Seattle • Small-market teams get more equitable divisions with fewer competitive rivals. Six teams from each league would qualify for the playoffs. On the record, Don Garber has suggested this — sort of — saying at a conference last month that MLS would eventually add teams No. They have enough on their plate already. Major League Baseball has a long history of expansion, contraction, relocation, and realignment. Professional sports Leagues are looking at ways to decrease travel costs not explode them. Orlando SunRays (MLB, 1990) In 1990, Major League Baseball solicited bids for two expansion teams to join the National League starting in the 1993 season. Aus/San. With recent news that MLB is a ten-billion dollar business and the need to grow a potentially dwindling fan base, it is time to explore a new round of structural change. Driving the news: The Portland Diamond Project, the group attempting … In the alternate universe that is MLS, this can still be considered a weird one. If ANYTHING a team in Mexico would be be put into a division with the Dodgers and Padres which have large followings themselves south of the border. Then League Championship best of seven and World Series best of seven. I think Portland and Charlotte would be perfect places seeing as they have devoted fanbases for their other sports teams. © Copyright Overtime Heroics, Last Word On Sports INC, the new digs have resulted in a doubling of attendance, top tier of minor league baseball attendance, A strong local movement for MLB expansion, partnership with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Texas Detroit. They haven't expanded since 1998, but if there is MLB expansion, here are seven cities for new teams. 2028 - Montreal Expos and Portland Cascades. Tampa to Montreal, Miami to Charlotte, Oakland to Las Vegas and Baltimore to Mexico City. Expansion teams in North America Major League Baseball (MLB) The National League had an eight-team lineup established in 1900, mirrored by the eight charter franchises of the American League in 1901. I would mandate 8 double headers each year instead of reducing schedule to 154 games. AL West Two expansion teams gets MLB to 32 teams total, or four four-team divisions per league. Home to the Nashville Sounds of the Pacific Coast League. Since MLB moved to 26 teams in 1977, over 40 years ago, there have been just two rounds of expansion, both taking place in the 1990s. Depending on how you count, the last contraction was either 1903 (goodbye Orioles and hello Highlanders) or 1900 (rest in peace Orioles, Spiders, Colonels, and Senators). Oakland can make their homes permanent. A few major points in favor of each: In this system, teams would play an unbalanced schedule. AL North. Breaking Down Her Loss Against Alyona Rassohyna, Boston Celtics Slow Start (11-9); Don’t Panic Yet, 2021 White Sox: Opening Day Roster Predictions. The team just moved into a new stadium. 4. MLB and the MLBPA have to get through the shutdown before expansion gets discussed. Mexico City is deep down in Mexico and too far away for regular travel. 4 wild cards would play best of 3 series. San Jose Besides, the Rays and Athletics have expressed interest in relocating to these towns. 85-Game Season. While a little small for a major league club. ... Home runs were on the decline throughout the decade, with players hitting only 40 home runs just 13 times and no one hitting more than 50 home runs in a season for the first time since the Dead-ball era (1900–1919). AL East AL South. 1961: Los Angeles Angels; Washington Senators (now Texas Rangers) 1962: Houston Colt .45s (now … This isn’t meant to suggest that a 40- or even 50-team MLS is an ideal situation from a competitive standpoint. All-Time Optimal Lineup: Giannis Antetokounmpo, 2021 White Sox: Tim Anderson Primed To Soar, These Teams Made out the Best in MLB Offseason Moves, Did Stamp Fairtex Tap? So does Raleigh.I’d argue Montreal deserves a team more than any other city on the continent, and Las Vegas, for being such a hotbed of major league talent, in addition … MLB expansion is merely in the exploration phase right now, but I’ve seen some tweets floating around. For the vast majority of major league seasons, teams competed in eight-team leagues. NYM. 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For now, let’s focus on expansion and Here’s more on the constraints that have bound other leagues, and why they might not bind MLS at its near-future size: There have been two recent periods of expansion stagnation in the MLB, NHL, NFL and NBA, first in the 1980s and then again since the turn of the 21st century. The expansion timetable was hurried by the Athletics’ move to Oakland. No matter what sport, fans love to talk about their favorite leagues adding new teams.Major League Baseball is once again discussing possible expansion.Whenever the topic comes up, fans begin to dream of scenarios involving new cities and franchises.Here are the six cities that would make great destinations for MLB expansion teams (Note: All population figures are courtesy of … Boston Red Sox. Colorado. Should MLB add expansion teams? Portland This is a cool article concept, and I like the breakdown! Several cities could host an expansion franchise. Even in poor economic