Would you support an MLB team in Charlotte?

[FuFuLamePoo]

I'm sure this has been a thread on these parts 27 times, but let's make it 28.  SI recently published a little something that said Charlotte, Portland and Montreal are 3 cities that could be interested in getting a baseball franchise.  The Knights have tremendous crowds, so how do you think an MLB team would do if they could find a good location?  Baseball will always only be my fourth favorite sport, but I'm still a big fan of the great American game.  I support the Braves, but I don't feel the same connection to them that I do the Panthers and Hornets.  I would love to see a team in Charlotte and my dad and I would both be day 1 fans.

[Goondal]

Tampa Bay is the only team I can see moving. Miami would have been a good candidate but they are stuck for awhile thanks to that new stadium. In my opinion Portland is the best choice along with Vegas (which will not happen). I will always be a Red Sox fan but would root for a Charlotte team otherwise.

[pantherphan96]

i feel bad for montreal losing the expos. tampa bay doesnt deserve a team with their severe lack of fans.

[pantherphan96]

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/13256319/rob-manfred-sees-expansion-mlb-future

 

Montreal; Charlotte; San Antonio; Portland, Oregon; Las Vegas; Oklahoma City, Northern New Jersey and Mexico City or Monterrey, Mexico, are among the markets that could eventually land on baseball's radar as potential locations for new franchises.

[Zaximus]

I used to think it wouldn't be possible, but the Knights are doing really well.   I think a baseball team here could bring a lot of fans in from surrounding states as well.  The Braves have a large reach so people would probably enjoy coming to Charlotte instead of all the way to GA for a game (plus Atlanta... ew). 

[FuFuLamePoo]

one of the happiest days of my life would be when i can stop being a fan of a team in atlanta

[Arroz con Panther]

I'm a die hard Yankees fan, so any team that came to Charlotte would have to be my second team.  I would love to have a team here, but I honestly think there are better cities on that list.  Well, not Mexico City...that's just silly.

I know the Knights are doing okay, but an MLB team would need to fill up a stadium at least 3 times as big.  I'm not sure if Charlotte would be able to do that every night.

[Doyle]

I think Charlotte could support a team in 10 years.  Besides they just spent all that money on the Knights stadium so they aren't going anywhere for a while.

[Batman]

I think Charlotte built BB&T Ballpark to show MLB they will support a baseball team. And if they did it was a genius move. The Knights annually had one of the lowest attendance totals among all AAA teams. Now they're on pace to lead the minors in attendance for the 2nd straight year. 2013 average attendance was 3,500, last 2 years in uptown is over 9,500. Charlotte can and will support a team just as good as any other city being mentioned. Portland seems to be the city everyone points to, but they had a team & ballpark downtown & lost it because their attendance sucked so bad. Carolina has to be the largest market in the country without a home team. If people maintain the support of the Knights, the next MLB team will be Charlotte's to lose.

[RealBitsOfPanther]

I would love to be able to drive to Charlotte instead of Atlanta or DC to see a baseball game. I hope it happens.

[Carl Spackler]

People need to quit expecting a Charlotte team to sell out its Monday games against the Royals. For that matter, the Cubs, Red Sox and Yankees don't sell out all their games. Charlotte could easily support an MLB team. There's every bit of infrastructure needed here except one thing: parking in uptown. 

I was at a game a couple weeks ago, a 2 p.m. Sunday game where it was 99 degrees outside and the place was still packed. Attendance would not be an issue. There are so many transplanted Yankees already down here that they'd go apeshit for an MLB team to watch their beloved team in their Jeetah jersey. And as a Red Sox fan, I would instantly have two favorite teams (bc I'm not dropping Boston) but I'd go to a lot of games.

[Batman]

Is very likely that the MLB sees Tampa relocate and also expands adds 2 expansion teams in the next 5-15 years. 8 4 team divisions like the NFL. The NBA can't add anymore teams because the talent is already spread thin. Baseball, on the other hand, could add two teams. That's 3 teams and, IMO, Charlotte would get a team if they want. It'll just be a matter of getting the funding.

[pantherphan96]

Montreal deserves first shot at a new team, and I think they will get the first shot. 

Also I hope Tampa loses the Rays.

[panthersphan]

Carolina Blue Sox ? America's Past Time would have the Red, White and Blue Sox...