Wednesday, February 28, 2018

MLB/MiLB growth could foot the Bill for Independent League Stadiums

Some of the bill anyway.
And this could happen because of the need for new A-ball clubs.

Could this be the solution for American baseball saturation?

Whether the A-advanced teams in the California, Carolina or Florida State League teams, or the Class-A South Atlantic or Midwest Leagues, when a MLB expansion causes a need for up to 12 new teams in the pro ranks, unless there's going to be agreements to park prospects under a shared franchise, like how the NHL does for some "farm" teams, there become a lot more moving parts across the American landscape.  That might mean a lot of stadiums in newer markets where likely other leagues are already parked, like the Pecos League in Tucson.  There may be too much saturation to bare multiple ballparks everywhere.

While this should help the independent leagues thrive, it shouldn't be so much as a slow hostile takeover.  Perhaps MLB-MiLB could lease gametimes with some gate and concession share from the likes of the American Association and/or Frontier League, agreements at hotstove time.  No fire sales happen.
University of Cincinnati Health Field in Florence, Kentucky (Frontier League)

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