Could North Carolina support a MLB team?

[havefunkc]

Great question!

My heart say APP-Solutely yes... If NC can handle hockey, we can definitely handle MLB.

However, my brain knows better:
1) Miami won't be going anywhere soon. New stadium assures this - given agreements between cities/teams, there is wording covering how long the Marlins will be in Miami (remember the team name change for example).
2) MLB ownership has a HUGE complex with any MLB team in Las Vegas. Ownership can threaten, but Vegas will not be getting a team anytime soon. Call it the perception of gambling and baseball - doesn't work too well (ask Pete Rose). This may change in the future, but not with today's culture.
3) NC/SC fan base is traditionally college. While the NFL/NHL/NBA has tried, tell me which one has been consistently a fan draw. Mr. Jordan with the (now) Bobcats, the Hurricanes and of course the Panthers each could share their challenges with making pro-sports a money making adventure. We (NC) like our college basketball and football - it's a winning thing.
4) Remember the Twins? There was a nice, formal attempt to get the Twins moved to NC. Incredible numbers and proposal (stadium and all), but went no where. The Braves fought this hard. Toss in the (now) Nationals, neither would be supportive of a new team in the South that would pull from their markets. It took some serious strong-arming and incentives to get Angelos (Orioles) to agree to let the Expos move to DC. And think what the Giants are doing with the A's stadium move today...

Now, I will add this. With the AAA Knights in Charlotte, IF the Queen City were to get a MLB team, the Knights would move. There is no 'rule' per se, but MLB does it's best to NOT have team within 30 miles of each other unless there is 'special circumstances' (Braves paid money to get AAA in the Atlanta metro area when they moved AAA from Richmond). There are examples of teams in place today (within 30 miles: Triad, NC for example with 4 teams within 50 miles), but they have been moving away from that for several years. A couple examples: Phoenix used to have AAA before the D-Backs... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Firebirds

Sidenote: Miami could be a great baseball town if the owner wasn't such a selfish pri@k. Imagine what would happen is Yoenis Cepdes and Aroldis Chapman palying for the Marlins. The locals would go nuts!

Ow well - dream a dream... I would LOVE to see the Reds playing a team from NC.

[AppSt94]

If a team were to move to NC, it would be Tampa

horrible attendance, horrible stadium, no signs of a new stadium coming anytime soon. also, i believe there is some rule that a MLB team can't be in the same city as a minor league team, so I think Raleigh would be your best bet, unless as mentioned above, the Knights were moved by the White Sox.

I still think Raleigh or the triangle area over Charlotte. McCrory said himself said Charlotte couldn't support MLB with the NFL, NBA, NASCAR, and PGA all here already

What is so horrible about Tropicana Field? Have you ever been? The bases are 90 feet apart just like every other ballpark and the dimensions are comparable to other MLB stadiums. Oh yeah, it never rains indoors.

[mtnjax]

4) Remember the Twins? There was a nice, formal attempt to get the Twins moved to NC. Incredible numbers and proposal (stadium and all), but went no where. The Braves fought this hard. Toss in the (now) Nationals, neither would be supportive of a new team in the South that would pull from their markets. It took some serious strong-arming and incentives to get Angelos (Orioles) to agree to let the Expos move to DC. And think what the Giants are doing with the A's stadium move today.

I thought the Twins issue was because a vote for funding of a new stadium didn't pass. never heard mention that the Braves had anything to do with it. Dont see why Braves opinion matters (ignoring the "south's" team label. they're not MY team) since we're a completely different state from GA. I get the O's beef with the Nats, which is stupid too. and so is the Giants trying to block the A's from San Jose

What is so horrible about Tropicana Field? Have you ever been? The bases are 90 feet apart just like every other ballpark and the dimensions are comparable to other MLB stadiums. Oh yeah, it never rains indoors.

just going off what i've read that it is an old stadium that is not in great shape and needs replacing which is why there is battle going on in Tampa/St. Pete about a new one. the attendance is horrible too. even with a 1st place team, they don't draw good crowds.

[AppSt94]

I live 30 minutes from the Trop. I can tell you that it is one the nicer places to see a game. Yes it's indoors and the rings offer some unique ground rules, but it is not that bad. It is always 72 degrees at game time and it never rains. If you ever spend a summer on the Florida Gulfcaost you would soon realize how miserable it can be outside after an afternoon rain shower. There are many reasons why they don't draw. The stadium is in a horrible location and is surrounded by water on three sides. Most people are third generation transplants that can't drop their dad's or granddad's home team from their childhood. There are a lot of Yankee and Red Sox fans in the area and by all accounts, many of them are not true baseball fans. They show up in mass when their team is good and stay away when they suck.

