North Carolinians have wished for the introduction of a Major League Baseball team in the Raleigh area for decades. However, for the past few years, expansion projections claimed that Raleigh doesn’t have a large enough population or that a North Carolina team belongs in Charlotte. In the modern era of the Oak City, these statements have changed.
The strongest support for Raleigh’s expansion is the explosive growth of the Research Triangle. Currently ranked as the #23 media markets in the United States, the Raleigh-Durham area already outranks seven current MLB markets, including Cincinnati, Milwaukee and Kansas City. They rank number one as the largest TV market in America that does not have a regionally broadcasted MLB team. The current population of the triangle is 2,148,648 which is on par with MLB markets such as Kansas City, Cincinnati, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh. And it is growing faster than these counterparts.
Raleigh is already known to fill stadiums. The Carolina Hurricanes and NC State Wolfpack consistently sell out their venues. Unlike established markets that are plateauing, Raleigh is adding thousands of high earning residents monthly, the exact demographic that MLB covets. Baseball needs to tap into markets holding young, tech-savvy and wealthy consumers. Raleigh is the #1 richest metro area in the continental United States that does not have an MLB team within 100 miles of its city center. Projections suggest that within a decade, the Triangle will surpass nearly every “small market” metro in the league, making it a “future-proof” investment for MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.
Justin Reitz, head baseball coach at Green Hope High School, said, “I think it would be great to have an MLB franchise in Raleigh! Right now, there isn’t a close MLB team for people to go see in the Triangle area. If you wanted to go see an MLB game you would have to make a trip to either Washington, Baltimore or Atlanta and none of those places are close enough to go for just the day.” When asked about the mascot selection he claimed, “If a team comes to Raleigh I bet they’d go with something regional like the Carolina Hurricanes and Carolina Panthers. I could see them going with something like the Carolina Aviators to honor the Wright brothers and the first flight.”
Unlike some cities that are still in the “vision stage” of planning, Raleigh has already established possible sites for the stadium. One of the most popular ideas is to integrate a stadium into the existing sports complex in West Raleigh. This would house the team right next to Carter Finley Stadium (home of the NC State Wolfpack) and Lenovo Center (home of the Carolina Hurricanes). The reason for this support is because the owner of the Carolina Hurricanes, Tom Dundon, is a major supporter of bringing a Baseball team to Raleigh and is leading the charge in fighting to get the Triangle in the expansion conversation. Every successful expansion bid needs an influential face to lead the charge, and it helps that he is a billionaire as well. Despite recent headlines regarding Dundon’s interest in the Portland Trail Blazers, local organizers claim that his commitment to “MLB Raleigh” remains steady. Dundon has already proven his ability to turn a struggling franchise into a gold mine with the Carolina Hurricanes and has secured the rights to develop the 80 acres of land surrounding the Lenovo Center. This land is a prime candidate for a “Ballpark Village.” A Ballpark Village is a mixed-use district that would keep fans on the site 365 days a year through multiple different sports seasons. This district idea would include NHL season (Hurricanes), NCAA football season (NC State Wolfpack), and an MLB season (Raleigh Expansion).
The Durham Bulls are arguably the most famous minor league brand in history. Skeptics worry that an MLB team in Raleigh would suppress the Bulls. However, supporters point to the Seattle/Tacoma or San Francisco/Sacramento models, where Triple-A and MLB teams thrive while being close together. If the Triangle can sustain a world class minor league team for 100 years, it is ready for the big stage.
Whether a team comes to the city or not, baseball fans will continue supporting Major League Baseball with their viewership and merchandise sales. As MLB moves closer to its goal of 32 teams, Raleigh has moved from a cool idea to a front runner. With the backing of former Governor Roy Cooper and multiple wealthy investors, the city is no longer asking if it belongs in the big leagues, but when the first game will be played.
