Marlins will explore relocation

[Section126]

Because I think people will go to the games. Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world. Baseball is entertainment. Hey, Bonds is in town. Or A-Rod is in town. Vegas people will eat that sssshhhhhiiiiiiitttttt up and go to games to see a star. Not to mention GAMBLING!!!!!!!!!! People would be able to gamble on games either at the ballpark or at a casino nearby and would go to the game and see what they just bet on. Gambling RULES sports. A MLB franchise in vegas would flourish on gambling alone. (don't give me no Pete Rose thing, this is different). It would be MORE than just a baseball game. You would have a casino/hotel/stadium all in one most likely and it would be a home run!

If you don't agree, fine. I don't care if you agree. In fact if you disagree I feel more confident about my stance which really isnt' my stance it is one I have heard and talked about with people who are actually close to the situation.

Mike....you are on a roll.

If baseball went to las Vegas......Not a single casino would have a line on a "Las vegas marlins" game.....NOT A ONE. Go look up why.

Not to mention....you saying that there would be gambling at the stadium is just downright high comedy.

Yeah...mlb will go for that.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Would it be feasable to move a team to Mexico? I think MLB, the NFL would love to open that market up more. Theres a lot of things to consider but youd have to think that putting a team in Mexico City playing infront of huge crowds would be very attractive to MLB. Probaly aint gonna happen anytime soon but Id have to think within 10-15 years some major sport in the US will place a team there. Heck we might as well ship somemore jobs down there, why not?

I don't think it's possible because Mexico is pretty much a poor country. I don't see how a football or baseball team can expect 60,000 people pay 35 to 40 bucks per ticket to see a game, not to mention buying food, beer and t-shirts there.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Because I think people will go to the games. Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world. Baseball is entertainment. Hey, Bonds is in town. Or A-Rod is in town. Vegas people will eat that sssshhhhhiiiiiiitttttt up and go to games to see a star. Not to mention GAMBLING!!!!!!!!!! People would be able to gamble on games either at the ballpark or at a casino nearby and would go to the game and see what they just bet on. Gambling RULES sports. A MLB franchise in vegas would flourish on gambling alone. (don't give me no Pete Rose thing, this is different). It would be MORE than just a baseball game. You would have a casino/hotel/stadium all in one most likely and it would be a home run!

If you don't agree, fine. I don't care if you agree. In fact if you disagree I feel more confident about my stance which really isnt' my stance it is one I have heard and talked about with people who are actually close to the situation.

Yes Bonds being in Vegas or Arod would draw that's why the Yankees and Giants are 2 of the best draws in baseball. When the Giants, Yankees or Red Sox go anywhere on the road they draw. Hell I bet there will be over 50,000 in Miami when the Sox play the Marlins in June. When the Yankees come to KC there attendance nearly doubles. The problem would be when the Pirates or Royals come to town then what? The team in Vegas still won't draw. Do you think average American John Smith staying at Cesar's Palace will say to his wife: "Hey honey Mike Sweeney or Freddy Sanchez are in town let's go to a game instead of a nice romantic evening and to see a show instead." I think not.

Only big fans of baseball or sport fans would go to games. It wouldn't draw as well as you think it would. The average person isn't going to go to a baseball game just because it's there (sure someone like you or I would jump at the chance but I'm talking about the average person who goes to Las Vegas). There's so much more to do in Vegas and a lot more options. Plus does an average person want to waste 3 to 4 hours at the ball park during the day or night? Especially seeing a team and players that they might not really care about?

 

[byroan]

They're not going to play in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

Um..ok. It might as well be called Charlotte. The team that plays there is the Charlotte Knights. Of course they'd have less fans here then they do in Miami (if that's even possible).

But I'm glad you make the decisions for them.

 

[phunwin]

I don't think it's possible because Mexico is pretty much a poor country. I don't see how a football or baseball team can expect 60,000 people pay 35 to 40 bucks per ticket to see a game, not to mention buying food, beer and t-shirts there.

True, but from what I've heard (and mind you, I've done not a speck of research on my own), Monterrey is fairly well off and might have the money and population base to support a MLB team. With the lack of really good American markets right now, it has to be taken seriously.

Mexico City is obviously big enough, but it's dirt poor. Plus, the few baseball purists remaining would howl over the fact that the city is roughly 7000 feet above sea level and the ball would carry far more than Coors Field. Hell, they might as well play in Williamsport, PA if they're going to do that.

