SALT LAKE CITY — The owner of the San Diego Padres says they are exploring options for the franchise going forward, including a possible sale of the team.
It just so happens Utah is looking to acquire a Major League Baseball team. Could they be relocated to the Beehive State?
Local Utahns seem excited about the prospect.
“I like baseball. I love the Padres. And it’d be a great franchise to get.” said local Jason.
Even Benjamin Merrell, a local, who’s not a baseball fan says he would be excited to see the Padres come to Utah and would probably go to a game.
“I think any pro sports teams coming to salt lake would be great for the state.”
But, when it comes to the chances of this actually happening, one person trying to get an MLB team to Utah says it’s not likely.
“I cannot imagine a scenario where the Padres leave San Diego,” said Utah State Representative Ryan Wilcox, who serves on the Honorary Advisory Board for Big League Utah, the group advocating for an MLB team to come to Salt Lake City.”But if that became real and San Diego was really interested in letting that team go with that ownership group, to an Utah franchise we’d absolutely be interested.”
Related: Utah House committee advances bill aimed to help bring MLB stadium to Salt Lake
Wilcox told KSL NewsRadio Big League Utah’s process is designed with league expansion at the forefront. So, if Utah were to get a team, he still thinks it’ll most likely come from expansion, rather than relocating an existing franchise.
“We are targeting expansion, we’ve intentionally designed our process around that,” said Wilcox.
Wilcox said the key really is to be ready for anything, whether that’s an expansion or relocation opportunity.
The Larry H. Miller Company is leading a large scale real estate effort on the west side of Salt Lake City, which would eventually include an MLB stadium if Utah was awarded a team.
If that happened, the Miller family would own and oversee day-to-day operations for the team.
Wilcox sponsored legislation in the 2024 General Legislative Session that outlined funding for a new MLB stadium. That legislation passed and was signed into law.
KSL NewsRadio reached out to the company for comment on the possibility of relocating the Padres, but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
Wilcox said whether it’s relocating the Padres, or being awarded an expansion franchise, Utah is ready for a team anytime.
“We’re ready to play ball,” Wilcox said.
Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred previously said he wants to add two new teams to the league before he retires in 2029.
Wilcox said he doesn’t think league expansion will happen until at least after the 2026 MLB season after the league finalizes a new collective bargaining agreement.
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