MLB expansion hasn’t taken place since MLB expansion teams the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays joined the league in 1998. It makes sense to make the MLB a 32-team league, right?<\/p>\n
MLB expansion fees were set at $130 million in 1998 when Arizona and Tampa Bay joined the league. Today’s expansion fees are estimated to exceed $2 billion in addition to the cost of a new stadium. So which five cities are ready for the next MLB expansion teams?<\/p>\n
Since 2005 the Blue Jays have been the only Canadian MLB team. With four million people in the Montreal metro area, Montreal is one of the favorite MLB expansion teams that potential owners are targeting. The only major league sports competition in the city is the Canadiens of the NHL.<\/p>\n
Montreal Expos played in the MLB as an expansion franchise from 1969 until relocating to Washington in 2004 primarily because they couldn’t find funding for a new stadium. With such a huge market, and the Red Sox and Blue Jays more than 300 miles away, it’s an enticing MLB expansion opportunity.<\/p>\n
Young fans of both teams might also take the opportunity to travel and legally drink and smoke weed.<\/a> MLB expansion into Montreal continues to heat up following calls to play half of Tampa Bay Ray’s games in Montreal. The “Sister city” proposal was rejected by the MLB<\/a> but it shows that the stage is set for Montreal as one of the favorite MLB expansion teams.<\/p>\n Today in #Nats<\/a> history \u2014 MLB agrees to sell the Nationals to a group led by Ted Lerner for $450 million. In 2002, the 29 other MLB owners collectively bought the Montreal Expos for $120 million and then moved the failing franchise to DC in 2005 pic.twitter.com\/1VCyYG9WXF<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 The District Dugout (@DistrictDugout) May 3, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n
\nMay 3, 2006:<\/p>\n