Nashville could possibly see yet another professional sports team! (Portland: buying, fence)

[jjbradleynyc]

Orioles to Nashville? First I've heard of this "rumor."

Probably won't happen, but I think it's extremely positive that Nashville is the first city that comes up as a relocation spot.

https://www.bizjournals.com/baltimor...ooted-for.html

[nashvols]

Originally Posted by jjbradleynyc

Orioles to Nashville? First I've heard of this "rumor."

Probably won't happen, but I think it's extremely positive that Nashville is the first city that comes up as a relocation spot.

https://www.bizjournals.com/baltimor...ooted-for.html

We're being used as leverage, period. The son of the owner (who is basically running the operation now) has a home here. It's convenient. And I'd generally be wary of any team expressing interest in relocating here. They're looking for taxpayer money.

I think any proposal to move a team is DOA if the owner doesn't finance a significant portion of the bill for the new stadium that would be needed. I don't think either of the mayoral candidates left are going to heavily pursue this -- certainly not John Cooper -- especially with the recent awareness that Metro needs to work on some budget issues.

At a minimum, I think it is 10-15 years before we're ready to handle MLB.

[WakeMed]

Originally Posted by nashvols

We're being used as leverage, period. The son of the owner (who is basically running the operation now) has a home here. It's convenient. And I'd generally be wary of any team expressing interest in relocating here. They're looking for taxpayer money.

I think any proposal to move a team is DOA if the owner doesn't finance a significant portion of the bill for the new stadium that would be needed. I don't think either of the mayoral candidates left are going to heavily pursue this -- certainly not John Cooper -- especially with the recent awareness that Metro needs to work on some budget issues.

At a minimum, I think it is 10-15 years before we're ready to handle MLB.

At least that long since the almost new First Tn ballpark is too cramped in by the surroundings to expand. MLB would require an all new stadium. Maybe a dome could be constructed to house both the Titans and a baseball team also, provided the Titans are even still here by then.

[DonCorleone]

Originally Posted by WakeMed

At least that long since the almost new First Tn ballpark is too cramped in by the surroundings to expand. MLB would require an all new stadium. Maybe a dome could be constructed to house both the Titans and a baseball team also, provided the Titans are even still here by then.

(Edit: I'm totally wrong about this paragraph) I think there was some discussion of expanding First TN in a Tennessean article that outlined the "what ifs" of a potential MLB expansion team in the coming years. Seems like this article ran in the early summer. I forget the specifics, but the article made it sound as though First TN Park could be (dramatically) increased to accommodate the numbers needed for an MLB franchise. I have my serious doubts about the feasibility of this, but my recollection was that the article was pretty adamant that it was possible. *goes to look for the article*

edit: Here's the article from the 1/20/2019 issue of the Tennessean . Possibly paywall. So I was absolutely incorrect, the article specifically states "Metro government spent $91 million in 2015 to build the Sounds' First Tennessee Park — a 10,000-seat stadium that can’t be expanded to major league proportions."

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by nashvols

We're being used as leverage, period. The son of the owner (who is basically running the operation now) has a home here. It's convenient. And I'd generally be wary of any team expressing interest in relocating here. They're looking for taxpayer money.

I think any proposal to move a team is DOA if the owner doesn't finance a significant portion of the bill for the new stadium that would be needed. I don't think either of the mayoral candidates left are going to heavily pursue this -- certainly not John Cooper -- especially with the recent awareness that Metro needs to work on some budget issues.

At a minimum, I think it is 10-15 years before we're ready to handle MLB.

That would make sense! I couldn't see them leaving Baltimore, but hey, money talks too, so you never know.

I think Nashville will get an MLB team--not sure when, but I think interest seems to be very high, when mentioning Nashville & MLB.

[DonCorleone]

Group trying to bring Major League Baseball to Music City has chosen name: Nashville Stars

from The Tennessean...

A few highlights:

The local group, Music City Baseball LLC, led by newcomer businessman John Loar and also including former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and retired pitcher and front office executive Dave Stewart, announced the nickname Wednesday in meetings with local media.

Nashville Stars is an homage to the Negro Leagues, Loar said. Stars was one of several nicknames used by a Nashville team in the Negro Leagues.

The team nickname comes with the context that there is no formal effort by the MLB to expand. The decision to expand, and the process of selecting expansion cities typically takes many years.

The idea of a big-league franchise coming to Nashville gained momentum last summer when MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred dropped the city's name during a television interview while in Washington, D.C., for the All-Star Game.

"We have a real list of cities that I think are not only interested in having baseball, but are viable in terms of baseball — places like Portland (Ore.), Las Vegas, Charlotte, (N.C.), Nashville in the United States, certainly Montreal, maybe Vancouver, in Canada. We think there's places in Mexico we could go over the long haul," Manfred said.

MLB has stated that any expansion plans are on hold until stadium issues in Oakland and Tampa are settled. The Tampa Bay Rays were given permission from the league office in June to explore playing a split season with games in Tampa and Montreal.

So...don't get too excited, but I guess there's a pretty influential group continuing to stoke the embers of expansion.

As a baseball fan, I'm not in favor of expansion. As a lifelong Nashvillian...I have my doubts that we can support a MLB franchise and support 3 other major sports franchises, but am certainly open to the possibility.

[N.Cal]

They had Dave Stewart and the other guy on yesterday on ESPN 102.5 The Game. Willy and Darren are huge baseball fans but even they said that people shouldn’t get too excited about this happening, at least in the near future.

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by DonCorleone

Group trying to bring Major League Baseball to Music City has chosen name: Nashville Stars

from The Tennessean...

A few highlights:







So...don't get too excited, but I guess there's a pretty influential group continuing to stoke the embers of expansion.

As a baseball fan, I'm not in favor of expansion. As a lifelong Nashvillian...I have my doubts that we can support a MLB franchise and support 3 other major sports franchises, but am certainly open to the possibility.

I was just reading that article.

This is extremely positive news for MLB & Nashville. There are many hurdles, and as the article said, it would be a 3 to 6 year project.

I think the support is there and the fanbase, and I think Nashville can support 4 teams.

I believe Nashville would be the smallest market with 4 teams, but considering the metro area is growing fast, and fan support would be drawn from the rest of TN and possibly other states, I don't believe that's the biggest challenge.

I think the biggest challenge is getting the ballpark built. That will be tough and expensive.

[KY_Transplant]

This is an honest question, and I don't mean to offend any hardcore Soccer fans, but is the MLS really on the same level as an MLB, NFL or NHL franchise. I hear a lot of comments about how an MLB team would not succeed in Nashville, with there already being three Pro Sports, but in my experience, MLS is a smaller league and with less attendance, appeal, etc.

I could be wrong, but just curious.

I think Nashville could support another team, but the MLB, like the NBA, is hard to swing for a lot of cities due to the sheer volume of games in one season.

Although, there is definitely a void of MLB teams in the South outside ATL and Florida.

[septimus]

you know who needs a MLB team... Willco. Let them pay for it.