West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero “teased an upcoming announcement about the region’s efforts to officially pursue” an MLB expansion team, according to Annika Merrilees of the SACRAMENTO BEE. Guerrero, at the annual “State of the City” event, said, “West Sacramento is in dialogue to consider becoming a host to a Major League Baseball expansion team.” The region would compete with other cities that have “spent years vying for the league’s attention,” and any decision by MLB would be “years away.” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has said that he “wants a process for expansion in place by the time he retires,” expected in 2029. Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty had signaled local leaders’ intentions to formally campaign for an expansion team in October, and has “doubled down in the months since,” declaring that an effort “would launch this spring.” Guerrero’s comments signaled that that campaign “may be imminent.” West Sacramento is in its second season hosting the Vegas-bound A’s (SACRAMENTO BEE, 5/21).
ORLANDO GAINS BACKER: UFL co-owner and entrepreneur Mike Repole confirmed that he “supports the Orlando Dreamers’ effort” to land an MLB team in Orlando and “would be willing to invest in the project.” Repole said, “I’ve had some discussions with the Dreamers. You know, I’m not going to buy the (entire) baseball team, but whether I were to own 1 percent or 10 percent or 15 percent, I would definitely be interested in bringing baseball to town.” In Orlando, Mike Bianchi wrote one of the country’s “most successful entrepreneurs” — a billionaire who built brands like Vitaminwater and BodyArmor — is “publicly tying himself not only to Orlando’s current sports scene, but also to its future ambitions. That’s a pretty big deal.” Cities “don’t land major league franchises simply because they want them.” They land them because influential people with money, vision and credibility “believe in the market enough to invest.” Bianchi: “Now the question becomes whether Orlando sports fans will continue proving him right” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 5/21).
WHAT ABOUT RALEIGH? In Charlotte, Andrew Dunn wrote as MLB moves closer to expansion — likely by two teams — one will “presumably be out west,” while the Southeast “seems likely to get a team.” Charlotte “gets mentioned, and it is easy to see why.” Dunn wrote, “But I don’t get the sense Charlotte actually wants a team. There is no public push here, no ownership group, no stadium plan.” However, he noted a city that “wants this badly” is Raleigh. Dunn: “The smart thing for Charlotte to do is ‘drop out’ and back the Oak City’s bid.” The MLB Raleigh campaign “has real grassroots energy.” Raleigh also has “key pieces in place.” Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon is “on board to lead the effort,” and potential ballpark areas are “already being discussed.” Dunn wrote most of the so-called experts say that “Nashville has the better chance of winning the bid. That’s where Charlotte can help.” Dunn: “The pitch should not be that Raleigh wants a team. It should be that North Carolina is ready for one” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/20).