Latest on MLB ambitions for the Triangle

PonsterM

All-American
Aug 11, 2025
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Roydean1980

Senior
Aug 1, 2025
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This isn't true. Two terrible posts back to back.


This isn't true. Two terrible posts back to back.

 

PonsterM

All-American
Aug 11, 2025
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Piddy022

All-Conference
Apr 12, 2009
329
1,172
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Nashville is a lock for one spot.

I got something on my phone the other day. Top 5 cities bad news

Raleigh was 4th out of 5

Charlotte Raleigh were lumped together guy gave them no chance.
This is so untrue. Nashville isn’t locked for anything. They may win out in t end but it’s far from decided. It will be very tough for MLB to ignore NC. The only states larger than us all have multiple teams.
 

topoftheheel

All-American
Aug 30, 2025
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HOFcoachRoy

All-Conference
Apr 14, 2003
743
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It will be interesting to see how allegiances change if/when it does happen.

I’m a Braves fan but I think I would have to make the switch.

NC is projected to become like the 7th or 8th most populated state in the next decade so I completely get why we’re next up.
Could never not be a Braves fan, but an NC team could be team 2 for me and I would love being able to go watch games in Raleigh.
 
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cucampbe

Sophomore
Dec 2, 2024
45
134
33
Fair. Although I think the lot is the problem. If they wanted to build a stadium for MLB, they would have had to pick a different location, I think.
Yep, been to a few ACCT and Knights games over there and it's a great AAA park but you are correct in that the lot is the problem. There just isn't room to expand to MLB standards even if the base construction of the building allowed for it if that makes sense.
 

Bricks

Freshman
Nov 11, 2025
48
79
18
There is a strong argument for Raleigh and the fact that there are two billionaires that want to make it happen is very encouraging. When polling current players, Nashville is a heavy lean, but the campaign for Raleigh is more advanced. Beyond waiting for the CBA this offseason, what is the timing for expansion?
 
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Heel2002

Redshirt
Sep 7, 2025
9
21
3
Just put the new team in the American League and Braves fans can just hop on another team too and have an excuse to watch more ball. The big question will be funding and location for the stadium and how much taxpayers will be on the hook for.
 
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ChapelChill

Sophomore
Jul 26, 2025
56
171
33
Raleigh’s other biggest problem is it’s a college sports hub and it’s a front runner market for anything other than college sports. UNC, dook and state will always get support even if they suck but the Canes spent a decade in the dumpster of the NHL for attendance when they were below average. Charlotte, for what it’s worth, still supports the Panthers and Hornets even when they are not good.
I think what makes the Canes support so volatile is that people here do not grow up playing hockey. I did not become a hockey fan until I went to boarding school with a bunch of guys who grew up playing and put NHL games on the one and only TV every night. People here do grow up playing baseball, just as people grow up playing basketball and football, so I could see attendance being more consistent with an MLB team.
 

tarheelblue7

Senior
Aug 2, 2025
298
641
92
I think what makes the Canes support so volatile is that people here do not grow up playing hockey. I did not become a hockey fan until I went to boarding school with a bunch of guys who grew up playing and put NHL games on the one and only TV every night. People here do grow up playing baseball, just as people grow up playing basketball and football, so I could see attendance being more consistent with an MLB team.
Most cities have problems with attendance when teams are bad. Canes not having support when they're bad isn't simply because it's hockey.

If Raleigh had an MLB team that were consistently bad they wouldn't be filling up the stadium for 81 games a year either, even if the average person in Raleigh grew up playing baseball rather than hockey. Especially as a small city relative to other MLB cities.
 

Piddy022

All-Conference
Apr 12, 2009
329
1,172
93
Most cities have problems with attendance when teams are bad. Canes not having support when they're bad isn't simply because it's hockey.

If Raleigh had an MLB team that were consistently bad they wouldn't be filling up the stadium for 81 games a year either, even if the average person in Raleigh grew up playing baseball rather than hockey. Especially as a small city relative to other MLB cities.
I bet they could average the same as someone like the White Sox!

