Do you like Cracker Jacks? The city of Charlotte is home to an NFL Team, NBA Team, and MLS Team, but where is the MLB team?
In a 2022 interview with ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr, MLB General Manager Rob Manfred commented on the idea of expansion, saying, “I would love to get to 32 teams.” The concept of MLB expansion has been thrown around in recent years and becomes increasingly imminent every year. MLB’s most recent expansion was in 1998, with the addition of the “Devil Rays” and “Diamondbacks” bringing the number of teams from 28 to 30. Post-COVID-19, the business side of MLB has been thriving. According to Forbes Magazine, MLB set a record with 10.8 billion dollars of revenue brought in over the 2022 season. It has been 25 years since the latest expansion, and MLB is making as much money as ever; with many possible expansion cities, it’s time MLB expands to 32 teams and brings one team to the 704.
According to the World Population Review, Charlotte is currently the 15th largest city in the United States, growing at a rate of 1.52% annually. The city of Charlotte is also larger than some cities that have MLB teams. Based on the 2021 United States Census, the population of the city of Charlotte is 879,709, which is twice as much as the population of the city of Oakland (433,823); Oakland is home to the Oakland Athletics. The numbers prove Charlotte is ready for an MLB team, but Charlotte’s sports culture is another attractive component of the city.
Charlotte is a city that is filled with a love for sports. The city rallies around teams like the Panthers and Hornets, and even the newest addition of Major League Sports to Charlotte, the Charlotte Futbol Club. In its inaugural match on March 5th, 2022, Charlotte FC broke the attendance record for an MLS match, attracting 74,479 fans to Bank Of America Stadium. This was not just a one-hit wonder; Charlotte FC ended up ranking second in average attendance among MLS teams bringing in just over 36,000 fans a game. Charlotte FC is not the only Charlotte team fans have rallied around. According to ESPN, The Carolina Panthers ranked 9th in NFL attendance for 2022, averaging 71,000 fans a game. The Charlotte Knights have been a minor league baseball team that has called Charlotte home since 1976. Charlotte has not forgotten about its source for professional baseball amidst the other major league sports that represent the city. According to stats taken by MiLB, the Charlotte Knights ranked 7th out of around 120 teams in attendance rankings out of all minor league teams. With the Knights, Charlotte has shown that a baseball culture is present and that the city would rally around an MLB team.
Another reason Charlotte is the perfect city for an MLB team is the location. Currently, the closest MLB team to Charlotte is The Atlanta Braves. Atlanta is 245 miles away from Charlotte, and The Braves bring in a significant number of fans from the Carolinas and other Southeast states. Currently, there are 2 MLB teams spread across the states of Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Mississippi. The Southeast is in need of another MLB team, and Charlotte once again fits the bill.
The city of Charlotte is ready for an MLB team. It is the 15th largest city in the United States and one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. Also, Charlotte has shown its passion for pro sports through the Charlotte Futbol Club, Carolina Panthers, and even the Charlotte Knights. Charlotte is in a location where it can fill a gap Major League Baseball has in the Southeast. If the MLB ever decided to expand, expect the city of Charlotte to be in the mix to become home to a new franchise.