MLB Expansion: Evaluating Baseball’s Next Markets
By Jacob Mallie
Nashville. Charlotte. Portland. Salt Lake City. These cities are the next potential homes of a Major League Baseball team. Discussions of expansion have circulated within Major League Baseball for years, and it may finally be time for Commissioner Rob Manfred to commit to expanding the league's geographic footprint. Expansion in the National Hockey League has been rampant over the past decade. New teams such as the Las Vegas Golden Knights, Seattle Kraken, and the Utah Mammoth are proof that expansion benefits not only the league, but also the people and communities of the respective cities. Baseball is a prime candidate to expand to new cities, especially because of the number of teams currently in the league (30).
Baseball’s postseason viewership numbers are steadily increasing, with an average of 6.33 million viewers on U.S. television platforms for the 2025 postseason. This was a 28% increase from 2024, and the most watched postseason since 2017. All eyes are on the league, making it the perfect time to look to expansion. On WFAN sports radio, Commissioner Manfred stated that he would like to expand the league to 32 teams. While adding two franchises does not seem like a massive shift, it would have long-lasting implications for the future of the league. Many cities have been floated around as potential options for an MLB expansion team, and it's time to narrow them down to the most realistic scenarios.
One of the most rapidly growing cities in the country, Nashville is among the most viable candidates for MLB expansion. A home for music, tourism, and vibrant nightlife, Nashville is a strong candidate for a franchise. Nashville already has an ownership group dedicated to bringing a franchise to the city, Music City Baseball (MCB). According to the group, the “Nashville Stars” are aiming “to become the first MLB franchise to adopt a name from the Negro Leagues.” The Stars have already partnered with New Era Cap, the official cap of MLB, to sell their merchandise. The goal for MCB is to have the franchise established by 2029.
Charlotte, while without an official group dedicated to founding a franchise, is another city in the mix. The city’s rapid growth in population and urban development make it very appealing to MLB. Charlotte has proven its professional sport viability through the Panthers (NFL) and Hornets (NBA). Charlotte already has a Minor League Baseball (MILB) team, the Knights, established in the city. The only issue that Charlotte faces is competition from Raleigh-Durham, as this is another possible destination for an MLB team.
Portland, similar to Nashville, has a group dedicated to bringing a team to the city. The Portland Diamond Project has already released project renderings for a potential MLB stadium in the city. Expansion to the Pacific Northwest would be key for Manfred’s geographical goals for the league, as the Seattle Mariners are the only team in the region.
Finally, Salt Lake City is another potential city. Salt Lake City already has a massive tourism scene, and presents an opportunity for MLB to expand its presence across the West. Big League Utah is the group that is most focused on drawing a team to the region. Utah’s sports culture, location, economy, and quality of life make Salt Lake City ready for a major league team.
However, MLB expansion would require division realignment, potentially disrupting long-standing rivalries and traditions that define the league’s identity. The league’s decisions on new divisional structures will affect competitive balance, travel demands, and fan alignment across markets. Expansion carries consequences that extend far beyond simply adding two teams, shaping MLB’s geographic footprint and economic landscape for decades. With ownership groups already mobilizing and several cities demonstrating readiness, expansion appears increasingly likely within the next decade and would deliver new investment, civic identity, and major league opportunity to the cities ultimately selected.
