SALT LAKE CITY \u2013 Once an afterthought in the world of professional sports, Salt Lake City and the State of Utah are making a claim as a veritable sports boomtown.<\/p>\n
Utah had just one pro sports franchise at the start of the 21st century. 26 years later, the state has become a burgeoning hub for elite competition.<\/p>\n
In a recent appearance on KSL Sports Zone, The Athletic senior MLB writer Stephen Nesbitt said Utah may surprise outsiders who haven\u2019t followed its growth.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom a national perspective, I think a lot of people don\u2019t realize all that has been going on in Salt Lake City,\u201d Nesbitt warned.<\/p>\n
Inside MLB\u2019s New Automated Strike Zone: What Fans Need To Know<\/a><\/p>\n The state has already proven its appetite, as evidenced by the enormous support for the NHL\u2019s Utah Mammoth in less than two years.<\/p>\n The 2027 Winter Classic, the NHL\u2019s showcase game, is coming to Rice-Eccles Stadium, and the Delta Center has already become one of the loudest arenas in the league.<\/p>\n As the end of Commissioner Rob Manfred\u2019s term approaches in 2028, Major League Baseball expansion conversations are getting louder.<\/p>\n When asked about Utah\u2019s chances, Nesbitt said, \u201cToday, I don\u2019t see another market that has the boxes checked that Salt Lake City does\u2026 At this point, I think the odds are Salt Lake City. But a lot can change in the coming years.\u201d<\/p>\n Geography becomes an Unlikely Advantage<\/p>\n Utah\u2019s geographic isolation could become a selling point. MLB\u2019s current markets create a massive geographic gap in the Mountain West\u2014a gap Salt Lake City naturally fills.<\/p>\n The last thing any of MLB\u2019s 30 owners want in expansion is for an existing fan base to suffer as a new franchise joins a similar region of the country.<\/p>\n A team in Nashville would be within a 5-hour drive of the Atlanta Braves (248 miles), Cincinnati Reds (243 miles), and St. Louis Cardinals (253 miles).<\/p>\n Out West, Portland is only 174 miles from Seattle and the Mariners.<\/p>\n RELATED: Manfred Signals Push To 32 Teams As MLB Considers Expansion, Realignment<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe closer things are bunched together, the more problematic it becomes. And this does sort of fit one of those geographic gaps,\u201d Nesbitt said of Utah\u2019s locale.<\/p>\n Denver\u2019s Colorado Rockies remain the closest MLB team to Salt Lake City at 519 miles, while Arizona\u2019s Diamondbacks are nearly 700 miles away.<\/p>\n RELATED: Utah Legislators Approve Bill For Brand New Downtown NBA\/NHL Arena<\/a><\/p>\n That distance helps ensure a Utah-based team wouldn\u2019t cannibalize neighboring fans\u2014a significant checkmark in MLB\u2019s expansion criteria.<\/p>\n Geography is only part of the equation. Momentum from the Utah legislature could be a more important factor in its MLB pitch.<\/p>\n Utah community supports Big League Utah Coalition<\/p>\n A dream that began in 2022 for the Larry H. Miller Company culminated in April 2023 with the announcement of the Big League Utah Coalition<\/a>, a community-wide partnership spanning business leaders, elected officials, and sports personalities that seeks to bring an MLB team to Utah.<\/p>\n The often-tedious process of securing public funding has largely proven simple for the LHM Sports + Entertainment group.<\/p>\n RELATED: LHM Company Releases Renderings For $3.5B Power District Development With Potential MLB Ballpark<\/a><\/p>\n Utah\u2019s legislature has embraced the project, allowing Governor Spencer Cox to sign two significant bills\u2014HB562<\/a> and SB272<\/a>\u2014each allocating $900 million in long-term public funding during the 2024 legislative session.<\/p>\n HB562 allocates funding for the surrounding Fairpark neighborhood development, assuming Utah is awarded an expansion team by 2032<\/a>.<\/p>\n SB272 sets up what legislators are calling a \u201crevitalization zone\u201d<\/a> for downtown Salt Lake, possibly including a new arena for the Utah Jazz and Mammoth.<\/p>\n The Miller Company already owns the Power District land identified for a potential stadium, smoothing the development planning process.<\/p>\n With community backing, legislative support, and a unique geographic position, Utah has assembled a compelling case for MLB expansion. Now, the final decision rests with Major League Baseball\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n Follow Major League Baseball With KSL Sports<\/p>\n Find KSL Sports coverage of Locals in MLB\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Take us with you wherever you go.<\/p>\n Download the new & improved KSL Sports app from Utah\u2019s sports leader. You can stream live radio and video and stay updated on all your favorite teams.<\/a><\/p>\n Brian Preece is a KSLSports.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian\u2019s Bees and Beehive baseball\u00a0here<\/a>.\u00a0Find Brian on\u00a0X,<\/a>\u00a0Instagram,<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0BlueSky<\/a>\u00a0at @bpreece24.\u00a0<\/p>\n