The future of a couple of MLB franchises is a bit murky, if we talk about the Oakland Athletics and the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Rays, who recently had a plan to split the 2022 season between Tampa and Montreal halted by the league, were 28th out of 30 MLB teams in average attendance, with 9,513 people.
They only surpassed the A’s and the Miami Marlins in the ranking.
The A’s were contenders for much of the season, and the Rays were a legitimate championship-caliber team.
There is a chance that those two franchises eventually relocate.
MLB fans started to debate the issue on Twitter after MLB Metrics raised the question.
“What city needs a MLB team?,” was the tweet, with a picture of the American map with all the existing franchises.
What city needs a MLB team? pic.twitter.com/2M5Swn6lQt
— MLB Metrics (@MLBMetrics) February 25, 2022
The replies had several ideas.
What Do Fans Think?
One of the most popular destinations for a new MLB franchise was Portland.
It has franchises in other professional sports in the country.
Other discussed destinations were Charlotte, Las Vegas, Nashville, and Salt Lake City.
Some fans made it clear that their choices would be different for potential expansion teams and relocating franchises.
“Expansion? Charlotte, Nashville, Portland are my top choices. Would also go Vegas, Vancouver, Montreal, New Orleans, maybe Omaha. Move a team? The Rays need to be moved in-land to Tampa, not St. Pete. Or move them to Orlando,” a fan wrote.
Expansion? Charlotte, Nashville, Portland are my top choices. Would also go Vegas, Vancouver, Montreal, New Orleans, maybe Omaha. Move a team? The Rays need to be moved in-land to Tampa, not St. Pete. Or move them to Orlando.
— Jon Csaplar (@CsapDaddy83) February 25, 2022
Here is another idea from a fan:
Relocate:
Rays➡️Montreal
Marlins➡️Charlotte
Dbacks➡️Vegas
Florida and Arizona had spring training and low A ball which meets the demand those areas support
Expand:
Portland and Nashville
If A’s relocate: Salt Lake or Vancouver— Shmob (@raabbird) February 25, 2022
It remains to be seen what kind of movement appears from MLB’s part regarding a potential relocation of an existing franchise.
At the moment, however, there are more pressing needs at the office’s level, like reaching a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the Players Association to guarantee a season in 2022.
There will be more than enough time to discuss potential expansion cities at length.
For now, those are the primary options.
