Cities that Vancouver is competing with to land an MLB expansion team
One of the most surprising local sports stories this year has been Vancouver’s pursuit of a Major League Baseball expansion franchise.
The Show Vancouver Bid Corporation, led by local real estate developer Zack Ross, was introduced last month as the group that will attempt to bring an MLB franchise to the city.
MLB is expected to add two more franchises, with multiple cities having already expressed interest.
Vancouver’s odds of landing a franchise have increased with the emergence of an ownership group. Plus, Manfred has said before that MLB expansion is viable in Vancouver.
“I think Vancouver’s a great city,” Manfred said last fall. “I think that Canada has been unbelievably supportive of Major League Baseball. I can’t say enough about the support that the Blue Jays have received. I happened to be in Western Canada this summer, [and] was absolutely blown away by the Blue Jay gear, the talk about the Blue Jays, how into it they are.”
With Manfred wanting to make an expansion decision before his term ends in 2029, there’s time for Vancouver to get it together. Finding a stadium site would be the next major task.
In the meantime, here’s who Vancouver is up against as they work to get an MLB franchise.
1. Salt Lake City
- Metro population: 2.8 million
Salt Lake City is the only place on this list that features both an ownership group leading the charge and a stadium site ready to go.
The ownership group is being led by the Larry H. Miller company, which previously owned the NBA’s Utah Jazz. Construction is already underway on a 100-acre site on the west side of Salt Lake City, which includes office space, housing, a sustainable mixed-use area, and a potential MLB ballpark.
2. Nashville
- Metro population: 2.4 million
Back in 2023 when MLB players were polled about which city should get an expansion team, Nashville was the runaway favourite, with 69 per cent of players picking the Tennessee capital as the best choice.
There’s no ownership group yet. However, Joan Loar, managing director of Music City Baseball, said in 2025 that they will finalize the ownership group later in the process, once the expansion fee is known.
Nashville doesn’t have a designated stadium site, although two potential areas have been selected.
3. Portland
- Metro population: 2.54 million
Portland has been publicly vying for an MLB franchise ever since the early 2000s. Their efforts have intensified over the last decade, with the creation of the Portland Diamond Project. That includes a group of investors fighting to bring an MLB franchise to the city, headlined the Russell Wilson and Ciara power couple.
They have pieces in place, such as a proposed site (Zidell Park) for an MLB stadium. It’s a site that’s been approved by Portland City Council.
There’s also a plan to pay for the stadium, as the Portland City Council approved a bill that would see income taxes from players (both home and away) and employees of the team earning over $100,000 go toward paying off construction costs.
However, there isn’t a known ownership group willing to make this all become a reality, even if there are investors such as Wilson and Ciara supporting the efforts.
4. Raleigh
- Metro Population: 2.4 million
Raleigh, North Carolina, has one of the major elements needed to support an MLB team: a viable ownership group.
Back in 2024, Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon expressed his desire to bring a baseball team to Raleigh. He’s since shown his willingness to dabble in other pro sports franchises, having purchased the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers since then.
However, things haven’t gone as swimmingly in Portland as they are in Carolina.
5. Sacramento
Sacramento is temporarily hosting the Athletics before they relocate from Oakland to Las Vegas. (Dennis Lee-Imagn Images)
- Metro population: 2.8 million
Much like Vancouver, Sacramento’s municipal politicians have been pushing for an MLB franchise.
Back in May, the city unveiled a US$4 billion plan to land a team. It includes a riverfront stadium and an entertainment district.
The city is also currently hosting the Athletics, as they transition from Oakland to Las Vegas.
But there’s one major problem: Sacramento doesn’t currently have an ownership group or a lead investor.
6. Charlotte
- Metro population: 2.9 million
Charlotte, another city in North Carolina, has been in the discussion for landing an MLB franchise.
However, they currently aren’t even the most likely MLB expansion city in their own state, with Raleigh having an actual ownership group showing interest.
Although Charlotte has the population to support an MLB team, especially compared to Raleigh, the lack of an ownership group puts them in a tough spot.
7. Montreal
Metro population: 4.4 million
This would be the dream scenario for many Canadian baseball fans.
Of all the cities on this list, no market is larger than Montreal. The Montreal Expos brand has a storied past and would be an easy sell in the market.
However, the past failures in the market haven’t been rectified. There currently isn’t an ownership group or a viable stadium. Until that happens, bringing back the Expos is more dream than reality.