Baseball is religion in eastern NC. Dont underestimate the support the team would have from that part of the state. They will drive for it on weekdays.
 

OldStoneWalls

Junior
Aug 1, 2025
70
228
33
Even though I live in Charlotte I’d be happy to see it in Raleigh, under a few conditions:

-Cannot have red and black as primary colors. Find something neutral that doesn’t align with the colleges
-Make it a “Carolina” team rather than “Raleigh”
-Build it over the cow pasture off of Wade Ave next to Lenovo or on the fairgrounds. Blows my mind how poor of a use it is for that land so close to the city center. Extra points if the ballpark ultimately gets the nickname the “fairgrounds” because it sounds like an old school baseball stadium nickname (Camden Yards, Wrigley Field, Polo Grounds, etc)

This location helps support the entertainment district Dundon is building in the area. He has to be giddy thinking about getting all of the foot traffic revenue for his real estate development without forking out the money and time necessary to bring the team to town.

As much as I’d like the MLB in Charlotte to see the best teams come to town and the potential of playing playoff baseball, the current stadium is a damn near perfect AAA ballpark.
 

topoftheheel

All-American
Aug 30, 2025
2,449
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Yep, been to a few ACCT and Knights games over there and it's a great AAA park but you are correct in that the lot is the problem. There just isn't room to expand to MLB standards even if the base construction of the building allowed for it if that makes sense.
Yep. Pipe and Foundry is the only site nearby that makes sense but Tepper would never let that happen. Don't know if it's feasible but I wouldn't miss Romare Bearden if it had to go to expand the current footprint to make it work.
 

topoftheheel

All-American
Aug 30, 2025
2,449
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Even though I live in Charlotte I’d be happy to see it in Raleigh, under a few conditions:

-Cannot have red and black as primary colors. Find something neutral that doesn’t align with the colleges
-Make it a “Carolina” team rather than “Raleigh”
-Build it over the cow pasture off of Wade Ave next to Lenovo or on the fairgrounds. Blows my mind how poor of a use it is for that land so close to the city center. Extra points if the ballpark ultimately gets the nickname the “fairgrounds” because it sounds like an old school baseball stadium nickname (Camden Yards, Wrigley Field, Polo Grounds, etc)

This location helps support the entertainment district Dundon is building in the area. He has to be giddy thinking about getting all of the foot traffic revenue for his real estate development without forking out the money and time necessary to bring the team to town.

As much as I’d like the MLB in Charlotte to see the best teams come to town and the potential of playing playoff baseball, the current stadium is a damn near perfect AAA ballpark.
Call it the Carolina Blues lol
 

Piddy022

All-Conference
Apr 12, 2009
329
1,172
93
It will definitely be called Carolina. That was part of the deal in getting the State to commit to the funding. Agree on no red for this team!

I hear a huge announcement is forthcoming in the next ~30 days regarding stadium plans and much more info on the effort.
 

ChapelChill

Sophomore
Jul 26, 2025
56
171
33
Most cities have problems with attendance when teams are bad. Canes not having support when they're bad isn't simply because it's hockey.

If Raleigh had an MLB team that were consistently bad they wouldn't be filling up the stadium for 81 games a year either, even if the average person in Raleigh grew up playing baseball rather than hockey. Especially as a small city relative to other MLB cities.
I agree that bad teams don't draw sellout crowds but the hockey factor can be a force multiplier when the Canes are in that situation. Nobody is talking about moving the Canucks after the season they had. Nobody spoke about moving the Sabres during their playoff drought that was even longer than ours. However, in the 2010s, Carolina and Nashville were in danger of being moved and Atlanta actually was moved. The kid who plays on his high school football team will have at least a slight interest in what's going on with the awful pro team down the road. There are no high school hockey teams here.
 
