some time before these teams set foot on the MLB diamonds.
Here’s a bit of what this could all look like.
On the way to 32
It has now been 25 years since Major Baseball has expanded its staff, since the arrival of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for the 1998 season, the 29e and 30e MLB teams.
For the first 60 years of the 20th centurye century, the Majors – excluding the Negro Leagues or the Federal League – were made up of 16 teams. The American League decided to add two teams in 1961. The Washington Senators became the Minnesota Twins and a new franchise in Washington kept the same name. The Los Angeles Angels were also added.
The National League followed suit in 1962, adding the New York Mets and the Houston Colt .45s.
Major Baseball grew to 24 teams in 1969: the Seattle Pilots and the Kansas City Royals in the American, as well as the Montreal Expos and the San Diego Padres in the National. The Pilots only lasted one season – immortalized in the book Ball Fourby Jim Bouton – and moved to Milwaukee for the 1970 season.
In 1977, the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays swelled the number of clubs to 26. The National took 16 years to grow to 14 teams. In 1993, the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins became the 27e and 28e Major teams.
Possible timeline
Even if MLB quickly decides to expand, new teams likely wouldn’t be able to play until the 2028 season.
For reference, moving to 30 teams began with the formation of an expansion committee in March 1994. Five groups made presentations to the members of this committee in November of the same year: Orlando, Phoenix, St. Petersburg and two groups from northern Virginia.
Three years later, these clubs joined the ranks of the circuit, ending a four-year cycle.
Potential cities
The four main candidates for expansion appear to be, in order, Charlotte (North Carolina), Nashville (Tennessee), Portland (Oregon) and Montreal.
The American South is experiencing population growth and seems ripe for another team, although it is doubtful whether Charlotte and Nashville could be selected. Portland would increase MLB’s influence in the northwest United States.
Montreal – which had the Expos from 1969 to 2004, when they became the Washington Nationals – was a popular stop for major league players during the season until its acrimonious relocation to the US capital. Fans have been clamoring for a team’s return almost since the moment it left.
Other cities could be added and we can assume that MLB will listen to all proposals. Salt Lake City (Utah) and Austin (Texas) were notably mentioned.
How much will it cost ?
One thing seems certain: a new franchise will be a costly investment.
Manfred said in 2021 expansion fees could reach $2.2 billion per team, the average cost of an MLB franchise according to Sportico’s assessment.
In comparison, the Vegas Golden Knights paid 500 million to join the NHL in 2016, the Seattle Kraken paid 650 million a few years later.
The NBA has not expanded since 2004, when the Charlotte Bobcats paid $300 million to join its ranks. The last expansion of the NFL dates back to 2002: the Houston Texans then spent 700 million.
The Diamondbacks and Rays both paid $130 million to join MLB in 1998, compared to $95 million for the Rockies and Marlins in 1993. In 1977, the Blue Jays paid $7 million, compared to $6.5 million for the Mariners. .
To these membership fees, it will be necessary to add the construction of a stadium. If expansion costs were likely paid by private investors, the stadium could require more than $1 billion in public funds.
Associated Press reporter Ronald Blum contributed to this article.