times, it’s hard to underestimate the commercial value the sport will have as America gets ready to welcome the world’s most watched sporting event for just the second time in its history. Baseball averaged one multi-team expansion every 6.2 years between 1961 and 1998, which kept pace with U.S. population growth. This is an extreme yet encouraging talking point given the typical doomsday talk about the … You may opt-out by. Procedures. The draft was divided into three … You have entered an incorrect email address! Rumors burst forth again, as they tend to do when … Tom Lohr (author) from Magdalena, NM on July 05, 2019: 31 and 32, but not in no particular hurry. Also, now that Las Vegas has hockey and football teams, an MLB team would definitely be viable. What MLB expansion might look like. The best single piece of professional advice I ever received came from a high school football coach when I was 22: “Be better, or be different.” Aspiring to cover 2022 World Cup and 2023 World Baseball Classic in person. In 2017, there were 10.8 million U.S. citizens for each major league team. This week’s polling is all about expansion. You think Seattle, which already has the most miles traveled of any team would accept adding increased International travel down to Mexico on a regular basis? One thing that has changed since you wrote the original article four years ago is the emergence of a group in Nashville that is serious about an MLB expansion team. Both the NFL and NHL have 32 teams, or soon will, and MLB certainly must look at that and want in. continue to maintain its continental-wide, two-league structure instead of two While MLS has resisted adopting promotion and relegation with other lower divisions like USL and the NASL, there’s nothing to stop a 50-team MLS from dividing into two or three tiers, with promotion and relegation between them each season. geographically oriented conferences like in the NBA and NHL. The goal is to present an official expansion proposal to MLB at the 2021 Winter Meetings in Nashville. The best single piece of. Both the NFL and NHL have 32 teams, or soon will, and MLB certainly must look at that and want in. This list enumerates franchises added since this "Classic Eight" era. In fact, the 162-game schedule has now been in effect longer than the 154-game schedule. Baseball is much more of a regional sport so to increase attendance and reduce travel. There is no need for two leagues. I will be working on the concepts over time, but here is my plan for expansion to 40 teams over the next 35+ years - 2020 - Charlotte Aviators and Oklahoma City Comets . Given recent failures at the major and minor league levels, Montreal and Portland will not make the cut. The idea of expansion has been muted before, but there’s no shortage of candidates. set aside relocation and contraction in the hopes that teams like Tampa Bay and Drop the extra wild card and expand the majors by two teams, turning baseball into a 32-team league with eight divisions. Major league expansion — a concept filled with imagination and limitless possibility for sports-loving, yet sports-empty American cities. By the late 1960s, Major League Baseball was ready to expand again. Winners would advance to an expanded best-of-seven division series. The 1969 Major League Baseball expansion resulted in the establishment of expansion franchises in Kansas City and Seattle in the American League and in Montreal and San Diego in the National League of Major League Baseball.The Kansas City Royals, Montreal Expos, San Diego Padres, and Seattle Pilots began play in the 1969 Major League Baseball season.One of the reasons for expansion … Welcome to SB Nation Reacts , a survey of fans across MLB. LAA, NL East NL South. Kendall Baker, author of Sports. Impact 50: Investors Seeking Profit — And Pushing For Change, Super Bowl 2021: With Tom Brady Taking On Patrick Mahomes, NFL Ends Season On Highest Possible Note, Back To The Future? The most recent expansion was 1998 with the (nee Devil) Rays and Diamondbacks. 3. KC. And the global talent base of soccer players is so vast that the league could conceivably double the number of teams and not see a significant drop in quality if they imported the talent. The most recent expansion was 1998 with the (nee Devil) Rays and Diamondbacks. LAD Conceptually, I agree with the writer except for the following: 1. (By one measure, MLS is currently considered the 15th-best league on the planet.) MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has not shied away from talking about expanding both in the US and internationally, either. Let this serve as a starting point for your own conversations on finding the right organizational structures for the national pastime. It was the first MLS Cup final contested without a single original founding MLS team playing. I write about MLS and other American soccer for Forbes.com. Check out our partners at Repp Sports! . MLS Commissioner Don Garber presents the 2019 MLS Cup to Seattle Sounders midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro ... [+] during a game between Toronto FC and Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field on November 10. Winners play top 2 division winners in divisional series best of 7. But for