MLB in Vancouver?

[shreddog]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

I somehow doubt the "Vancouver Athletics" are going to get a lot of hype.

Vancouver Eh's??

[djmk]

I would rather see this in Mexico City

[svlt]

Vancouver on an MLB shortlist is like seeing Salt Lake City or Saskatoon on an NHL shortlist. Or maybe even worse, Halifax. Or any non-US market on an NBA shortlist not named Vancouver, Montreal or Mexico City.

[ericmacm]

I think MLB in Vancouver will eventually happen (and I would very much like to see it happen), but it has a long way to go. There are a lot of cities that are making actual efforts right now to secure future teams or a relocated franchise, including Montreal, Nashville, and Portland, which is something Vancouver is not really doing. It was interesting to see that news back last year about the Diamondbacks looking into BC Place as a backup venue in case Chase Field were to have an issue, but I find the notion of the Diamondbacks relocating to Vancouver unlikely, as I think they are more likely to settle for something like Las Vegas.

The Athletics are an interesting opportunity, but I really think they will end up going to Portland. The discussion is definitely worth having, though. It seems like the big-4 leagues are definitely warming up to the idea of Canada again these days, and especially with what is happening with the Rays/Montreal, it's not out of the question that a team might want to relocate to Vancouver.

Vancouver and the BC media market as a whole are capable of supporting another big-4 team and the case for it will only be made stronger as the Lower Mainland grows in population, but I don't know if it will be baseball. I think efforts are best focused right now on bringing the NBA back to Vancouver. That, to me at least, seems much more achievable.

[Migrant_Coconut]

And we've already got an NBA-ready stadium, so that's a plus. We just need a billionaire owner and a team name.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by ericmacm

I think MLB in Vancouver will eventually happen (and I would very much like to see it happen), but it has a long way to go. There are a lot of cities that are making actual efforts right now to secure future teams or a relocated franchise, including Montreal, Nashville, and Portland, which is something Vancouver is not really doing. It was interesting to see that news back last year about the Diamondbacks looking into BC Place as a backup venue in case Chase Field were to have an issue, but I find the notion of the Diamondbacks relocating to Vancouver unlikely, as I think they are more likely to settle for something like Las Vegas.

The Athletics are an interesting opportunity, but I really think they will end up going to Portland. The discussion is definitely worth having, though. It seems like the big-4 leagues are definitely warming up to the idea of Canada again these days, and especially with what is happening with the Rays/Montreal, it's not out of the question that a team might want to relocate to Vancouver.

Vancouver and the BC media market as a whole are capable of supporting another big-4 team and the case for it will only be made stronger as the Lower Mainland grows in population, but I don't know if it will be baseball. I think efforts are best focused right now on bringing the NBA back to Vancouver. That, to me at least, seems much more achievable.

Until there are a lot more international players, the NBA will never work in Vancouver. Not because the city won't support the team, but because the team won't support the city. The American players don't like it here, and if they aren't happy with their situation, they will sabotage the team. So we will be a bad team year after year after year, until they get moved again.

Vancouver is a baseball city, and the hockey season and baseball season play well of each other Got to build a AAA stadium that is upgradeable to MLB standards. That's the only path that I see working. A billion dollar MLB stadium built from scratch would be seen as too risky for anybody to build here.

[Migrant_Coconut]

If anything, we're a football city - plenty of NFL fans no matter how much the Lions 🞵🞵🞵🞵.

[logan5]

I'd say we are a pretty good baseball city. 20 000 fans at T Mobile is strong evidence of that.

[Migrant_Coconut]

I believe T-Mobile is the Mariners stadium. If we're talking Vancouverites in Seattle, the Seahawks average 60-70k, thrice that amount; if not, Nat Bailey averages 6k.

[jollyburger]

The only way you make it work is with a billionaire local owner with money to burn.

[EastVanMark]

For those scoring at home Forbes is listing Vancouver’s chances at landing the A’s at 14-1

[EastVanMark]

From Global News’ Richard Zussman:

B.C. premier throws support behind possible major league baseball team in Vancouver


“B.C. Premier John Horgan says he is “one hundred per cent” behind the idea of a major league baseball team coming to Vancouver.”

Now, of course, we need to discuss a whole bunch of other issues before we get a ball thrown and a bat swung, but if there was a prospect of bringing MLB to Vancouver I would be right behind that and I know Minister (Melanie) Mark would be very enthusiastic as well.”

[jollyburger]

Next he's going to say he'll be the first in line to buy a season ticket.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Unless he's going to buy the team and the stadium too, he'll be waiting for that ticket a very long while...

[jollyburger]

Vancouver mayor makes pitch for Major League Baseball team

Mayor Ken Sim is making a pitch to land a Major League Baseball (MLB) team in Vancouver.

Sim told Business in Vancouver Monday that he will introduce a motion at an April 22 council meeting that directs staff to initiate a process that attracts potential ownership groups interested in pursuing an expansion franchise.

“This is a unique opportunity where we know Major League Baseball wants to expand,” the mayor said. “It's on their calendar. If they didn't put that out there, we wouldn't be having this conversation.”

Sim said no taxpayer money is contemplated in the process, explaining that council’s role is simply to get behind a bid from potential owners to strengthen the chances of a group landing a team in Vancouver.

The mayor’s motion says “a proponent group has signalled interest in exploring a bid” for Vancouver.

Sim didn’t provide details in the interview, but said: “What I can tell you is that the credible people that are interested—and there will be a lot of people interested—they will bring a network and know-how that understands this process very well.”

The mayor’s motion makes no mention of where a team could potentially play, with BC Place Stadium the only venue that has hosted MLB exhibition games. Sim said he could think of three to four locations for a stadium, but wouldn’t disclose them, leaving that decision to potential bidders.

https://www.nsnews.com/economy-law-polit...or-league-baseball-team-ken-sim-12139380

[Migrant_Coconut]

At a time when the soccer team is threatening to leave? Definitely not a half-assed election ploy at all, no sir...

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

At a time when the soccer team is threatening to leave? Definitely not a half-assed election ploy at all, no sir...

I mean who cares about MLS let alone MLB as an election issue?

[Migrant_Coconut]

Hence "half-assed." I'm reminded of that other guy who kept promising to bring NBA back because he knew he had no chance of winning.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

I mean who cares about MLS let alone MLB as an election issue?

Some people can't fathom that Ken Sim might actually do mayoral stuff sometimes.

[phesto]

Average MLB attendance is 2,400,000 or 30,000 per home game over an 81 home game schedule. Even in the most wildly optimistic scenario I can't see Vancouver getting there. For reference, the Vancouver Canadians attendance last year was 277,000.

The only thing I can see coming from this is an actual stadium proposal. Maybe over the railyards at Canada Place?

A combo Whitecaps/baseball stadium would be a cool concept, but I don't think that would fly for an MLB expansion bid.