Recently, the Tampa Bay Rays’ principal owner, Stuart Sternberg, has begun extensive negotiations to sell the team to a group led by Patrick Zalupski and other significant Tampa-based investors. With this sale most likely keeping the Rays in the Tampa Bay area despite the lack of a permanent home, what is the status of some of the potential MLB expansion sites?

Montreal, Quebec

Although probably the most far-fetched considering the economical climate and the lack of a good stadium, Montreal would be a well-liked market if the MLB were to expand to la belle province.

The new team would most likely have to play in an old and pretty much unused Olympic Stadium while a new and improved park (probably similar to Labatt Park) would be built. As mentioned by an Expos twitter account, including The Peel Basin, The Old Port, the old Blue Bonnets track, or the Old Molson Brewery redevelopment area.

Don’t fret, however, the Olympic Stadium was last used for baseball in 2019 by the Blue Jays in Spring Training, which means at least it is a somewhat feasible stadium for the time being.

The jerseys are also stupidly easy to implement. the classic pinstripe jersey would be the home, with the grey last used in 2004 serving as the road uniform. the blue jersey would be used as the alternate uni, with a brand new uni most likely done as the ‘City Connect’ uniform.

Nashville, Tennessee

With the NHL’s Predators, NFL’s Titans, MLS’ Nashville SC, and MiLB’s Sounds all seeing success within the heart of country music, Nashville is an obvious spot for the next MLB team.

Considering the current situation of the Rays and the Athletics, the Sounds’ First Horizon park will work for the first few years of the team’s existence in the MLB. With attendance that can get up to 10,459 people, the stadium that sits near where the Sulphur Dell once stood sports a pretty neat guitar-shaped scoreboard in right field.

According to the park’s website, the area has hosted professional baseball teams from the 19th century through to 1963, which includes the six-decade run of the Nashville Vols (potential name idea?)

Charlotte, North Carolina

Another AAA city, Charlotte could be another potential MLB market if the league decides to not further pursue the great white north beyond Toronto.

Truist Field (And not the one in Atlanta) can support 10,200 people, and honestly is a pretty nice looking stadium at a distance.

The city has been home to minor-league baseball since 1901, with the Charlotte Hornets (no I’m not kidding) taking the crown as the inaugural team.

Although the market has seen teams come and go, it is an interesting market for another major-league team compared to Montreal. Currently, Charlotte supports two out of the four major-league markets, with the Hornets and Panthers not finding as much success as fans wanted. However, with the right expansion method the new team could make their permanent mark in the same way the Vegas Golden Knights did in the NHL eight years ago.