The Future of Baseball: Fans Weigh In on Expansion
In the world of Major League Baseball, expansion is a hot topic, and fans are eager to have their say. A recent survey by The Athletic sparked an intriguing debate, revealing some surprising insights into where the next MLB franchises might land.
The Athletic's Fan Survey: Unveiling Preferences
The Athletic, a renowned sports publication, conducted an annual survey among baseball enthusiasts, posing the question: "Which potential expansion cities would you most like to see get a new franchise?"
The survey narrowed down the choices to six cities with active expansion efforts: Austin, Nashville, Orlando, Portland, Raleigh, and Salt Lake City. Respondents were asked to pick their top two choices.
Nashville: The Clear Favorite
Nashville emerged as the runaway leader, with an impressive 73% of the 12,901 respondents favoring the Music City. This city has long been considered a shoo-in for one of the upcoming expansion franchises, and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has expressed his desire to see one team in the East and one in the West before his retirement in 2029.
The West Coast Battle: Portland vs. Salt Lake City
But here's where it gets controversial: While Salt Lake City has been touted by analysts as a frontrunner in the West, fans seem to have a different opinion. Portland came in a close second to Nashville, with 47% of the votes, while Salt Lake City trailed behind at 30%.
Portland has a head start, with a group of investors, including NFL star Russell Wilson and his wife Ciara, launching the Portland Diamond Project in 2017. On the other hand, Salt Lake City's Big League Utah initiative, led by the Larry H. Miller Company, was established more recently in 2023.
The Rivalry Heats Up
Salt Lake City scored a significant win in this rivalry when they managed to lure former Atlanta Braves star Dale Murphy, a two-time National League MVP and Oregon native, away from his advisory role with the Portland Diamond Project. Murphy, who has resided in Utah since retiring from baseball in 1993, is now a key advocate for Salt Lake City's MLB aspirations.
Other Contenders: Raleigh, Austin, and Orlando
Raleigh finished fourth in the survey with 26% of the votes, followed by Austin at 12% and Orlando at 5%. Interestingly, the "other" option received more votes than Orlando, with 8% of respondents opting for a different city. Montreal emerged as the top write-in choice.
Fan Opinion on Expansion: A Divided Camp
The Athletic also gauged fan sentiment towards expanding MLB to 32 teams. The results were intriguing: only a slight majority, 51%, were in favor, while 31% opposed the idea. A notable 18% had no opinion on the matter.
In previous years, the support for expansion was much higher, with 61.7% in favor in 2022 and 72.2% in 2023. The Athletic suggested that expansion might have been a more pressing issue for fans at those times.
Salt Lake City's Vision: A Riverfront Stadium
Salt Lake City's aspirations for an MLB team gained momentum last week when the Larry H. Miller Company announced plans to restore the Jordan River as part of a $3.5 billion mixed-use development on the west side, which includes a potential stadium site.
Chris "Mad Dog" Russo, a popular sports radio personality, predicted that Salt Lake City, along with Nashville, would be the next homes for baseball's new teams. This prediction aligns with the views of other baseball analysts over the past few years.
Steve Starks, CEO of the Miller Company, shared details with the Deseret News, stating that they are working with ballpark architects to finalize site plans, including the stadium's orientation and seating capacity. The proposed location is on the west side of the river, facing the majestic Wasatch Mountains, with the potential for home run balls to land in the river.
Senator Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan, envisioned a scene reminiscent of McCovey Cove outside Oracle Park in San Francisco as he spoke about the Miller Company's project. He described a future where, in April 2032, the Jordan River would be filled with kayaks, canoes, and fishing nets, as fans eagerly await the first home run hit into the river by Utah's Major League Baseball team.
So, what do you think? Should MLB expand to 32 teams, and if so, which cities should be granted franchises? The debate is open, and we'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