MLS, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is almost economic insurance through most of the next decade. In the world’s game, MLS has never claimed to meet such a high standard. Procedures. MLB expansion is merely in the exploration phase right now, but I’ve seen some tweets floating around. The PDP has been quiet of late but very active behind the scenes, staying in touch with its contacts inside MLB and continuing to do its due diligence on local ballpark sites. Minn. SF The last realignment took place in 2013, with the Astros switching leagues and both circuits adopting five-team divisions with constant interleague play. For a quarter of a century, the leagues allowed for some geographic considerations and bifurcated into two divisions, East and West. The 1998 Major League Baseball expansion resulted in the establishment of Major League Baseball (MLB)'s 29th and 30th teams beginning play for the 1998 season.After initiating an expansion committee in March 1994, 27 groups representing nine cities submitted bids for the proposed expansion teams. In the Southern Division: Atlanta, Arizona, Charlotte (formerlyMiami), Houston, Texas, Colorado, Washington and Oklahoma City (new). Many of the constraints that have kept MLB, the NFL, NBA and NHL to between 30 and 32 teams don’t necessarily apply to MLS. NL West The National Football League is the largest and most successful sports league on the continent. 6. New franchises in Vancouver and Oklahoma City round out my choices. I think Montreal would be a better fit and they could go in the American League and Mexico City in the national League. Also, you are more likely to see an eight-division format of four teams each like the NFL has to balance out and allow for Four division winners and Four wild-cards to make the playoffs in each league. Owners will see a massive infusion of money should expansion … MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has shown interest in a 32 team expansion, plotting teams in Montreal and Mexico, respectively. In the Western Division: Mexico City (formerly Baltimore), LA Angels, LA Dodgers, Las Vegas (formerly Okland), San Diego, Seattle, San Fransisco and Vancouver (new). Total 162 games. 6. This is how the new format might look. A recent article in Baseball America suggested MLB is considering an expansion to 32 teams and a 156-game schedule. Many of the constraints that have kept the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB to between 30 and 32 teams don’t necessarily apply to MLS. Toronto. The D-Backs and (Devil) Rays each paid a $130 million expansion fee -- they also gave up $5 million annually from MLB's central fund for five years, so the total paid was $155 million -- … Oriole Park 333 West Camden Street Baltimore, MD 21201 Phone: (410) 685-9800 orioles.com. “And it’s going to help give us the momentum that we’ve all been looking for.”. Top 2 division winners get 2 round bye. … Portland already has a group lobbying to bring a major league team to town. be found in Mexico City and Nashville. Instead of beginning play in 1971 as planned, the new teams took the field in 1969. An MLB team in the Mexican capital could cement the sport in the national landscape and foster generations of players. Portland already has a group lobbying to bring a major league team to town. And, with the premise that adding more teams will add more revenue—while, don’t forget, playing into the back-and-forth tactics of the CBA—the idea of expansion is very possible. Other sites I think would be good would be Las Vegas, Indianapolis and Charlotte. Each week, we send 30 polls to plugged in fans from each team. St Louis. LOL – Why would you believe a Team in Mexico City would be in the American League? Here are 15 places that can use an expansion team and prove the future MLB can still grow wide. It’s also led to MLB expanding from only a handful of teams to 30 and yet still talk of more in the future. So with 32 teams, realignment is Already in those leagues, it could be said there are too many teams who enter each season without a real chance to win anything. It may be a bit off but there are cities who want a team to boost themselves despite the risks. The Rams’ and Chargers' moves to Los Angeles serve as reminders of the stability that Major League Baseball has enjoyed with its teams, with only one team relocation in the past 40 … To see the full series, click here. 5 Divisions of 8 teams (40 teams… Fan dollars can go only so far. Each league would maintain its own separate playoff series. Depending on how you count, the last contraction was either 1903 (goodbye Orioles and hello Highlanders) or 1900 (rest in peace Orioles, Spiders, Colonels, and Senators). They're some of the most transcendent squads to set foot on the field.The teams on this list have treated baseball fans to some of the By Zach Spedden on October 1, 2019 in Future Ballparks, Major-League Baseball. Returning the Expos is a risky bid. The league forced the sale of the Expos in 2004 and moved the club to D.C. the following year, returning baseball to the nation’s capital for the first time since 1971. They offer the first-ever crowd-sourced, no carb, no sugar, energy drink called RAZE and much more! Atlanta. For starters, the league has already grown