With the Oakland Athletics moving to Las Vegas and the Tampa Bay Rays securing plans for a new stadium, Major League Baseball is finally set to consider expansion. Commissioner Rob Manfred has indicated that growing the league from 30 to 32 teams is on the horizon, sparking intense speculation over which cities are ready and deserving of a team.
The proper city needs more than just a significant population. It needs baseball history, infrastructure, civic support, and a market that will resonate with fans and players alike. Here’s a deep dive into the five cities most primed to welcome a new MLB franchise, with suggested team names reflecting their culture, history, and identity.
1. Nashville, Tennessee
Nickname Suggestion: Nashville Sound (or Stars or Legends)
Market Strength: ★★★★★
Fan Base Readiness: ★★★★★
Stadium Plan: In progress (proposed site near the Cumberland River)
For good reason: Nashville tops nearly every list of potential MLB expansion cities. The capital of Tennessee is growing fast, brimming with culture, and already supports major pro teams in football (Titans), hockey (Predators), and soccer (SC).
The Music City Baseball group, led by former Red Sox GM Dave Dombrowski (before he joined the Phillies), has laid extensive groundwork for a team. Plans for a privately funded stadium and an ownership team that includes celebrities like Justin Timberlake and high-level sports executives have been made. There's also strong political and business backing across the board.
Team Name Ideas:
- Nashville Sound: A nod to the minor league team and the city’s country music heritage.
- Nashville Stars: Revives the name of a Negro League team once based in the town.
- Nashville Legends: Playing on music icons and larger-than-life personas the city is known for.
X-Factor: Nashville has already created an MLB pitch and branding materials. They’re not just ready—they’re waiting.
2. Charlotte or Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina
Nickname Suggestion: Carolina Flight (or Queen City Kings or Triangle Trains)
Market Strength: ★★★★☆
Fan Base Readiness: ★★★★☆
Stadium Plan: No finalized site, but several proposals exist
North Carolina is a gaping hole on the MLB map. College baseball thrives here (UNC, Duke, NC State, and more), and minor league teams like the Durham Bulls and Charlotte Knights do big business, yet there’s no significant league presence.
Charlotte is the more natural fit, with its booming financial center, NFL and NBA franchises, and rapidly growing population. But Raleigh-Durham (aka "The Triangle") offers deep collegiate support and tech-driven economic growth. Either way, the Carolinas are ripe for a team or a shared regional identity.
Team Name Ideas:
- Carolina Flight: Evokes the Wright brothers and NC’s aviation roots.
- Queen City Kings: A regal nod to Charlotte’s nickname.
- Triangle Trains: A shout-out to Durham's rail history and the famed Research Triangle.
- Carolina Captains: A nod to the military, aviation, and maritime history of Carolina
X-Factor: With NASCAR, ACC sports, and growing transplant populations from northern cities, the Carolinas already understand big-time sports, and they’re ready for more.
3. Portland, Oregon
Nickname Suggestion: Portland Pioneers (or Oregon Timber, Rose City Reign)
Market Strength: ★★★★☆
Fan Base Readiness: ★★★★☆
Stadium Plan: Multiple locations proposed by the Portland Diamond Project. Portland has always hovered on the fringe of the MLB conversation. It has a strong sports culture (Trail Blazers, Timbers), a progressive identity, and an underdog vibe that perfectly fits baseball’s grassroots appeal. Plus, there’s regional potential: a natural rivalry with Seattle and a large swath of the Pacific Northwest underserved by MLB.
The Portland Diamond Project, led by ex-Nike execs and backed by former Yankees greats and celebrities like Russell Wilson, has been working for years to secure land, investment, and civic support for a downtown stadium.
Team Name Ideas:
- Portland Pioneers: A nod to the Oregon Trail and the city’s frontier spirit.
- Oregon Timber: Pays tribute to the state’s logging history.
- Rose City Reign: Taps into the nickname “Rose City” and Portland’s dominant energy.
X-Factor: With the growing population and the corporate clout of Nike, Adidas, and Intel nearby, Portland could deliver a passionate and progressive fan base from Day One.
4. Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Nickname Suggestion: Montreal Expos 2.0 (or Les Royales, Montreal Voyageurs)
Market Strength: ★★★★☆
Fan Base Readiness: ★★★★★
Stadium Plan: Proposed site near downtown; no confirmed funding
Montreal is the only expansion candidate with unfinished business. After the Montreal Expos were relocated to Washington in 2005 (becoming the Nationals), baseball’s absence in the city has felt like an open wound. But fan support never truly died. Preseason games at Olympic Stadium routinely sell out, and there's a nostalgic, almost poetic push to bring the Expos back.
The biggest hurdles are logistical: stadium funding and corporate commitment. But public sentiment, especially among Gen X and millennial Canadians, is red-hot for baseball.
Team Name Ideas:
- Montreal Expos: There's a strong case for reviving the name, logo, and colors.
- Les Royales: French twist on the "Royals" that echoes Quebec’s cultural heritage.
- Montreal Voyageurs: Honors the French-Canadian fur traders and early explorers.
- Montreal Musketeers: A nod to the old French tale and a nice alliteration
X-Factor: MLB wants to grow internationally again, and Montreal offers a ready-made fan base with a proud past and a hopeful future. It would instantly become one of the league’s most unique and bilingual franchises.
5. Salt Lake City, Utah
Nickname Suggestion: Utah Peaks (or Salt Lake Sluggers, Great Basin Bears)
Market Strength: ★★★☆☆
Fan Base Readiness: ★★★★☆
Stadium Plan: The Big League Utah coalition has proposed a stadium on a 100-acre site near downtown Salt Lake City, the newest serious entrant in the expansion conversation. Spearheaded by the coalition, the city boldly pushes to bring MLB to the Wasatch Front. The group includes former Jazz owner Gail Miller, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, and business leaders who see baseball as a natural fit for Utah’s family-friendly, rapidly diversifying population.
While Utah's media market is smaller than others on this list, its central location, scenic setting, and underdog spirit make it a refreshing addition to the league.
Team Name Ideas:
- Utah Peaks: Reflects the city’s stunning mountainous surroundings.
- Salt Lake Sluggers: Alliteration with a cheeky edge.
- Great Basin Bears: Ties into local geography and wildlife.
X-Factor: Salt Lake’s inclusion shows how far baseball’s reach can go. It does not matter if they’re serious, only if they can win the race.
Final Thoughts: From 30 to 32
Expanding to 32 teams would allow MLB to realign into four divisions of eight teams, reduce travel burdens, and introduce new rivalries. Here's one possible outcome:
- AL East: Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Orioles, Rays, Montreal, Charlotte, Cleveland
- AL West: Astros, Mariners, Rangers, Angels, Athletics (Vegas), Portland, Royals, Twins
- NL Central: Cubs, Cardinals, Reds, Brewers, Pirates, Nashville, Rockies, Tigers
- NL South: Braves, Marlins, Nationals, Phillies, Mets, Salt Lake City, Diamondbacks, Padres
The next few years will be critical. But if MLB is serious about embracing its past, expanding its future, and leaning into diverse and passionate markets, cities like Nashville, the Carolinas, Portland, Montreal, and Salt Lake City are ready to play ball.
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