This is a great way for them to make money, Olney said. Not much changes. The following statement was released by Oakland Athletic Club President Dave Kaval. I welcome any business to Nashville, but they should not expect any taxpayer contribution. A new baseball stadium will be built in the early 2025s, and competition will begin in the spring of 2026. Major League Baseball is also evaluating cities outside the top ten that are not among the top ten candidates, such as San Antonio, Phoenix, and Tampa. Ive talked to club presidents who really dont like the idea of a team moving to Nashville because they think its such fertile ground, and they would rather have the Oakland Athletics solve their own situation, maybe go to Las Vegas. The Cardinals are one of the most popular teams in the Nashville area, and many fans make the trip to see them play. John intends to maintain absolute control over the Orioles to manage, to sell, or, if he chooses, to move to Tennessee (where he has a home and where his wifes career is headquartered) without having to answer to anyone, according to the lawsuit. Other cities rumored to be considered are Las Vegas, Portland, Charlotte, and Montreal. Earlier this month, Music City Baseball announced that they had narrowed their search to Nashville State University in North Nashville. About. While he was not specific about which cities are being considered, several, including Nashville, have been mentioned. The project is extremely exciting because it will be the first new Major League Baseball stadium in the United States in over 20 years. The Chargers have a lease agreement with the City of San Diego that expires in 2020, and it is unlikely that they will sign a new one. According to a lawsuit filed in Nashville, Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos son, Michael, is attempting to relocate the team. The Nashville Stars, a Tennessee management group vying to bring an MLB franchise to the state, announced the addition of Don Mattingly as an advisor. Our goal is to secure a real estate site and complete construction of a new entertainment venue & baseball ballpark in early 2027. Id love to have a team as a middle Tennessee resident, but they arent leaving the #13 tv market to go to the 29th. However, the city is also gaining recognition for its growing economy and thriving sports scene. American League Championship Series (ALCS) & National League Championship Series (NLCS): LDS winners would square off for league pennants. Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter. Second Pro: Nashville's Market Size . Population: 335,709 Other Franchises: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (average attendance: 49,000-plus; one championship), Tampa Bay Lightning (average attendance: 17,000-plus; one championship) Baseball . It has been nearly 16 years since the Montreal Expos moved south of the border to become the Washington Nationals. The former top prospect acquired in the trade that sent Arenado to St. Louis struggled to a .233/.270/.432 slash . The Nashville Stars would be the seventh American League club. Baseball is in our DNA. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The Nashville Sounds, a AAA affiliate of the SeattleMariners, would be housed in the stadium. MCB is committed to bringing a Major League Baseball franchise to the City of Nashville as. ); For the past 20 years, the Athletics have been one of the lowest payroll teams in all of baseball. While the Nashville Sounds currently play in Nashville, we believe that one of the rowdiest cities in the United States could become the home of an exciting baseball team. Although it is not yet official, it is clear that MLB is interested in expanding to Nashville and that Music City Baseball is enthusiastic about the citys future. Politicians, businesspeople, and community leaders have all backed the organization in its effort to establish a new nonprofit organization. This park can hold up to 30,000 people. He is a proud supporter of his local team, the Toronto Blue Jays, and loves to explore the history and culture of the sport. We are a moving company, after all. Music City Baseball is a group focused on bringing MLB to Nashville and rebirthing the Nashville Stars, a former Negro League team that lasted for nearly two decades. In May of 2017, the Nashville Sounds announced that they would be moving to a new ballpark in 2020. August 1, 2022 by Dave Harris The Nashville Stars will bring the MLB experience to Nashville, building on our focus of baseball, families, community and entertainment. Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has spoken about expansionand has mentioned Nashville as a possible home for a future franchise. And is the city getting closer to a possible plan? 28th largest media market in the US; . The new ballpark, which will be located in the Sulphur Dell area of downtown Nashville, will be the home of the Sounds and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. Stewart is the public face of a diverse ownership group currently lobbying the MLB for a franchise. The current population in the Nashville metropolitan area is 1,294,000 as of 2022. Services. A group of investors has been trying to build momentum for an MLB team in Nashville, to be called the Nashville Stars, though questions about their ability to fund the effort and a possible stadium location remain. Montreal makes it more challenging