I really hope the Expos relocate in Las Vegas...

[NJYAJ09]

I know all signs are pointing to DC or Norfolk, but wouldnt it be great if Las Vegas got a MLB team?

I really think Las Vegas would be a great choice. The casinos can front up for a ballpark, and make a boatload packaging vegas trips w/ your local team's game thrown in. The marketing tie-ins are huge.
As for aversions to gambling towns, thats a dead issue. Casinos are in how many states now? 38?
Not to mention the closest teams to Vegas are Denver and Phoenix both a good 10 hours away.
Use UNLV/UNR rules: No gambling on the team in the state.
Wouldnt it be awesome to have a Ballpark downtown, or even in the strip? I wanna see some Billionare or something build a casino/hotel/ballpark. That would rock.

 

[Espo]

It's never going to happen. MLB doesn't want to have the problems that may come with having a professional sports team in Vegas. Plus does vegas even have enough actual residents to support a major league baseball team? MLB will not put the Expos in a city that they have a serious chance to fail in.
If they do some how wind up in Vegas though i think Pete Rose should manage and they should be called the "Vegas Gamblers".

 

[Bob Chebat]

They are going to have to move to a city with an established population. Another team in a transient city will not do MLB any good.

Holy crap, the Expos swept the D-backs this season, all 6 games. How pathetic is that?

Joe must go.

 

[NJYAJ09]

I wouldnt consider Las Vegas a transient city... IIRC they are one of the largest cities in the USA without a major league team... i think they're second to Norfolk. And think of all the tourists. I would love to go see a game in Vegas.

 

[Gee!]

Ya just nice. A billionaire owner that can buy any player he wants ala the Yankers. Good God I hope Vegas doesnt get a team.

 

[NJYAJ09]

Well, I didnt mean that... I hate Steinbrenner, You know what I mean though, It would be cool to have a stadium on the strip.


I guess its just wishfull thinking... ya know I'd rather have a new team in a city that I go to once a year (well I used to go once a year for a yearly baseball tournament) then have a team I wouldnt give a damn about all the way across the country.

 

[AZCB34]

From the casinos standpoint, it is a huge deal if they can swing it because of the potential visiting fans coming in and dropping coin. I mean there would be very few teams who wouldn't travel well to vegas...and for MLB that is the problem. Bob is right in that like PHX, Las Vegas is a transplant city. I think MLB would prefer a city with a long-time large population base instead of a hodge podge of people from everywhere. DC provides that kind of population base.

As for the gambling, I think using it as an excuse is lame since gambling on sports is a click away these days. The danger isn't any higher in Vegas than anywhere else at this point. I believe Las Vegas in the past couple years has allowed the ability to gamble on UNLV games even.

The question is who would own the Expos? The casinos are billons in debt right now, moreso with the recent wave of mergers happening. Would they add more debt to their bottom line in addition to building a new stadium? Caesar's has proposed a retractable roof stadium to be built adjacent to the Strip property.

I think the Expos are closer to contraction than moving anywhere right now.

 

[BC867]

From the casinos standpoint, it is a huge deal if they can swing it because of the potential visiting fans coming in and dropping coin. I mean there would be very few teams who wouldn't travel well to vegas...and for MLB that is the problem. Bob is right in that like PHX, Las Vegas is a transplant city. I think MLB would prefer a city with a long-time large population base instead of a hodge podge of people from everywhere. DC provides that kind of population base.

As for the gambling, I think using it as an excuse is lame since gambling on sports is a click away these days. The danger isn't any higher in Vegas than anywhere else at this point. I believe Las Vegas in the past couple years has allowed the ability to gamble on UNLV games even.

The question is who would own the Expos? The casinos are billons in debt right now, moreso with the recent wave of mergers happening. Would they add more debt to their bottom line in addition to building a new stadium? Caesar's has proposed a retractable roof stadium to be built adjacent to the Strip property.

I think the Expos are closer to contraction than moving anywhere right now.

The Orioles are certainly fighting the Expos moving to either D.C. or Virginia.

I agree. That area, unlike New York, Chicago, and L.A./Orange County, would probably not be able to support both an NL and AL team. Even the Bay Area is on the brink.

Boston, Philadelphia and St. Louis haven't in decades.

 

[NJYAJ09]

The Orioles are certainly fighting the Expos moving to either D.C. or Virginia.

I agree. That area, unlike New York, Chicago, and L.A./Orange County, would probably not be able to support both an NL and AL team. Even the Bay Area is on the brink.

Boston, Philadelphia and St. Louis haven't in decades.

Peter Angelos really only has been fighting with the Expos going to DC. I think Norfolk is fine with him.

 

[BC867]

Peter Angelos really only has been fighting with the Expos going to DC. I think Norfolk is fine with him.

Ah, what a laid back city. They neither drink norfolk. ('Sorry about that. I couldn't resist. )