Why MLB Should Seriously Consider Raleigh As Its Next Expansion Target

‘Greetings from Raleigh, North Carolina’ large letter vintage postcard, 1940s. (Photo by Found Image Holdings/Corbis via Getty Images)

Corbis via Getty Images

Major League Baseball’s (MLB) long-term vision for prosperity begins with expansion and realignment. The aspiration is to add two new expansion franchises which would lead to realignment based on geography. The thought of 32 franchises split across eight divisions is intriguing given how several cities are expressing interest in becoming new homes for MLB. Austin, Charlotte, Nashville, Orlando, Portland and Salt Lake City have been mentioned in the media as potential candidates for expansion. While each of these cities possess numerous attributes worthy of consideration, MLB’s pursuit of expansion must begin with Raleigh, the state capital of North Carolina.

MLB Raleigh Is Building Community Around Baseball

Once viewed as an absurd idea seven years ago, Raleigh makes perfect sense thanks to the tireless efforts of a group of people who love baseball and their city. MLB Raleigh, a grassroots organization whose mission is to build community around baseball, has exponentially raised the city’s profile through education, events and merchandise while connecting investors with politicians. Along with a comprehensive website that provides data on projected market growth, median household income, per capita attendance and proposed ballpark locations, MLB Raleigh is promoting a movement that could transform the city’s economy through tax revenues. They are showcasing the beauty of Raleigh through service initiatives while correcting inaccurate information in the media regarding census radius, designated market areas and population.

The exploration of potential expansion cities begins with an intimate understanding of the economic environment. The competitive landscape is shaped by fan behavior, local revenues, media rights, mixed-use development and a keystone owner. By viewing expansion as an opportunity to cultivate untapped markets for MLB, expect thorough examinations of census data, consumer surveys, credit card spending, focus groups and geospatial consumer analyses. In Raleigh’s case, it will be extremely important to remember their candidacy is unique given three different population points on a single commuter belt. The attractiveness of Raleigh’s pursuit of an expansion franchise in MLB is enhanced by neighboring cities along Interstate 40 such as Chapel Hill and Durham.

Rapid population growth has become synonymous with North Carolina. According to the United States Census Bureau, North Carolina’s population has surpassed 11 million. Besides growth well above the national average, North Carolina is experiencing some of the largest gains in the country when it comes to domestic migration. Whether it is for business, education or quality of life, Midwest and Northeast baseball sensibilities are evident in North Carolina as are frustrations with MLB’s blackout restrictions. Out of the 10 most populous states in 2024, North Carolina ranks ninth on the list but is the only one that doesn’t host a professional sports franchise from MLB.

MLB Must Examine Research Triangle Benefits

Raleigh is strategically positioned to sell a community movement to MLB, but its greatest asset might be the Research Triangle. A region of the state that is synonymous with innovation, science and technology, the Research Triangle is home to three Tier-1 research universities that create a geographic triangle on the state’s map: Duke University, North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. According to a June 2025 study conducted by WalletHub, 150 of the largest metropolitan statistical areas were compared across 11 metrics and it was determined that two of the top six most educated cities were Durham-Chapel Hill and Raleigh-Cary. Besides opportunities for economic growth, the educated workforce and diverse business ecosystem in the region provide ample opportunities for strategic partnerships and sponsorship opportunities that go well beyond alcohol, gambling, insurance and soft drinks.

Baseball in North Carolina is deeply woven into the state’s identity at the youth, amateur, collegiate and professional levels. USA Baseball, the national governing body for amateur baseball, has called North Carolina its home since relocating to Cary in 2003 from Tucson, Arizona. College baseball is a religion courtesy of several in-state rivalries regardless of conference affiliations. Over MLB’s last five drafts, 18 ball players from North Carolina high schools and colleges were selected in the first round and received a combined $77,214,490 in signing bonuses according to Baseball-Reference. Along with multiple franchises in summer collegiate and independent leagues, nine minor league ball clubs are affiliated with six major league franchises in North Carolina.

Wake Forest University has been at the forefront of baseball innovation. Besides producing eight first-round selections over MLB’s last five drafts, the university opened a pitching lab in 2019 which has become a destination for ball players and coaches at all levels of competition across the country. By combining baseball, science and medicine, the goal is to create a new philosophy on how to analyze and coach pitching mechanics. Similar labs have been built on the campuses of Appalachian State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It’s not uncommon to see major league pitching coaches on college campuses in North Carolina during the offseason acquiring knowledge on biomechanics and injury prevention.

Raleigh maintains a competitive advantage over other cities based on an engaged prospective owner, community involvement, political support, and potential ballpark locations. Tom Dundon, owner and governor of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, is serious about bringing MLB to Raleigh and believes it would be a genuine partnership between the public and private sectors. Under Dundon’s leadership since becoming majority owner in 2018, the Hurricanes have experienced on-ice success while enjoying significant increases in corporate sponsorships, season tickets and average gate revenues. In June 2021, Dundon became sole owner of the franchise.

MLB Needs Proven Leadership In Expansion

Dundon recently diversified his ownership in professional sports franchises by reaching a tentative agreement with Paul Allen’s estate to purchase the Portland Trail Blazers for $4.25 billion according to Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams of Sportico. In October 2024, Forbes valued the franchise at $3.5 billion. Dundon’s commitment to professional sports in Raleigh is evident in his agreement with the Centennial Authority on a multi-year, $300 million renovation project for the Lenovo Center and development rights to approximately 80 acres of land around the venue. The Hurricanes’ arena lease was extended through 2044 because of the agreement as Dundon envisions mixed-use development and MLB in Raleigh’s future.

The community movement to bring Major League Baseball (MLB) to Raleigh has inspired the state of North Carolina to think boldly about its future. Besides healthy increases in population growth and domestic migration, North Carolina has become a melting pot for athletics, education, innovation and technology. Even though the city of Raleigh is aggressively pursuing an expansion franchise in MLB, their passion and efforts represent every county in the state. Raleigh doesn’t need MLB to legitimize its status as a professional sports city, but North Carolina deserves serious consideration given its economic infrastructure and passion for America’s national pastime.