{"id":202386,"date":"2026-03-03T16:39:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T16:39:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/202386\/"},"modified":"2026-03-03T16:39:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T16:39:10","slug":"is-sacramento-a-legitimate-possibility-for-mlb-expansion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/202386\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Sacramento a legitimate possibility for MLB Expansion?"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the Athletics prepare to begin their second season in Sacramento, a larger question is taking shape: Could Sacramento be a legitimate landing spot for an MLB expansion team?<\/p>\n

On The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross, the guys weighed the financial realities, political dynamics, and league politics that could determine the region\u2019s fate.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a bit of irony and humor to this,\u201d Dave said of the city\u2019s MLB expansion push. Dave noted that Mayor Kevin McCarty, who is now championing the push for baseball, is the same mayor who once voted against the downtown arena that ultimately kept the Sacramento Kings in town.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou take that however you want,\u201d Dave added. \u201cIt\u2019s kind of ironic.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"SACRAMENTO,<\/p>\n

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA \u2013 MAY 06: A general view of the Athletics playing against the Seattle Mariners at Sutter Health Park on May 06, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

MLB Expansion to Sacramento?<\/p>\n

MLB expansion discussions feel more real in Sacramento right now because the Athletics are playing their second season in the region while awaiting completion of their planned $1 billion-plus stadium in Las Vegas. The temporary arrangement has effectively turned Sacramento into a live audition for Major League Baseball.<\/p>\n

One of the loudest concerns about MLB expansion in Sacramento centers on ownership. Critics argue the region lacks a resident billionaire capable of footing a multibillion-dollar bill. Dave pushed back.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe easiest part of expansion \u2014 and I\u2019m not saying it\u2019s easy \u2014 but easier, is finding an owner,\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019re gonna find an owner.\u201d With MLB franchise values averaging between $2.5 and $2.75 billion, Dave estimated an MLB expansion fee \u201cat a minimum will be $3 billion.\u201d Factor in a stadium that could approach $1 billion, and the total project could near $4 billion.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re gonna find your whale,\u201d Dave said, predicting a deep-pocketed lead investor would partner with local stakeholders. \u201cI don\u2019t think that\u2019s gonna be an issue.\u201d<\/p>\n

Where MLB expansion becomes more complicated, Dave argued, is league approval. Commissioner Rob Manfred has indicated he would like expansion decisions made before his planned retirement in 2029. But Sacramento faces stiff competition from cities like Salt Lake City and Portland.<\/p>\n

Dave\u2019s biggest concern is territorial resistance from the San Francisco Giants. \u201cThis has always been a Giants town,\u201d he said, citing television ratings and regional fan support. Adding a fifth California team could invite pushback from ownership groups protective of their market share.<\/p>\n

Dave was especially critical of the idea that MLB expansion consideration could hinge on how well Sacramento supports the Athletics during their temporary stay.<\/p>\n

That standard could be misleading. The fan base is split \u2014 many longtime supporters are torn between backing the players and freezing out owner John Fisher after he relocated the franchise from Oakland following 56 years. For some, buying tickets feels like endorsing a move they oppose.<\/p>\n

As a result, attendance may reflect frustration with ownership more than Sacramento\u2019s viability as an MLB expansion market.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s absolute trash,\u201d he said. \u201cIf they sell out every single game, then guarantee us expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ross believes MLB expansion in Sacramento has \u201ca small\u201d chance. \u201cCan they get the funding? Can they get that whale?\u201d he asked. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to get all the steps to line up first.\u201d<\/p>\n

For now, MLB expansion remains a possibility in Sacramento \u2014 but one dependent on money, politics, and approval from a league that doesn\u2019t hand out franchises easily.<\/p>\n

Check out the full conversation\u00a0by scrolling to the top of the page or by\u00a0clicking here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Listen to\u00a0The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross\u00a0from 6 \u2013 10 a.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on\u00a0Sactown Sports 1140.<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow @FCartoscelli3<\/a><\/p>\n

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