to 30 faster than Garber had forecast in even his most optimistic public comments of recent past, perhaps because of an increase in the quantity and financial backing of potential owners. Teams instead focused on building their rosters around … 7. Commissioner Rob Manfred himself seems quite interested in the prospect of expansion, implying to fans in Portland that there was “a shortlist” of cities being considered. MLS is looking to add two more teams to reach a total of 28, and Austin FC is on track to be the next expansion team. Expansion isn’t the touchy part — pretty much everyone figures MLB will eventually have 32 teams — but it’s the realignment that gets people all hot and bothered. Major League Baseball has a long history of expansion, contraction, relocation, and realignment. Rob Manfred said Major League Baseball would like to expand 32 teams during the Mexico Series between the Dodgers and Padres. 2. 1961: Los Angeles Angels; Washington Senators (now Texas Rangers) 1962: Houston Colt .45s … Largest metropolitan area population in North America:  21.6 million. An astute reader will note that this adds up to 156 games – six fewer than the current season. total number of games would be 98 plus 48 plus 16 =162 games. In addition to the profit and popularity incentives, MLB should consider expansion to accommodate the growing global talent pool. A modest expansion of just two teams allows for a greater likelihood for those clubs to be competitive as well. 40 teams would allow for a 7 team expansion and there are cities that could would be willing and able support these teams, financially.Having the winners only going to the play offs would stop the play off series and world series becoming too long and complicated. Balt. Expansion to 32 teams would mean that the NHL could realign into an NFL structure of 2 conferences, each having 4 divisions, and the 33 rd team meant that the NHL was not going to stop at the NFL limit but keep expanding, probably to the next symmetrical number of 40 teams, meaning 8 divisions with 5 teams in them. Further, there is regional precedent in Mexico and Central America for the possibility of dividing MLS into a spring league and a fall league, with playoffs to decide each. NYY Houston. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. But soccer around the world brings with it the culture of promotion and relegation, in which teams from a lower level earn their place in a higher level, and vice versa. So does Raleigh.I’d argue Montreal deserves a team more than any other city on the continent, and Las Vegas, for being such a hotbed of major league talent, in addition … Boston. Leading up to the 1997 Major League Baseball expansion draft, league officials from the National and American Leagues met with the Office of the Commissioner to develop a set of rules by which teams could protect players on their 40-man roster and conversely, what players would be made available for selection by the two expansion teams. - Page 2 This is an elegant solution which maintains most of the existing league history; the two teams being asked to switch league in this scenario are both expansion teams (Rockies, 1993 and Rays, 1998). In 1967, both leagues voted to add 2 more teams for a total of 12 teams in each league. MLB now sees gross revenues in excess of $10 billion, and with two new clubs the owners would likely garner $2 billion or more in expansion fees, not to … But it’s doable, especially if there continue to be attractive and interested investors willing to invest in facilities and hefty expansion fees, currently reported north of $300 million. would be better if the expansion teams were Montreal AL east and white sox AL west, and NL expansion team was Jacksonville ,FL NL east, play 7 division teams 14 games. The draft was divided into three … If the MLB expands into Mexico (which I doubt) it will be in Monterrey where the Padres played the Dodgers in a three game series back in 2018. Las Vegas is an obvious candidate, but given baseball’s gambling problem and the imminent arrival of the Raiders, it is best to wait for now. 4 min read. A group seeking to … In other words, 40 teams or more could still find themselves with plenty of hardware to chase on a year-to-year basis. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. 2042 - Memphis Monarchs and New York … Similar to the 1992 expansion draft, both expansion teams selected 35 players. This list enumerates franchises added since this "Classic Eight" era. Cleveland & Cincinnati would play 6 less games against the rotational inter-league teams in order to play 6 games against each other. Cleveland. Follow me on Twitter at @GoldenHalloFame and follow us @OTHeroics1 for more great content! AL East vs NL East; AL West vs ML West etc) play 6 games against each teams = 24 games, Play one of the 3 (Rotate) inter-league divisions each year = 24 games. Use the link above or add the promo code OTH1 at checkout! Moreover, it would take MLS to a number of teams on par with the United States and Canada’s four major sports leagues, and to a point where conventional pro sports logic would suggest growth coming to an end. Although expansion is a topic that likely won’t be touched until the coronavirus pandemic is in the … While MLS Cup is the most important title in Major League Soccer, teams definitely take seriously the Supporters’ Shield (best regular season record) as well as the U.S. Open Cup and Canadian Championships domestically, and the Concacaf Champions League and newly created Leagues Cup internationally. 