However, I've got to say I'd enjoy the sight of some fat *** like David Wells huffing and puffing from the thin air and pollution so thick you can see it. He might not last through three innings.

There's another aspect to a Mexican team that might be inviting. That team would instantly become the team for all of Mexico and probably all of Latin America that has access to MLB viewing. What they'd lack in wealthy, upper crust fans they'd make up in number. If MLB could market some cheaper "Monterrey Banditos" or whatever (as with Las Vegas, "Marlins" makes no sense at all for a team in Monterrey) merchandise south of the border, they could be onto a goldmine. With any success at all and even marginally competent marketing, they could be more popular than the Yankees in terms of size of fanbase.

Then again, I thought the large Hispanic population of South Florida would make a Miami franchise a goldmine. So what do I know?

 

[Ray Finkle]

True, but from what I've heard (and mind you, I've done not a speck of research on my own), Monterrey is fairly well off and might have the money and population base to support a MLB team. With the lack of really good American markets right now, it has to be taken seriously.

Mexico City is obviously big enough, but it's dirt poor. Plus, the few baseball purists remaining would howl over the fact that the city is roughly 7000 feet above sea level and the ball would carry far more than Coors Field. Hell, they might as well play in Williamsport, PA if they're going to do that.

However, I've got to say I'd enjoy the sight of some fat *** like David Wells huffing and puffing from the thin air and pollution so thick you can see it. He might not last through three innings.

There's another aspect to a Mexican team that might be inviting. That team would instantly become the team for all of Mexico and probably all of Latin America that has access to MLB viewing. What they'd lack in wealthy, upper crust fans they'd make up in number. If MLB could market some cheaper "Monterrey Banditos" or whatever (as with Las Vegas, "Marlins" makes no sense at all for a team in Monterrey) merchandise south of the border, they could be onto a goldmine. With any success at all and even marginally competent marketing, they could be more popular than the Yankees in terms of size of fanbase.

Then again, I thought the large Hispanic population of South Florida would make a Miami franchise a goldmine. So what do I know?

I agree with you about how a Mexican team would instantly become the team of all Latin America and also that having a team there would get more Latino kids into the game.

I wasn't aware that Monterrey is wealthy though that might be a place to consider. I'm sure the Latino players would love playing in Mexico. I still don't think that MLB would be able to get 50,000 people to see a game 81 times a year or even get a team down there that would be profitable due to the total lack of wealth in Mexico however like you I didn't do any research and I'm totally guessing on that.

Also the MLB would have to consider the health of the players. Although it's a small issue the water, food and air isn't good if you're not used to it. It's funny that you mention David Wells, I'm not sure you read his book but if you didn't there's a whole chapter about how he played in Mexico for the winter and got very sick from the food, water and air. He quit after a few weeks and was one of the reasons why the Blue Jays traded him (according to him anyway).

 

[phunwin]

Here's an interesting bit of info on Monterrey and it's possible viability...http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/travel/bzm/bzmmonterreyreport.html

It may very well have the population (3.5M) and corporate presence necessary to make things work. If the team owners were willing to have a two-tiered pricing system, that could really work. It sounds like there's enough wealth and corporate presence in the area to make the usual high-priced seats work, but they could sell the outfield and upper deck seats at a steeper-than-usual discount. Teams should do this anyway, but particularly here, where a team in Monterrey would certainly be playing in the city with the lowest per capita income in MLB by a good margin.

 

[MikeO]

San Antonio is the new city popping up. Loria loves it there for some reason and it is at the top of his list.

The Texas Rangers would protest, but hell the Orioles protested the Nationals and it didnt help any.

Vegas, SA, and Portland are the 3 top candidates at this point.

 

[Dudeman]

San Antonio is the new city popping up. Loria loves it there for some reason and it is at the top of his list.

The Texas Rangers would protest, but hell the Orioles protested the Nationals and it didnt help any.

Vegas, SA, and Portland are the 3 top candidates at this point.

Thats because Angelos was given a ticket guarantee.

The MLB said that they would come to a compromise in the amount of money from tickets sold, and if the O's don't reach that #, then MLB would pay Angelos the difference.

Dont think Angelos didnt come out with something

 

[MikeO]

Thats because Angelos was given a ticket guarantee.

The MLB said that they would come to a compromise in the amount of money from tickets sold, and if the O's don't reach that #, then MLB would pay Angelos the difference.

Dont think Angelos didnt come out with something

If SA is the only viable option for the Marlins, then the Rangers might get a similar deal then.