Way to go, Marlins "fans"

[CuseCubFan69]

Charlotte, San Antonio, Vegas and Portland could work.

 

America needs more high paying jobs and adding 2 more teams would help the economy. Put me down as a yes in having 32 teams.

[Guest]

Yeah, San Antonio-Austin would definitely work.

 

I think Vegas is the best bet though, then San Antonio, NJ, and the IE. I think Charlotte and Portland can be kind of tricky.

[chuckywang]

A 2nd New England or New York area team would work out just fine. Other than that and maybe Vegas, I really don't know. Portland might do ok, but without a great team, I can't see them drawing over 2M annually.

 

I'm not sure a 2nd New England team would work. Where would you put it? Boston itself is actually quite small. The Boston metro area is roughly the same population as Detroit. Philly, Houston, Atlanta and Dallas are all bigger and aren't even the best supporters of their 1 team each.

 

The Red Sox dominate because they have a monopoly on the baseball loyalties of 5 states, most of a 6th and parts of a 7th. There isn't another large enough city in New England to put a team, and Boston can't support another.

 

Boston has had two teams before. Why not again?

[Mephistopheles]

If you put one in San Antonio, put it in northern New Braunfels. It's a great location and would get fans from Austin and San Antonio. The I35 corridor between Austin and SA , according to some estimates, is expected to grow to between 7,000,000 and 10,000,000 combined. That's enormous compared to the approximately 4,000,000 who already call it home. The Rangers are in a similar spot between FW and Dallas. Dallas and FW are 30 miles apart. SA and Austin are 60 miles apart. It could work.

[SouthSideRyan]

Meph saved me the effort on researching New England. I had Hartford in mind when I mentioned it. As he alluded to though, this is all pie in the sky because of the good ol boys network of owners where Henry would never allow Selig to move a team into his market, same way a 3rd NY team is a stretch. They'd rather move a team to a market where they'll struggle to draw 2M as long as it doesn't infringe on some billionaire's made up area rights.

[dalgreen]

The state of Florida should only have one MLB team. I think the Devil Rays and Marlins should become one team. There is a point to be made that Dolphin Stadium itself is a big reason for the poor attendance. You have to remember a few years ago when the Dolphins made the playoffs, the game was blacked out in South Florida because they didn't sell out. I think in order for baseball to work in South Florida a baseball only stadium would have to be built in downtown Miami.

[danonwaveland]

Just contract the two Florida teams. No one would miss 'em.

 

________________________________________________________

Sandberg>Mazeroski>Morgan

[chuckywang]

Just contract the two Florida teams. No one would miss 'em.

 

MLB would, as that would mean that a team would have an off day every single day.

[TruffleShuffle]

http://images.sportsline.com/u/ap/photos/MDS106091216_800x600.jpg

 

that is pathetic

[mhuber92211]

to me that picture is worse the any steroids discussion. That is ridiculous. Portland is a better option then Vegas. Vegas is a transient town and would have a hard time developing a following. The housing market there is suffering and many people can't move as easy and people's incomes are falling. IIRC Vegas has one of the highest foreclosure rates right now. As does the inland empire. I live here and I work here. It is an up and coming blue collar area of So Cal. But it is also full of commuters who went there for affordable housing. There is little in the way of major corporate interests and less people with disposable income.

 

Portland is still growing and the Willamette Valley is rapidly becoming all one area (Portland/Salem) Portland could easily support MLB and be sucessful. It would probably not draw 2 Mil on average until it settles in with a stadium like Safeco but eventually (probably quicker then in Miami) they would be similar to the Rockies.

[dalgreen]

How many of you remember Wrigley pre-1984? There were probably 10 games a year where the attendance was less than 10,000. I remember seeing the Big Red Machine there in the 70s and it was easily just as many Red fans as Cub fans. You could easily walk up and get a $2 bleacher ticket the day of the game. Florida can turn it around. Would take a lot of work though.

 

Yep. Many, many times Jack Brickhouse would say, "Upper Deck is closed today." I remember many games, particularly in September when only 2000-3000 were in attendance, and, of course, back then they only counted who were present and not tickets sold. Seems to me there was a game where the announced crowd at Wrigley was 1900. But the Marlins will have to darn near re-invent themselves to get things to change, starting with getting a downtown stadium. The owners will likely have to get it privately financed, though.

[NCCubFan]

Charlotte, San Antonio, Vegas and Portland could work.

I vote for Charlotte. And it has to be an NL team so the Cubs come every year. :D

[AllStarMe]

Since Canada has one and at one time two major league teams, I'd like to know why MLB hasn't thought to expand into Mexico. It's certainly not due to lack of popularity of the sport in Latin American countries. Could anybody tell me briefly what the major obstacles are to Mexico becoming home to an MLB team? It's an issue I know nothing about, are the ecomics just not favorable?

[BigbadB]

Since Canada has one and at one time two major league teams, I'd like to know why MLB hasn't thought to expand into Mexico. It's certainly not due to lack of popularity of the sport in Latin American countries. Could anybody tell me briefly what the major obstacles are to Mexico becoming home to an MLB team? It's an issue I know nothing about, are the ecomics just not favorable?

 

Never happen. One of the more poverty stricken nations in the world would never be able to support a major league baseball team.

 

And if you think it's hot in Florida, try Mexico. Yikes.

[OleMissCub]

Since Canada has one and at one time two major league teams, I'd like to know why MLB hasn't thought to expand into Mexico. It's certainly not due to lack of popularity of the sport in Latin American countries. Could anybody tell me briefly what the major obstacles are to Mexico becoming home to an MLB team? It's an issue I know nothing about, are the ecomics just not favorable?

 

Never happen. One of the more poverty stricken nations in the world would never be able to support a major league baseball team.

 

And if you think it's hot in Florida, try Mexico. Yikes.

 

Exactamundo.

[OleMissCub]

http://images.sportsline.com/u/ap/photos/MDS106091216_800x600.jpg

 

that is pathetic

 

I bet some of the ushers were still being dicks.

[jersey cubs fan]

Since Canada has one and at one time two major league teams, I'd like to know why MLB hasn't thought to expand into Mexico. It's certainly not due to lack of popularity of the sport in Latin American countries. Could anybody tell me briefly what the major obstacles are to Mexico becoming home to an MLB team? It's an issue I know nothing about, are the ecomics just not favorable?

 

Never happen. One of the more poverty stricken nations in the world would never be able to support a major league baseball team.

 

And if you think it's hot in Florida, try Mexico. Yikes.

 

Mexico could easily support a mlb team financially. Sure, there is poverty there, but there is also a ton of money, and a very large middle and upper class. The problem is where would you put it. The best chance for success is going to be in Mexico City. The problem there isn't necessarily heat, but the elevation. It dwarfs Denver. Offense is likely to be crazy while pitching is likely to suck. If they could figure out a way to design the park possibly to offset these issues, and keep pitchers alive, there's more than enough money and eyeballs there to make it work. The other issue is transportation though. MC is very far from every MLB team but Houston, and that's not even an easy jaunt. Monterray is another option. It's smaller, but financially viable. It doesn't have the elevation issues and it's a bit closer to the states. But, it's also hotter, so you're looking at a dome or retractable roof.

[SCCubbieFAN]

Charlotte, San Antonio, Vegas and Portland could work.

I vote for Charlotte. And it has to be an NL team so the Cubs come every year. :D

 

seconded