MLB Expansion: 2025 Everything-Guide
MLB Expansion 2025 Deep-Dive: Timeline, Candidate Cities & Why Austin Leads: The definitive, data-driven hub for Major League Baseball’s next two franchises—complete with dates, economic models, and a city scorecard that shows why Austin should top the list.
Major League Baseball hasn’t added a new club since 1998, but Commissioner Rob Manfred says he wants the league at 32 teams before retiring in 2029. Below is the most complete, always-updating intelligence on how, when, and where MLB will expand—with a spotlight on why Austin scores highest on every objective metric.
Quick Summary
• Two slots. One Eastern-time and one Mountain/Pacific club for schedule balance (per Sports Business Journal)
• Bid window ≈ 2026. Formal RFP expected once the A’s (Las Vegas) and Rays (Tampa) stadium questions are settled
• Front-runners right now: Nashville, Austin, Salt Lake City, Portland, Montreal
• Austin’s X-factor: fastest-growing U.S. metro + privately financed ballpark → zero public tax increase
📅 MLB Expansion Timeline (working draft)
| Phase | Milestone | Target Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-qualification | Resolve A’s & Rays stadium issues | 2025 | Vegas relocation approved; Tampa deal inked |
| RFP Issued | MLB opens formal bid process | Q2 2026 (anticipated) | Likely six-month submission window |
| Site Visits & Votes | Owner finance vetting, city tours | 2027 | 75 % owner approval required (*[TalkNats Q&A](https://www.talknats.com/2025/04/10/__trashed/)*) |
| Announcement | Two cities awarded teams | Late 2027 → Early 2028 | Branding & stadium design kick off |
| Opening Day | New clubs debut | 2029 season | Balanced four-division format begins |
🏙️ Candidate City Scorecard (2025 update)
| Rank* | City | 2025 Metro Pop. | 2023 GDP ($B) | Stadium Plan | Ownership Group | Score /10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin, TX | 2.31 M | 232 | Private riverfront ballpark | Austin Baseball Alliance | 9.4 |
| 2 | Nashville, TN | 2.04 M | 195 | I-24 private stadium site | Music City Baseball | 8.8 |
| 3 | Salt Lake City, UT | 1.23 M | 148 | “Big League Utah” hub | Larry H. Miller Co. | 8.6 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | 2.27 M | ≈ 190 | Waterfront Lloyd District | Portland Diamond Project | 7.9 |
| 5 | Montreal, QC | 4.34 M | 205 | Peel Basin retractable-roof | Stephen Bronfman group | 7.6 |
*Composite weights: 30 % finance • 25 % media reach • 20 % growth • 15 % stadium readiness • 10 % political risk.
💵 Economic Impact Snapshot
| Metric | Austin Projection | Avg. Expansion City* |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Yr GDP Lift | \$5.2 B | \$3.4 B |
| Job Creation | 45 k | 32 k |
| Direct Stadium Cost | \$1.6 B (private) | \$1.3 B |
| Public Tax Increase | 0 | 0.2 % sales tax |
*Weighted mean of prior MLB/NFL expansion studies, 2024 USD.
Why Austin Checks Every Box
🚀 Relentless Growth
Austin leads the nation in population and job growth, pushing metro GDP past $230 B (FRED).
🎸 Younger, Digital-Native Fanbase
Austin’s median age is 34, vs. MLB’s current median TV viewer age of 57—future-proofing ratings and streaming revenue.
💰 Zero Public Tax Hike
The Austin stadium is privately financed, avoiding taxpayer pushback that hampers other bids.
🌐 Media-Rights Synergy
Austin’s tech core + overlapping Astros/Rangers TV markets = perfect sandbox for MLB’s new direct-to-consumer streaming vision.
FAQs
How many new MLB teams are coming?
Two, taking the league to 32 and smoothing the schedule (SBJ).
When will MLB pick the cities?
After a formal bid window (expected 2026) and owner votes—likely by late 2027.
Could an existing team still relocate?
With Vegas and Tampa settled, Manfred calls relocation “highly unlikely.”
When can fans place season-ticket deposits?
Deposits open once MLB awards Austin a franchise—join the <https: data-preserve-html-node="true"//mlbatx.com/tickets> wait-list to stay ahead.
Take Three Easy Swings for Austin
- Sign the Petition → Every signature strengthens Austin’s bid.
- Share This Article → Use
#MLBATXon X & LinkedIn. - Volunteer at Sandlot Saturdays
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Footnotes & Sources
[^1]: Sports Business Journal (Dec 17 2024) – Manfred on time-zone balance
[^2]: People (Jan 2024) – Commissioner retirement timeline
[^3]: TalkNats Q&A (Apr 10 2025) – Manfred aims to select cities pre-2029
[^4]: FRED – Austin-Round Rock MSA GDP (2023)
[^5]: FRED – Nashville MSA GDP (2023)
[^6]: Music City Baseball land option press release (Apr 2025)
[^7]: FRED – Salt Lake City MSA GDP (2023)
[^8]: Macrotrends – Austin metro population (2025)
[^9]: Wikipedia – Nashville metro population (2025)
[^10]: Macrotrends – Salt Lake City population (2025)
[^11]: Macrotrends – Portland population (2025)
[^12]: Portland Metro Chamber “State of the Economy” (2024)
[^13]: Deloitte Sports Advisory – Austin Economic Impact Study (2025)
© 2025 Austin Baseball Commission • reuse with attribution.