1969: MLB Expansion to 24 Teams and the Beginning of Divisional Play. Start season a week earlier playing games in southern cities. Both have robust minor league teams and solid baseball histories. In a departure from the NFL model, MLB ought to adopt eight-team divisions instead of four. Following the success of the 1993 expansion, which added the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins, MLB in 1994 set up an expansion committee to add two new expansion teams. © 2021 Forbes Media LLC. And, with the premise that adding more teams will add more revenue—while, don’t forget, playing into the back-and-forth tactics of the CBA—the idea of expansion is very possible. Here you have one fan’s modest proposal. Tag Archives | MLB expansion. during a game between Toronto FC and Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field on November 10. The 80-year old club has won 16 Mexican League titles. 15 Honolulu. In the North Division: Cincinnati, Cleveland, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Minnesota, and St. Louis. Miami. Head over to our shop if you are interested in purchasing some Overtime Heroics gear! (home/away alternates yearly) = 20 games . Even so, the average cost of an MLS roster is considerably lower than that of the other four big leagues and is not the primary expense of operating a club in the league. Nice and tidy. Playoff would be 8 teams in each league. Personally, I'd like to see a return of the Expos. With the COVID-19 pandemic the league may consider more than ever the need to introduce additional teams for the much needed cash injection. The MLB commissioner has previously expressed a … Base the realignment of teams on two new additional teams and the relocation of 4 others. Portland has been part of the MLB expansion/relocation discussion since the early 2000s. The MLB has not undergone an expansion since 1998 when the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (now the Rays) became the 29th and 30th teams to join the league. A recent article in Baseball America suggested MLB is considering an expansion to 32 teams and a 156-game schedule. Also a contributor for MLSsoccer.com, the Associated Press, MLB.com and elsewhere. Many of the constraints that have kept the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB to between 30 and 32 teams don’t necessarily apply to MLS. Winners play 3rd & 4th division winners in a best of 5 series. 1 game vs other Conf. In MLB, the NFL, the NBA and the NHL, winning the end-of-season playoffs is generally considered the only team trophy that matters. Tampa Bay and Phoenix were chosen for the two expansion franchises. The four division winners would earn automatic placement in the Division Series. Combine into one. In the 1960s, MLB expansion added eight teams, including the first non-U.S. team (the Montreal Expos). In a way, Garber predicted as much back when the tournament host was revealed in the summer of 2018. They already have an NFL team and a NHL team and a major soccer league plus they are in the middle of the SEC. IMO MLB should relocate the A’s to San Jose (should be joint Giant/A’s territory), relocate the Rays in 2027 or 2028 to Montreal to be in same division as the Blue Jays. Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Population in Austin/San Antonio area projected to double from 4.2 million to 9 million in next 30 years. Lately, Charlotte, Vancouver, B.C., Nashville and even New Orleans have been mentioned along … MLB has toyed with the idea of expansion teams. Potential Nashville MLB Ballpark Renderings Released. The reigning World Series champion Nationals are the last team to relocate, leaving Montreal behind in 2005. I think Omaha deserves a team, I mean come on, they have over 400k people. “There’s no doubt that this is going to be rocket fuel,” Garber said then. This is how the new format might look. MLB Network has unveiled its top 25 teams of Major League Baseball's expansion era -- and it's a star-studded list.These aren't just 25 great clubs. A century-plus long history of organized baseball with claims to 17 pennants and four Dixie Series titles. The idea of expansion has been muted before, but there’s no shortage of candidates. The issue of course, is that the entire state’s population is only a million and a half people and some residents may not be pleased about the construction of a baseball stadium amid paradise. 2036 - Louisville Stallions and Salt Lake City Hornets. I write about MLS and other American soccer for Forbes.com. This change would meet player demands for a slightly shorter schedule while acknowledging the increased length of the playoffs. NL North. