72% of Metro Vancouver residents support the idea of MLB expansion team: survey | Daily Hive

72% of Metro Vancouver residents support the idea of Major League Baseball expansion team: survey

Nat Bailey Stadium. (Vancouver Canadians)

This week, Vancouver City Council is expected to approve a member motion by Mayor Ken Sim that triggers a City of Vancouver-led bidding process seeking prospective proponents with very deep pockets who are willing to pursue a Major League Baseball (MLB) expansion franchise for Vancouver.

Mayor Sim told Daily Hive Urbanized last week his motion was triggered after “very credible parties” expressed interest, prompting his move to create a transparent and structured approach that would support the effort.

This is also a time-limited opportunity, as the MLB is looking to add two expansion teams before the end of this decade. The last time the league expanded was in the early 1990s, and Sim believes such a window to land a franchise may not return for decades.

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Two days after Sim’s announcement, local polling firm Research Co. conducted a survey gauging the public support for an MLB team in Vancouver.

It found strong support, with 72 per cent of British Columbians as a whole in favour, including 29 per cent who think it is a “very good idea” and 43 per cent who think it is a “good idea.” The firm notes that this is 12 per cent higher than a similar poll it conducted in August 2023.

Within Metro Vancouver, 72 per cent also expressed support, entailing 26 per cent deeming it to be a “very good idea” and 46 per cent who indicated it is a “good idea.”

There are even stronger levels of support in the Fraser Valley, reaching 83 per cent, with 44 per cent believing it is a “very good idea” and 39 per cent noting it is a “good idea.”

Strong levels of support were found across all income levels, ethnicities, and political lines.

Across the province, South Asians (82 per cent; 36 per cent “very good idea” and 46 per cent “good idea”) are more likely to support having an MLB team in Vancouver, followed by Europeans (70 per cent; 30 per cent “very good idea” and 40 per cent “good idea”) and East Asians (67 per cent; 20 per cent “good idea” and 47 per cent “very good idea”).

There are also similar levels of support across political lines, based on how respondents voted in the 2024 provincial general election. Voters of B.C.’s two main political parties are essentially at a tie in their level of support, with Conservative Party of B.C. voters at 76 per cent (31 per cent “very good” and 45 per cent “good”) and BC NDP voters at 75 per cent (31 per cent “very good” and 44 per cent “good”). As for voters of the Green Party of B.C., 68 per cent are in support (28 per cent “very good” and 40 per cent “good”).

The survey also gauged some early interest in the range of factors that financially sustain a major professional sports franchise.

Nearly six-in-10 (59 per cent) respondents living in Metro Vancouver noted they would attend at least one MLB home game a year, with 28 per cent indicating “very likely” and 31 per cent “somewhat likely.” One-third (33 per cent) of the region’s residents would likely buy season tickets, 59 per cent would likely watch the team’s games at home, 50 per cent would likely watch the team’s games at a bar/pub, 55 per cent would likely buy team apparel/merchandise, and 70 per cent would likely stop rooting for their current MLB team to support Vancouver’s new franchise.

Over half of British Columbians overall and Metro Vancouver residents already have a favourite MLB team, with even stronger proportions in the Fraser Valley.

Province-wide, 49 per cent support the Toronto Blue Jays, seven per cent are fans of the Seattle Mariners, and four per cent support another team. There are similar proportions among Metro Vancouver residents, reaching 46 per cent, eight per cent, and five per cent, respectively.

Beyond this survey’s parameters on public opinion, the critical mass of the team’s market is also vital. According to the provincial government’s population forecasts, Metro Vancouver’s population reached 3.14 million residents in 2025 and could grow to 3.54 million by 2035 and 3.89 million by 2046.

Destination Vancouver has also noted that tourism is thriving, with a record 11.3 million overnight visitors recorded in the region in 2025, beating the previous record set in 2024.

The survey was conducted from April 16 to 18, 2026, with 802 adult respondents. It has a margin of error of +/-3.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

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