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tarheelblue7

Senior
Aug 2, 2025
298
641
92
Yep. Pipe and Foundry is the only site nearby that makes sense but Tepper would never let that happen. Don't know if it's feasible but I wouldn't miss Romare Bearden if it had to go to expand the current footprint to make it work.
Trading Romare Bearden for an MLB team would be a win-win. The park and that area have seen better days
 
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Bricks

Freshman
Nov 11, 2025
48
79
18
Even though I live in Charlotte I’d be happy to see it in Raleigh, under a few conditions:

-Cannot have red and black as primary colors. Find something neutral that doesn’t align with the colleges
-Make it a “Carolina” team rather than “Raleigh”
-Build it over the cow pasture off of Wade Ave next to Lenovo or on the fairgrounds. Blows my mind how poor of a use it is for that land so close to the city center. Extra points if the ballpark ultimately gets the nickname the “fairgrounds” because it sounds like an old school baseball stadium nickname (Camden Yards, Wrigley Field, Polo Grounds, etc)

This location helps support the entertainment district Dundon is building in the area. He has to be giddy thinking about getting all of the foot traffic revenue for his real estate development without forking out the money and time necessary to bring the team to town.

As much as I’d like the MLB in Charlotte to see the best teams come to town and the potential of playing playoff baseball, the current stadium is a damn near perfect AAA ballpark.
I generally agree regarding the color scheme, but I can get on board with the Carolina Mudcats name being resurrected.
 

unc86

Senior
Sep 1, 2025
471
963
93
Years ago kernersville voted on a mlb baseball stadium.
Not Kernersville. Originally 12 counties, but ultimately Forsyth and Guilford counties voted on a bond referendum to provide funding for a stadium on/near the border of the two east of Kernersville near Colfax (if a MLB team were to relocate).

At one time I favored that initiative, but I came to believe the popularity of a greater number of healthy minor league teams in the state is a better fit for NC given its long history.

And yes I do think the presence of a MLB team in NC would diminish the success of some of its minor league teams.
 

Reddfoxx00

All-Conference
Jun 30, 2025
1,500
1,667
113
Put team in AL

I dont think you can ignore the states growth.

I still say Nashville is a 99% lock. Its the hottest town in America now
 

Piddy022

All-Conference
Apr 12, 2009
329
1,172
93
Put team in AL

I dont think you can ignore the states growth.

I still say Nashville is a 99% lock. Its the hottest town in America now
Based on what metrics? The Triangle is both bigger and is growing faster.

Because they have more bachelorette parties?
 
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Unc12003

All-Conference
Aug 1, 2023
783
2,134
82
It will definitely be called Carolina. That was part of the deal in getting the State to commit to the funding. Agree on no red for this team!

I hear a huge announcement is forthcoming in the next ~30 days regarding stadium plans and much more info on the effort.
Unfortunately it’ll definitely be red
 

RogerThatHeel

All-Conference
Aug 2, 2025
1,685
1,524
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People keep talking about all these afternoon weekday games. There aren’t that many on the schedule. It’s not like we’re building a Wrigley Field replica from back in the day without lights.
You will rarely see a full MLB stadium during a weekday game for any city. Chicago might be an exception on occassion. I do not recall one single full stadium of any game that I've watched during a weekday afternoon. Build it and they will come.
 

BaloniousMonk

Senior
Jul 4, 2025
206
600
93
I've been around the MLB scene for a while, and have heard the "MLB coming to North Carolina" rumbling for decades. The old Knights Stadium was actually built with the idea of being able to close in the circle and make it a multi deck stadium for MLB.
 
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PonsterM

All-American
Aug 11, 2025
1,795
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You're just trolling now. Alabama? You said Alabama. :ROFLMAO:
American League (AL), not Alabama (AL)

(After you stick around here for a while, you learn to interpret Reddfoxx00 stream of consciousness. If it enters his brain, it enters the chat.)
 
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Reddfoxx00

All-Conference
Jun 30, 2025
1,500
1,667
113
I have made a mistake.

National media has said salt lake is the lock.

Rumor is mlb wants a western and eastern team.

If SLC is a lock its between NC and Nashville.

Jacksonville or Orlando cant be legit w a terrible team 2 hours away. Just move the rays.