Major League Baseball expansion is moving closer to becoming a reality, and Portland’s long-running MLB dream may now face its biggest challenge yet: Salt Lake City.
MLB has not expanded since the 1990s, but the league appears to be approaching a new expansion process. With stadium situations in Tampa Bay and Las Vegas becoming clearer, attention is increasingly turning toward potential new markets across the United States and Canada.
Among the leading candidates, Portland and Salt Lake City have emerged as two important contenders for a potential Western expansion franchise.
Portland’s MLB Bid Has Made Significant Progress
Portland’s pursuit of an MLB team has been discussed for years, but the proposal has recently gained more tangible foundations.
The Portland Diamond Project has a letter of intent that provides a path toward purchasing Zidell Yards, a 33-acre property along the Willamette River. Oregon has also approved a financing mechanism that could provide as much as $800 million toward a baseball stadium if Portland secures an MLB franchise.
The proposed South Waterfront location could give Portland a distinctive setting for a Major League Baseball stadium, with the Willamette River and Cascade Range providing a dramatic backdrop.
The project’s progress means Portland now has two elements that are essential to any expansion bid: a potential stadium site and a public financing structure.
Why Salt Lake City Is a Serious Competitor
Salt Lake City has many of the same pieces already in place.
The Larry H. Miller Company is connected to Utah’s MLB expansion effort, giving the proposal an ownership group with extensive experience in professional sports. The Miller family previously owned the Utah Jazz for more than three decades.
Salt Lake City also has a proposed stadium location in the Power District and up to $900 million in state funding.
Those factors have helped make Salt Lake City one of the most advanced expansion candidates under consideration.
For Portland, the major difference is ownership. While the city has developed its stadium proposal, it still needs a billionaire investor willing to take on the enormous financial commitment associated with bringing an MLB franchise to the city.
Portland Has a Strong Market Case
Portland can point to several factors in support of its MLB ambitions.
The metropolitan area has a sizable population and a significant media market, while professional sports already have a strong presence in the city.
The Portland Trail Blazers have long been central to the local sports culture. The Timbers and Thorns have also developed passionate followings, while the return of the Portland Fire has added another professional sports franchise.
Baseball could also create a natural regional rivalry with the Seattle Mariners.
Oregon already has plenty of Mariners supporters, and a Portland MLB franchise could potentially develop one of baseball’s more geographically interesting rivalries with Seattle.
The Zidell Yards Vision
One of the most appealing elements of Portland’s proposal is the potential location.
A stadium at Zidell Yards would place MLB baseball near the Willamette River rather than in a traditional suburban setting dominated by parking lots.
The proposed development could connect baseball with Portland’s broader urban environment, transportation network and waterfront.
For the Portland Diamond Project, the goal is not simply to build a stadium. The vision is to create a destination that reflects the character of the city.
That could become an important part of Portland’s pitch when MLB eventually evaluates expansion markets.
MLB Expansion Could Come Into Focus Soon
The timing is becoming increasingly important.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has previously indicated that he wants two expansion cities — one in the West and one in the East — determined by the time he retires in January 2029.
However, the league still has to navigate its upcoming collective bargaining negotiations before the expansion process can fully develop.
If the process advances as expected, potential expansion markets could face serious competition well before new teams actually take the field.
The expansion franchises could potentially begin playing around 2032, meaning the battle over which cities receive teams could take place years earlier.
Portland’s Biggest Missing Piece
Portland’s situation has changed dramatically.
The city once had to answer basic questions about where an MLB team would play and how a stadium could be financed. Today, the proposed Zidell Yards site and Oregon’s financing mechanism provide significantly more concrete answers.
The remaining ownership issue, however, is substantial.
An MLB expansion franchise could require an investment of roughly $2.5 billion before accounting for the broader costs associated with building and operating a team and stadium.
That makes finding the right ownership group critical to Portland’s hopes.
Salt Lake City already has an ownership group associated with its proposal, as well as a stadium site and substantial public funding.
Portland vs. Salt Lake City in the MLB Expansion Race
The two cities bring different strengths to the expansion conversation.
Portland:
- Proposed Zidell Yards stadium site
- Up to $800 million in potential Oregon financing
- Large regional population and established sports culture
- Potential natural rivalry with the Seattle Mariners
- Needs a major ownership investor
Salt Lake City:
- Larry H. Miller Company involvement
- Power District stadium site
- Up to $900 million in state funding
- Established professional sports ownership experience
- More of the major components of an expansion bid already assembled
That combination explains why Salt Lake City has received considerable attention as a Western expansion candidate.
MLB Baseball in Portland Is No Longer Just a Fantasy
Portland’s MLB dream remains unfinished, but the conversation has clearly evolved.
The city now has a proposed stadium site, a potential financing framework and an established expansion campaign. Those developments put Portland much closer to being a serious MLB candidate than it was several years ago.
At the same time, Salt Lake City has built a strong proposal of its own.
The next stage of the MLB expansion process could therefore be especially important for both cities. If baseball begins formally evaluating expansion markets after labor negotiations, Portland will need to demonstrate that it can secure the ownership investment necessary to turn its stadium plans into an actual franchise.
For now, the biggest question surrounding Portland baseball is no longer whether the city can envision an MLB stadium.
It is whether someone with the financial resources to make that vision real will step forward.
And with Salt Lake City already putting several major pieces together, Portland’s next move could be crucial to its MLB ambitions.
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