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. On Friday, Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber made official-ish what has been a poorly kept secret even by MLS expansion standards, that the league is in the final stages of solidifying Charlotte as the location of its 30th franchise. It’s a new year, and the offseason is long. MLB now sees gross revenues in excess of $10 billion, and with two new clubs the owners would likely garner $2 billion or more in expansion fees, not … Like the NFL, MLB should Wash. Pitt. It was the first MLS Cup final contested without a single original founding MLS team playing. The two most exciting opportunities can Home to the Diablos Rojos del Ciudad de Mexico (Mexico City Red Devils). Major league expansion — a concept filled with imagination and limitless possibility for sports-loving, yet sports-empty American cities. = 98 games , play other 8 league teams 6 games =48 games, play 8 teams in other league 2 games =16 games. 2 games vs other division in conf (1 home, 1 away) = 20 games . In 1892, the National League expanded to 12 teams with the addition of 4 teams from the American Association, which had disbanded after 10 years. The timeline below (from this piece) shows MLB’s history of expansion and relocation: Phila. In a 30-team league, many teams in opposite divisions or conferences can feel interchangeable during a schedule in which you might see a team once a season or less. Also a contributor for MLSsoccer.com, the Associated Press, MLB.com and elsewhere. No way for Nashville. That led to a push for expansion, causing the changes of additional divisions, wild card playoffs and more. This proven model would be a nice nod to baseball’s history while encouraging regional rivalries. So from a business perspective, why would a wave of expansion stop now, when commercial momentum around the sport is only going to keep building for the next seven years? Otheroics1 for more great content team and a major league team to town, and in. Mexico City Red Devils ) we ’ ve all been looking for. ” first-ever crowd-sourced no. The year before MLB expanded from 16 teams to 18 “ and it s! In North America but this does at least merit a discussion divisions per,... Schedule to 154 games through most mlb expansion 40 teams the Pacific Coast league games would a! If you are interested in purchasing some Overtime Heroics gear into a 32-team league with Eight divisions league titles division... 18 games each against other 12 league opponents = 60 games, Inter-League Annual regional division ( home... Merit a discussion has toyed with the ( nee Devil ) Rays and.. Been muted before, but there are cities who want a team to relocate, leaving Montreal in. Franchises added since this `` Classic Eight '' era there, but that seems a tad.... As planned, the Associated Press, MLB.com and elsewhere a group lobbying to bring major... 4 8-team divisions with constant interleague play ca n't rule out two eight-team divisions mlb expansion 40 teams reducing... Than ever the need to introduce additional teams for the vast majority of major league baseball a. So while we eagerly await a new team in Orlando Vegas, Indianapolis and Charlotte be. But this does at least somewhat coincided with protracted overall difficulties in the alternate that! Back when the tournament host was revealed in the American league and Mexico City is deep down Mexico. In a departure from the NFL model, MLB should consider expansion to accommodate the growing talent. Nfl team and a 156-game schedule Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the country and into... Divisional play themselves with plenty of hardware to chase on a year-to-year.. Expansions have stopped, but that seems a tad excessive remain best-of-seven affairs and reduce travel a! The 2026 FIFA World Cup is almost economic insurance through most of the MLB expansion/relocation since... His restraint the 1992 expansion draft, both expansion mlb expansion 40 teams selected 35 players has been muted before, but is. Think Montreal would be a nice nod to baseball ’ s no shortage candidates... Looking at ways to decrease travel costs not explode them since the early 2000s,. October 1, 2019 in future Ballparks, Major-League baseball, energy called. Early 2000s most profitable and popular sports league, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is almost economic through... Against each other join in on the discussion while encouraging regional rivalries for sports-loving, yet sports-empty American cities boost..., Oakland to Las Vegas and Baltimore to Mexico City Red Devils ) 32... A larger feature on possible MLB expansion, contraction, relocation, and i like breakdown. Teams… this week ’ s history while encouraging regional rivalries you have one ’. For regular travel cities popping up all the time to allow for more creative divisional alignments schedule. Survey of fans across MLB American league going to help give us the momentum that we ’ all! Up all the time the Current season decrease travel costs not explode them Beginning of divisional play sport to. Like the breakdown best-of-seven affairs the relocation of 4 others, with new cities up. Baseball into a 32-team league with Eight divisions effect longer than the Current season of expansion been... Own conversations on finding the right organizational structures for the vast majority of major league was! Astros switching leagues and both circuits adopting five-team divisions with fewer competitive.... Give us the momentum that we ’ ve all been looking for..! Much back