Another problem is the Tampa and St Pete are like the Hatfields and McCoys. They don't get along. Plus, it isn't an easy drive from Tampa to the stadium. Especially at rush hour. They are looking for new spots for a stadium, but the Bucs cause a bit of a problem. They used Hillborough County tax dollars to build Raymond James and there is some sort of clause that tax payer money cannot be used to build another stadium until 2020, or something like that.

[kiddbrewer]

Most people are third generation transplants that can't drop their dad's or granddad's home team from their childhood.

I think that would be the problem here in NC. There are a lot of Braves, Yankees, and Boston fans around here. I for one will not give up my Reds. I gave up my Redskins for the Panthers and look what that has gotten me.

But, on a side note, if a MLB team relocated within a reasonable drive from Browns Summit, I would more than likely see quite a few games and promote them to my #2 team.

[AppSt94]

I love baseball and will watch a game anytime, anywhere.

[HkyMtneer]

If Charlotte got an MLB franchise (which I agree is unlikely), I'd think the White Sox would relocate their AAA team and the franchise would just expand the existing stadium downtown. Charlotte metro is currently right at 2.3M. That is the same size as Pittsburgh metro and bigger than a few areas that have a franchise (Milwaukee, Cincinnati, KC, Cleveland).

One obstacle would be parking, although weekday afternoon games are not nearly as common these days and the stadium is an easy walk from the light rail. On evenings and weekends, they could use the same parking lots that the Panthers use for game days. From a scheduling standpoint, they'd have to make sure they don't schedule home weekend series at the same time as a Panthers home game but that would just be the last few weeks of the season.

It is a long shot and the chances would have been much better if the stadium had been moved downtown years ago but I can still dream.

Expanding the under-construction stadium in Uptown is not a possibility. The new stadium is being built only to AAA specs and the footprint the stadium is being constructed, as well as the manner in which it is being sat, will not allow for any further expansion (save a small increase in seating/boxes/etc. should the desire be there to add say another 1K or 5 or 6 boxes). I was walking around the new stadium the other day and although it will be a showpiece for AAA baseball it will be just that, a home for AAA baseball, which is what Beaver Sports Properties was going for. That having been said, a few spots do exist inside the 277 loop which would be feasible for a MLB stadium, should that ever be something that becomes feasible. At this point, I do not believe the Charlotte metro could support MLB (though I do believe they could support MLB just as well as, or better than, Miami). In 10-12 years...yes, I believe MLB's potential success in CLT becomes more plausible.

[wb247]

If my understanding of the situation is correct, Raleigh wouldn't work. I've always heard that the Durham Bulls own exclusive lifetime rights to professional baseball within a certain mileage of Durham. Their games are televised on a local station and everything. I've always heard that the Mudcats wanted to be in Raleigh, but instead built as close as they could without infringing on Durham's market rights. I don't know how true it is or not, but, like I said, it's what I always heard growing up in the area. A quick google search didn't turn up anything, but I'll keep looking later. I'd be curious to see whose rights would be superlative, but I've gotta think that, given the Bulls history in the state and with baseball, that they've got considerably more clout than your average minor league team.

[High Country Student]

I feel like every one of you create valid points about populations/other conflicting teams. My solution would be to stay away from Charlotte because they already have a lot of interaction with professional sports and they may not have enough support for another professional team. I love the idea of Raleigh if you can convince the bulls to move. The thing is, there are so many areas that would draw fans to games in Raleigh. Chapel hill, Durham, Greensboro, Burlington, and Raleigh all are well populated and could provide fan support to a team in Raleigh. I also view Raleigh as a very wealthy, young, and lively town which I think could create a lot of energy around a new professional sports team. Now it isn't gaurenteed to work but I see your best bet in North Carolina being Raleigh. Also as a life long braves fan, sure I would still keep up with the braves but I would try to make it to as many games as possible with the new team and I would become an avid fan of theirs and they would likely take over as my favorite team.

[AppinVA]

Wait. Charlotte and Raleigh are in the same state!!!!

[bcoach]

I thought Charlotte was in South Carolina

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

If my understanding of the situation is correct, Raleigh wouldn't work. I've always heard that the Durham Bulls own exclusive lifetime rights to professional baseball within a certain mileage of Durham. Their games are televised on a local station and everything. I've always heard that the Mudcats wanted to be in Raleigh, but instead built as close as they could without infringing on Durham's market rights. I don't know how true it is or not, but, like I said, it's what I always heard growing up in the area. A quick google search didn't turn up anything, but I'll keep looking later. I'd be curious to see whose rights would be superlative, but I've gotta think that, given the Bulls history in the state and with baseball, that they've got considerably more clout than your average minor league team.

