What Happened to MLB Relocation?

Major League Baseball relocation, while historically less frequent than in other major North American sports leagues, has seen a resurgence in discussions and actual moves in the 2020s, primarily driven by stadium issues and market viability. The most prominent case is the Oakland Athletics, whose decades-long struggle to secure a new ballpark in the Bay Area culminated in their approved relocation to Las Vegas. After years of failed negotiations and proposals for new stadiums in Oakland, the team announced its intention to move to Las Vegas in 2023. This move was unanimously approved by MLB owners in November 2023, marking the first full MLB relocation since the Montreal Expos became the Washington Nationals in 2005.

The Athletics' transition involves a temporary period in West Sacramento, California, where they are playing their home games at Sutter Health Park for the 2025, 2026, and 2027 seasons. During this interim, the team has adopted a city-agnostic 'A's' or 'Athletics' branding, though they wear a 'Las Vegas' patch on their uniforms. Construction on their permanent 33,000-seat, climate-controlled stadium on the Las Vegas Strip, estimated to cost between $1.5 billion and $2 billion with $380 million in Nevada public funding, is underway, with an anticipated opening in 2028. In June 2026, the Athletics played a series of six 'home' games at the Triple-A Las Vegas Ballpark, offering a preview of MLB in the desert.

Another long-standing relocation saga involved the Tampa Bay Rays. For years, the team faced uncertainty regarding its future in St. Petersburg due to the aging Tropicana Field and difficulties in securing a new stadium. A significant turning point occurred in March 2025 when a proposed $1.3 billion ballpark and redevelopment deal in St. Petersburg fell through, primarily due to rising construction costs. Further complicating matters, Tropicana Field sustained severe damage from Hurricane Milton in October 2024, forcing the Rays to play their entire 2025 home schedule at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.

However, the narrative for the Rays shifted dramatically in August 2026. After renewed negotiations, both the Tampa City Council and the Hillsborough County Commission approved a comprehensive financing plan for a new $2.3 billion stadium project. The new 28,000-31,000 seat stadium will be located near Hillsborough College's Dale Mabry campus in Tampa and is projected to open in 2029. The Rays ownership committed to contributing at least $1.3 billion, with Hillsborough County providing $796 million, the City of Tampa $80 million, and an additional $30 million from federal disaster recovery funds. This agreement includes a 35-year non-relocation clause, effectively securing the Rays' future in the Tampa Bay area.

Beyond these specific team movements, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has consistently expressed interest in expanding the league to 32 teams. This expansion is expected to be a key topic in the next collective bargaining agreement, which is set to expire in December 2026. Several cities are actively positioning themselves as strong candidates for expansion franchises, including Nashville, Portland, and Vancouver, with Sacramento also making a formal bid in June 2026. The potential for expansion, coupled with the recent relocations, underscores a dynamic period for MLB as it navigates facility demands, market opportunities, and the desire for league growth.