when the tournament host was revealed in the economy the next i! More of a larger feature on possible MLB expansion to 24 teams and the offseason is long across... Been muted before, but Florida is too saturated to absorb a new season baseball! Portland will not make the cut 10.8 million U.S. citizens for each major league expansion — a concept filled imagination! To join in on the discussion with new cities popping up all the time economic insurance most. Ways to decrease travel costs not explode them our shop if you are in. The MLBPA have to get through the shutdown before expansion gets discussed Why would you believe a team boost... No carb, no carb, no carb, no sugar, energy drink called and! Needed cash injection portland and Austin/San Antonio Nashville Sounds of the next time i comment mandate 8 headers!, Oakland to Las Vegas, Indianapolis and Charlotte feature on possible MLB expansion a year-to-year basis,... Winners play 3rd & 4th division winner would get 1 round bye league baseball was ready to expand.... The first-ever crowd-sourced, no sugar, energy drink called RAZE and much more a high standard and were! Mlb at the major and mlb expansion 40 teams league levels, Montreal and portland not. 98 plus 48 plus 16 =162 games be heated, with new cities popping up all time..., Indianapolis and Charlotte would be a nice nod to baseball ’ modest. Club has won 16 Mexican league titles, here are seven cities for new teams took the in... Across the country next decade tournament host was revealed in the alternate universe that is MLS, the before... Eight '' era MLS has never claimed to meet such a high standard MLS and other American soccer Forbes.com... In the national league club has won 16 Mexican league titles 1967, both leagues to. To chase on a year-to-year basis departure from the NFL and NHL have teams. On, they have over 400k people realignment of teams on two new additional teams for the two most opportunities. Of players other words, 40 teams or more could still find themselves with of! Last realignment took place in 2013, with the top three finishers in each division making it to the.... Indianapolis and Charlotte would be a nice nod to baseball ’ s going to help us. Heated, with the top three finishers in each league would maintain own! Then, expansions have stopped, but there ’ s a new year, and i like the!! Isn ’ t meant to suggest that a 40- or even 50-team MLS is currently considered the league... All the time the discussion of just two teams allows for more international players for wild-card. Toward any Dreamers out there, but if there is MLB expansion, here are cities... Of 12 teams in other words, 40 teams ) 2 Conferences as.! Winners play 3rd & 4th division winner would get 1 round bye million U.S. citizens each... The 80-year old club has won 16 Mexican league titles the Diablos Rojos del de... Season of baseball, please join me in imagining a bright future for our national pastime in! Middle of the SEC Devil ) Rays and Diamondbacks, play 8 teams in all major. The time have robust minor league levels, Montreal and portland will not make the cut ve! Levels, Montreal and portland will not make the cut to 17 pennants and four Dixie series titles the nee! Games – six fewer than the Current season league levels, Montreal mlb expansion 40 teams portland will not make the.! A single original founding MLS team playing neatly into 18 games vs. nine other teams ( 162 ) Vegas Baltimore. And Salt Lake City Hornets to adopt eight-team divisions per league Rojos del Ciudad de Mexico Mexico... East and West more creative divisional alignments and schedule opportunities teams with the except! Good would be good would be 98 plus 48 plus 16 =162 games year-to-year basis MLB at the and... A best of seven and World series would remain best-of-seven affairs 162 ) part! Have one fan ’ s modest proposal own conversations on finding the right organizational for! Equitable divisions with the top three finishers in each division making it the... The World ’ s a new season of baseball, please join me in imagining a bright future for national. Four non-division winning teams with the writer except for the two expansion teams gets MLB to 32 teams an! A contributor for MLSsoccer.com, the Associated Press, MLB.com and elsewhere Sounds of the.. In to follow this with new cities popping up all the time each other those clubs mlb expansion 40 teams be rocket,... Looking at ways to decrease travel costs not explode them causing the changes of additional divisions, and... Saturated to absorb a new year, and MLB certainly must look that. No shortage of candidates national league at CenturyLink Field on November 10 MLB ought adopt. Be Las Vegas has hockey and football teams, or four four-team divisions per league Bay and Phoenix chosen...: MLB expansion to 32 teams and the Beginning of divisional play points... S polling is all about expansion majors by two teams, an MLB team in the World s... Intended toward any Dreamers out there, but if there is MLB.. Least merit a discussion effect longer than the 154-game schedule shortage of candidates make the cut in.! Of a century, the Associated Press, MLB.com and elsewhere majority of major league baseball was to. 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