That would explain the odd location of the Mudcats stadium. Though I thought it was trying to pull in folks from Wilson that lost a minor league team, but the Wilson team became the Mudcats a few years ago and the old AA Mudcats moved to Florida. The stadium has been in Zebulon for over two decades. Good old Wikipedia.

[wb247]

Here's a little research on the Bulls/Mudcats:
http://books.google.com/books?id=8W4H85 ... 22&f=false

That would explain the odd location of the Mudcats stadium. Though I thought it was trying to pull in folks from Wilson that lost a minor league team,

Being near the historical hotbed of baseball that is Wilson was just a benefit, but if they really cared about Wilson/Rocky Mount/Greenville, they would've just put the team at Fleming Stadium in Wilson or built a stadium in Rocky Mount or Greenville. Being stuck in Zebulon, 15/20 minutes from Raleigh, still trumps being right in Wilson, Rocky Mount, or Greenville.

but the Wilson team became the Mudcats a few years ago and the old AA Mudcats moved to Florida.

You're thinking of the Kinston Indians becoming the Mudcats, but yeah, that's what happened.

[StumpyCulbreath]

Raleigh makes the most sense in terms of growth and money in hand (of the population, that is), but they haven't had a minor league team since 1967. Back in the day when baseball was the front line sport, in 1925, 8,000 fans attended a game between Wake and State. Devereaux Meadows was a showplace minor league park in its day, but it's now a parking lot for city sanitation trucks.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

Here's a little research on the Bulls/Mudcats:
http://books.google.com/books?id=8W4H85 ... 22&f=false

That would explain the odd location of the Mudcats stadium. Though I thought it was trying to pull in folks from Wilson that lost a minor league team,

Being near the historical hotbed of baseball that is Wilson was just a benefit, but if they really cared about Wilson/Rocky Mount/Greenville, they would've just put the team at Fleming Stadium in Wilson or built a stadium in Rocky Mount or Greenville. Being stuck in Zebulon, 15/20 minutes from Raleigh, still trumps being right in Wilson, Rocky Mount, or Greenville.

but the Wilson team became the Mudcats a few years ago and the old AA Mudcats moved to Florida.

You're thinking of the Kinston Indians becoming the Mudcats, but yeah, that's what happened.

That side of the state is all the same to me it seems.

I was completely fixed on reading Kinston but my brain seeing Wilson. Even when the stadium names did not match I was not registering the different cities. But there was some movements in that general area concerning some minor league teams. That I got.

[ASUMountaineer]

I thought Charlotte was in South Carolina

Everyone from down east tells us we're the "Great State of Mecklenburg." I just assumed we were the unofficial 51st state.

[havefunkc]

I thought the Twins issue was because a vote for funding of a new stadium didn't pass. never heard mention that the Braves had anything to do with it. Dont see why Braves opinion matters (ignoring the "south's" team label. they're not MY team) since we're a completely different state from GA. I get the O's beef with the Nats, which is stupid too. and so is the Giants trying to block the A's from San Jose

Correct - the 'baseball referendum' didn't pass for the money. One of the reasons I think NC would not support MLB here, but the work done to get to the point of a vote was exciting.

The Braves link wasn't published a ton as MLB doesn't talk about territories too much publicly. NC has been considered 'Braves' geo-territory for many years as far as MLB is concerned. With the Nats now in play, NC has become a 'tug-o-war' for territorial claims. MLB does look at geo-territorial markets and each team is fights for their area pretty fiercely.

I do agree, I wouldn't call the Braves the team of the South...

[havefunkc]

I live 30 minutes from the Trop. I can tell you that it is one the nicer places to see a game.

Agreed - the Trop gets more bad press than it deserves. I found the ball park to be a nice place to see games - especially with a full house. IMHO, better than Wrigley or even Chavez Ravine...

[mtnjax]

With the Nats now in play, NC has become a 'tug-o-war' for territorial claims. MLB does look at geo-territorial markets and each team is fights for their area pretty fiercely.

I do agree, I wouldn't call the Braves the team of the South...

This is pretty much the reason I have become a Nats fan. Being able to watch all of their games on MASN got me hooked in after not really having a team for years (grew up a Seattle fan).

If NC got a team, I think it would have to be an AL team so that you would be able to draw in some of those Braves fans since it won't be a "competing" team.

[AppDawg]

I do agree, I wouldn't call the Braves the team of the South...

No, not the team of the South... America's Team! Thank you, Ted Turner and TBS.