MLB Commissioner Open To Future Expansion In OKC

In an announcement that seemed to come out of left field, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said OKC is on their radar.   

Before baseball's All-Starts took to the field the MLB commissioner pitched out Oklahoma City as one of nine cities that could get a major league team if the league expands or relocates teams.

For baseball fans in Oklahoma City the idea is a home run.

“Yes Ma’am! Yes Ma’am! Most definitely,” said an enthusiastic Christopher Hadley when asked if he would like to see a team in OKC.

“Look at the Thunder, we got them in here, every game is sold out.  I think we would do alright,” agreed Peter Ameen.

Megan Simms said she would “Absolutely” go to the games.

And Kenneth Mills, a baseball fan from Florida visiting Bricktown Wednesday afternoon said, “It would be great for this area, great for this community.”

“I guess I never quite get used to it, but seeing OKC in the National media, International media it’s something 20, 30 years ago we would never expect,” said Thomas Anderson, the Executive Manager of Special Projects with the City of Oklahoma City.

And Anderson didn't expect it this time either.  He said the city hasn't had any conversations with anyone from the MLB and the management of the OKC Dodgers hasn’t heard anything either.

In their inaugural season, the Dodgers are hitting it out of the park.  They have the best record in the Pacific Coast League, attendance is around 7,000 a night, and merchandise sales are off the charts.  But a major league team would be a whole new ball game. 

First of all, Anderson said they would need a new stadium.  Capacity for the Bricktown Ballpark is 13,000 fans.  The smallest stadium in Major League Baseball is in Tampa Bay, it holds 31,000.  Anderson said they couldn't expand the Bricktown Ballpark to fit major league crowds.

“I think even just the site restrictions, aside from the structural issues you would have to start with a new product.”

Although, he said Oklahoma City's population, median, and disposable income are growing. Adding another major league team to the roster wouldn't likely be economically feasible.

“We’re not there yet, we don’t have the population density or enough people out there to commit to 80 plus games at a price point of Major League Baseball to sustain it.  Much less sponsorships, naming rights, everything else.”

Other teams mentioned for a Major league team include San Antonio, Portland, Charlotte, Montreal, Las Vegas, northern New Jersey and Mexico City or Monterrey, Mexico.