In recent years, the push for a Major League Baseball (MLB) team in Portland has begun to gain traction, especially because the Oakland Athletic’s contract for their stadium in Oakland expires in 2024. Therefore, they have been looking for a new home.
According to the OPB, the Portland Diamond Project has been leading the charge to have an MLB team in Portland. They believe that Portland has a real shot according to Sports Illustrated. However, with the Athletic’s signing a contract to move to Vegas in 2028, the Diamond Project has been forced to consider other alternatives.
Another way that we could see an MLB team in Portland is through the league’s plans to add two expansion teams, one of which would most likely be in the west. According to Sports Illustrated, if the A’s move to Vegas, then the fight would be between Portland and Salt Lake City for an expansion team.
Junior Hayden Rogers, a member of Lincoln’s baseball team, thinks an MLB team in Portland would be meaningful. However, he still has his doubts that it will happen.
”I think having a baseball team in Portland would be an interesting experience to say the least, and it would be fun. I just feel the odds of it happening are not high,” said Rogers.
Junior Rayleigh Bristol, a lacrosse player here at Lincoln, agrees that having an MLB team would get more eyes on the sport, and even have an economic impact on Portland.
“A major league sports team would benefit the city, making it more touristy and increasing the revenue of the city. I think that it will add more things to do in Portland and make more people like the MLB,” said Bristol.
Rogers strongly agrees that an MLB team in Portland would give athletes like himself a way to express the city’s identity through their sport.
“I think the presence of a MLB team in Portland as a student baseball player would definitely shift mindset and attitudes towards the game within younger children. Players like myself feel it would be a way of showing off Portland with baseball gear. The way Timber shirts are sold and the way Blazers shirts are sold,” said Rogers.
Junior Ella Spangler, a Lincoln softball player, is excited by the possibility of an MLB team in Portland.
“I think the MLB would be a great addition to Portland to display more spirit in our city. It would be really cool to have our own team to support [because] as I know now, the closest team otherwise is the Seattle Mariners,” said Spangler. “As someone who plays softball, it would be cool to have a team like this; it shows the growing love for the game and support throughout Portland.”
Although Rogers is not fully convinced that the current generation of Portlanders watch baseball enough to support our own MLB team, he emphasizes the drastic impact a team would have on the next generation of fans.
“I feel having a professional baseball team nearby would skyrocket the amount of kids that play baseball. Kids will idolize these guys more than other players on some other teams because they’re right there; they’re gonna be their biggest fans, so I feel everyone’s gonna wanna play baseball,” said Rogers.
