Recently, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has publicly discussed possible MLB expansion to 32 teams during the early 2030s. Here are 15 cities that deserve an MLB expansion team, as two of these teams may receive one by the early 2030s.

Montreal

Montreal skyline, 1992″ by Infrogmation is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

After a 20-year drought, Montreal deserves another shot at hosting an MLB team. The city’s population of over 1.7 million makes it a viable market for an expansion team. Currently, Canada’s only MLB team, the Toronto Blue Jays, could benefit from a nearby rival. This would make the “World Series” title more accurate by expanding internationally. However, the baseball fanbase in Montreal generally favors the return of the Expos over a brand-new expansion team. As a result, the MLB might hesitate to resurrect an old team.

Portland

Portland Skyline glow July 2017 – Oregon” by M.O. Stevens is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Portland is a leading candidate for the MLB’s next expansion team. If the MLB decides to position one team in the East and one in the West, as it has in previous expansions, Portland is a great fit. With a population exceeding 600,000, the city could support a third professional sports team. Additionally, the Seattle Mariners would greatly benefit from a local rival. As it stands, the closest team to the Mariners is over 800 miles away. This geographic distance translates to high travel costs for Seattle. Currently, the main barrier to Portland’s expansion is the lack of a potential owner.

Vancouver

Instead of Portland, Vancouver could provide the Mariners with a new rival. The MLB could consider adding a second Canadian team, making Vancouver the prime candidate. With a metro area population of 2.6 million people, it is well-suited to support a baseball team. Moreover, the distance from Toronto ensures that no fan poaching will occur.

Nashville

Nashville Skyline at Night” by tandemracer is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Nashville has been a key contender for the MLB’s expansion talks in recent years. It is highly regarded as a major destination for the next MLB expansion team. The city’s population of over 686,000 surpasses eleven cities already hosting an MLB team. This population size is essential for a league that struggles with smaller market teams. Additionally, Nashville is significantly distanced from other MLB teams, which ensures that existing fanbases will remain intact.

Charlotte

Charlotte Skyline” by James Willamor is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Charlotte stands as another significant contender for an MLB expansion team. North Carolina is a largely untapped baseball market located between the Nationals and Braves. Charlotte has demonstrated its capacity to support multiple professional sports teams, currently hosting NFL, NBA, and MLS teams. However, a major complication arises from the current stadium situation.

The only venue that can accommodate enough fans, Bank of America Stadium, also serves Charlotte FC and the Panthers. Unfortunately, the stadium’s overlapping schedules make it difficult to host a new MLB team there.

San Antonio

San Antonio Skyline” by nan palmero is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

San Antonio is the largest U.S. market without an MLB, NFL, or NHL team. As the seventh-most populous city in the second-most populous state, it can support an MLB expansion team. The warm weather makes it suitable for a summer sport like baseball. However, the city’s proximity to the Houston Astros might pose a disadvantage, as it could diminish the Astros’ fan base.

Louisville

Louisville Skyline” by The Pug Father is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

It seems almost criminal that a city known for its bats doesn’t have a Major League Baseball team. Louisville may be a small market, yet it ranks as the 27th largest U.S. city. This size surpasses cities currently hosting MLB teams. Additionally, neither the city nor the state of Kentucky boasts any professional sports teams. However, the minor league Louisville Bats show that a substantial baseball fanbase exists.

The primary problem for establishing an MLB expansion team in Louisville is its proximity to Cincinnati. A mere two-hour drive to a Reds game could shrink the size of the Reds’ fanbase.

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City may not have the large market size that other expansion hopefuls do. If an MLB team were to be established here, it would likely be the smallest market in the league. However, Salt Lake City has successfully hosted the Winter Olympics and an NBA team. The Utah Jazz experience high attendance, indicating a strong sports community is present. For an MLB expansion team to succeed in Salt Lake City, it would require substantial local support, outweighing the city’s small market size.

Orlando

Lake Eola and Orlando skyline” by Michael Rivera is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

If Orlando receives an MLB team, it would likely be a new home for the Rays, rather than an expansion team. Florida does not require a third MLB team, especially considering how both the Marlins and Rays have struggled for fan attention. In fact, these franchises consistently rank near the bottom in league attendance.

That said, Orlando is an attractive option for the Rays if they opt to stay in Florida. The city attracts more tourists than Tampa Bay, potentially boosting attendance figures. Additionally, Orlando could offer the Rays a new stadium.

Albuquerque

Surprisingly, Albuquerque has not been frequently mentioned in discussions about MLB expansion cities. Yet, the MLB should consider it seriously as they plan for 32 teams. Albuquerque has a larger population than one-third of cities with MLB teams and a loyal following of baseball fans. The Albuquerque Isotopes regularly rank high in attendance among minor league teams. Fans in New Mexico deserve an MLB team, especially as they are currently situated between the Diamondbacks, Rockies, and Rangers.

Jacksonville

Image-Jacksonville Skyline Panorama 3″ by “Jon Zander (Digon3)” is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Similar to Orlando, Jacksonville would likely serve as a new home for the Rays rather than a true expansion team. Florida does not need a third MLB team, as the state is already overcrowded with franchises. Jacksonville is the 11th largest city in the U.S., boasting a population of over a million residents. This size is more than adequate to support another professional sports team. Yet, the local passion for baseball may not be as high as needed. The Jumbo Shrimp, Jacksonville’s minor league team, ranks 34th in attendance among all minor league teams, which is not ideal for a city of its size. Nevertheless, given the Rays’ desperate need for fans and a new stadium, a move to Jacksonville could be worth exploring.

El Paso

Downtown El Paso Skyline” by Texanguy123 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

El Paso is in a similar situation as Charlotte, caught between the Diamondbacks and Rangers. The city has a strong baseball fan base, as evidenced by the El Paso Chihuahuas’ 11th-highest attendance among minor league teams in 2023. El Paso, ranking as the 23rd-most populous city in the U.S., could serve as an average-sized market for an MLB expansion team. It could present a good alternative to Albuquerque if the MLB rules eliminate the possibility of an expansion team there.

Raleigh

Raleigh is an ideal candidate to host an MLB expansion team. With a rapidly growing population of nearly 500,000, the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area boasts over 2.1 million potential fans. Unlike many other potential expansion cities, Raleigh has a well-funded owner, Tom Dundon, eager to bid for its future team. Despite having the qualities to host an MLB team, the city will face stiff competition from Nashville if only one team is allocated to the East Coast.

Mexico City

Mexico City already has an enormous market and deep interest in baseball to host an expansion team. As the largest city in the Western Hemisphere, it draws significant attention. Tickets for the recent MLB series in Mexico City, featuring the Giants and Padres, sold out in mere hours. An expansion team there would effectively spread the MLB’s popularity across the region. However, the elevation of Alfredo Harp Helu Stadium, sitting at 7,439 feet above sea level, might add complications for an MLB team.

Boise

While Boise may not currently have the adequate market size of other hopefuls like Nashville and San Antonio, it is a probable contender for future MLB expansion. The city has a current population exceeding 800,000, with growth of 24% since the 2020 census and 32% since 2010. If this trend continues, Boise could reach a sufficient market size in the next decade, earning Idaho its first professional sports team.

As MLB considers its future expansion plans, these cities highlight the vast potential across the nation and beyond. The excitement surrounding MLB expansion has fans eagerly anticipating where the league will head next.