from a geographic perspective. Sulphur Dell was a cornerstone for all of baseball including the Negro Leagues. a team moving to a new city . The year was 1978 and Robinson began his major league journey with the Brooklyn Dodgers Triple-A International League affiliate, the Montreal Royals. "I don't think Oakland comes to this time zone. The 3 northeast corridor teams (Mets, Phillies and Nationals) remain intact. Loar said Oakland won'tlikely move to Nashville and that Las Vegas is a more likely destination. Despite this, with baseballs popularity on the rise in Nashville, the upcoming stadium project is certain to be a major draw for the city. The Stars are deeply rooted in Nashvilles rich baseball history going back to 1860. The group wantsto complete construction of a new baseball stadium by early 2025 and commence competition in the spring of that same year. I think Raleigh would make more sense for the MLB. We believe we will get a team based on conversations that were having with the commissioner to commissioners office based on the city itself, and the progression of the city. Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brothers Thanasis , Kostas, and Alex have joined the Nashville SC ownership group, the team announced Thursday. Plenty of space from other territories. If Nashville is selected as an expansion site, it would be a huge boost for the citys economy and would further solidify its status as a major league city. Music City Baseball, led by John Loar, is in charge of bringing Major League Baseball to Nashville. })(); Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Donald Glover: From Baseball Player To Award-Winning Actor, Stay Informed About Baseball With Baseball Tonight Scoreboard Podcast, Making Your Baseball Bat Stand Out: Stamping A USA Logo For A Patriotic Touch. The Memphis Redbirds are the only team in the American Association without a major league affiliation and play in Memphis, Tennessee. Music City Baseball would need to line up financing and an ownership group; there are still a lot of boxes to check, but if they can check them, Olney believes Nashville would be at the top of the list to land an expansion team. "My father was a professional soccer player, and it was the first sport I fell in love with in Greece," Antetokounmpo said in a release. There was a problem saving your notification. But that means finding a good, central location for a stadium and people to build it. There are currently no expansion opportunities in Major League Baseball, but that doesnt mean that the Nashville Stars should pass up the chance. The Predators have a lease agreement with the City of Nashville that expires in 2020, and it is unlikely that they will sign a new one. The only thing they need is a chance to stand out among the free agents. The 2 southernmost teams from the original NL East (Braves and Marlins), along with the Tampa Bay Rays who switch leagues and the Nashville Stars expansion team would also join this division. If an MLB team were to relocate to Nashville, the Sounds would be forced to leave town, according to owner Frank Ward, who said a major league franchise and a Triple A franchise wouldn't be able to coexist in Nashville. With the support of John Loar and his group, a Major League Baseball team is in the works in Nashville. There would be no better place to begin a night out than south of Broadway on First Avenue. Cincinnati is close to Kentucky after all, and they did share a division with the Braves for a long time when both teams were in the NL West. They mentioned Nashville. Right now our focus is Tennessee State, and theres a lot of land there for us to do this development, Stewart said. Angelos, who has ruled the team for nearly two decades, claims he has no intention of changing it. Nashville's overall cost of living is 103, compared to the state's at 90. John Angelos wife, Margaret Valentine, works in the music industry in Nashville. Seen as MLBs favorite city without a team, Nashvilles prospects of picking up a franchise, specifically the Tampa Bay Rays, continues to see development with news and mutual interest going in their favor. Music City Baseball, LLC (MCB) is an organization of Nashville business, sports, music and community leaders. Our goal is to complete construction of a new baseball stadium by early 2027 and commence competition in the Spring of 2027. However, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfried has name dropped Nashville as a site of a potential franchise for a few years. The Blues have a lease agreement with the City of St. Louis that expires in 2020, and it is unlikely that they will sign a new one. He added, I think this is one step in that direction. What are the cities in the US/Canada where Major League Baseball should start in the near future? The organzation says they are naming the team the. Loar has said previously his topchoice for the ballpark would be on the East Bank of the Cumberland River, inhopes that the Titans would show support. Cracker Barrel and Jack Daniels Whiskey are two Tennessee specialties that serve as the foundation of the teams name. He flew to center field in his other at-bat in Friday's game. The group is reportedly eyeing an area of North Nashville near Tennessee State University for the location of the new stadium. Loar also led two failed efforts to buy the Florida Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers.