Expansion

Casino · 02-13-2019, 01:18 PM

So I'm planning out an "alternate history" run with the MLB starting in 1901 with all fictional players, more or less keeping with the normal way that the league expanded and moved historically up until the early 2000's.

I'm thinking I'm going to keep the Expos in Montreal, give Washington the expansion team, bringing the league up to 31, but I'd like to round things out to 32. Question is, where?

So I was just curious as to what those of you who have expanded the MLB to 32 teams have done, and why. Vegas? Charlotte? New Orleans? That's probably my top three at this point.

wallewalls · 02-13-2019, 01:34 PM

Portland is usually the first place I expand to

Lordofbrewtown · 02-13-2019, 09:18 PM

I'd pick the city based on what kind of setup you want. Are you going 4x4 each league - that could dictate what city you want to make divisions geographically feasible. If you're going 2x8 in each league, that provides more flexibility.

The Game · 02-13-2019, 10:21 PM

Heres what my MLB looks like in 20230. Indy & Las Vegas were expansion teams in 2019. The rest in 2028 or 29.

Just realized not all the teams are showing. i have 36 teams total.

waittilnextyear · 02-13-2019, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casino

So I'm planning out an "alternate history" run with the MLB starting in 1901 with all fictional players, more or less keeping with the normal way that the league expanded and moved historically up until the early 2000's.

I'm thinking I'm going to keep the Expos in Montreal, give Washington the expansion team, bringing the league up to 31, but I'd like to round things out to 32. Question is, where?

So I was just curious as to what those of you who have expanded the MLB to 32 teams have done, and why. Vegas? Charlotte? New Orleans? That's probably my top three at this point.

Ah, yes. This is my specialty. lol. I spend far too much time thinking about this kind of thing.

If you are looking for "realism" broadly defined, then there are a lot of factors to consider. Some of those factors include: metro area population (MSA), media market size (DMA), median family income, presence of other influential brands in the area (think the Braves' presence in the southeast USA), likely resistance from currently existing teams (think how MLB had to placate Angelos to move the Expos to Washington DC), how many other pro sports teams share the same space, whether to expand domestically or internationally. To name a few.

Of your top 3, I think Charlotte would be the best bet...

The problem with Las Vegas is that it is an itinerant town and has a relatively low income level due to all the service workers. Presumably, there wouldn't be a ton of disposable income to drop on ballgames. Although the gaming aspect provides and interesting avenue for selling luxury boxes that normally are rented by corporations. Vegas is also a pretty tiny media market even though it is growing.

The problem with New Orleans is pretty similar to that of Vegas. The median income is pretty low. There's also the problem of the Saints because the presence of a football team tends to depress baseball attendance all other things being equal. In some ways this makes intuitive sense because the dough that you spend on Saints season tickets can't be used to buy baseball tickets. Like Vegas, New Orleans is fairly small in terms of DMA/MSA stats. Plus, a retractable roof stadium is an absolute must down there.

Charlotte, on the other hand, has a sizable corporate base and a relatively affluent population relatively speaking. A growing population with DMA/MSA stats ahead of both your other contenders. The Carolina Panthers are present and I've heard that Charlotte has a decent amount of urban sprawl (a drawback) so it's not an uber perfect situation. Charlotte is decently far away from both Atlanta and Washington DC, but they'd still be contending with the reach of the Atlanta Braves.

Some other options I've kicked around that make some degree of sense...

Vancouver, Mexico City, Monterrey, Raleigh, Portland, New York/Brooklyn/Jersey City, San Antonio/Austin, San Jose

None of those are perfect options when considering all the criteria above, but some may make more sense than others depending on how you weight the criteria. It could also come down to how you want to align the divisions and where do you need a new team to make that work best.

GoPedro99 · 02-14-2019, 12:05 AM

Go with an alternate history in the 90’s. In the early 90’s expansion give a team to buffalo NY(were a finalist for a team that cycle of expansion) and go from there

Casino · 02-14-2019, 11:06 AM

I haven't decided what I'd like the divisions to look like...8 team divisions are a bit big for my liking but I'm not convinced that 4 team divisions work super well with modern baseball. We shall see.

waittilnextyear makes a real compelling argument for Charlotte even though I like the allure of a team in Las Vegas.

I love giving Canada teams so Vancouver is also a solid suggestion in my mind.

Brad K · 02-14-2019, 03:34 PM

Advantages of 8 per division.

1. With division winners only qualifying, post season almost meaningful. Best team has a bit over a 25% chance of winning the world series. No where close to that with 4 per division (or with wild cards).

2. Good 160 game schedule available, 3/3 against out of division, 8/8 against in division. 160 games means the league championship series can be lengthened to seven games without increasing season length vs 162 game schedule.

3. Nobody can complain about a tough schedule. Its equal: opponents, home/away.

4. 8 teams per division and 112 in 48 out reduce chances of a sub .500 division winner.

02-13-2019, 01:18 PM	#1
Casino Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Lakeville, Minnesota Posts: 41	Expansion So I'm planning out an "alternate history" run with the MLB starting in 1901 with all fictional players, more or less keeping with the normal way that the league expanded and moved historically up until the early 2000's. I'm thinking I'm going to keep the Expos in Montreal, give Washington the expansion team, bringing the league up to 31, but I'd like to round things out to 32. Question is, where? So I was just curious as to what those of you who have expanded the MLB to 32 teams have done, and why. Vegas? Charlotte? New Orleans? That's probably my top three at this point. __________________ "I don't think about what I'm thinking about nearly as much as you think about what I'm thinking about."

02-13-2019, 10:21 PM	#4
The Game Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Inside The Game Posts: 30,937	Heres what my MLB looks like in 20230. Indy & Las Vegas were expansion teams in 2019. The rest in 2028 or 29. Just realized not all the teams are showing. i have 36 teams total. Attached Images __________________ Go today don't wait for tomorrow It isn't promised, all the time you get borrowed Don't live your life for other people Don't bottle your emotions till they crack and fill a couple just sorrows Take your mind and refocus go get a paper write your goals out Throw your middle fingers to all your haters "Stay Strong" Last edited by The Game; 02-13-2019 at 10:34 PM.

02-14-2019, 11:06 AM	#7
Casino Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Lakeville, Minnesota Posts: 41	I haven't decided what I'd like the divisions to look like...8 team divisions are a bit big for my liking but I'm not convinced that 4 team divisions work super well with modern baseball. We shall see. waittilnextyear makes a real compelling argument for Charlotte even though I like the allure of a team in Las Vegas. I love giving Canada teams so Vancouver is also a solid suggestion in my mind. __________________ "I don't think about what I'm thinking about nearly as much as you think about what I'm thinking about."

02-13-2019, 01:34 PM	#2
wallewalls All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 774 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	Portland is usually the first place I expand to

02-13-2019, 09:18 PM	#3
Lordofbrewtown Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: St Petersburg, FL Posts: 302	I'd pick the city based on what kind of setup you want. Are you going 4x4 each league - that could dictate what city you want to make divisions geographically feasible. If you're going 2x8 in each league, that provides more flexibility.

02-14-2019, 12:05 AM	#6
GoPedro99 All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 863	Go with an alternate history in the 90’s. In the early 90’s expansion give a team to buffalo NY(were a finalist for a team that cycle of expansion) and go from there

02-14-2019, 03:34 PM	#8
Brad K Banned Join Date: May 2016 Location: St Petersburg Florida USA Posts: 6,693 Infractions: 0/2 (4)	Advantages of 8 per division. 1. With division winners only qualifying, post season almost meaningful. Best team has a bit over a 25% chance of winning the world series. No where close to that with 4 per division (or with wild cards). 2. Good 160 game schedule available, 3/3 against out of division, 8/8 against in division. 160 games means the league championship series can be lengthened to seven games without increasing season length vs 162 game schedule. 3. Nobody can complain about a tough schedule. Its equal: opponents, home/away. 4. 8 teams per division and 112 in 48 out reduce chances of a sub .500 division winner.