Growing momentum, wealthy investors, and a booming sports market are fueling talk of MLB expansion in the Tar Heel State.As excitement continues to build around North Carolina’s sports landscape, there’s plenty of chatter about bringing a Major League Baseball franchise to the state. The Carolina Hurricanes’ recent Stanley Cup championship has reignited conversations about whether North Carolina is ready for a team in one of America’s oldest professional sports leagues.Why North Carolina Is in the ConversationMajor League Baseball has not expanded since adding the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays in 1998. But many industry observers believe expansion will happen, with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred expressing interest in growing the league before he retires.Sports radio host Josh Graham says North Carolina checks many of the boxes MLB could be looking for.”It’s been a very, very, very long time since they’ve done that,” Graham said. “And 32 teams makes a lot of sense, especially considering the success of the NFL. So likely you’re looking at one team out west and one team to the Mid-East Coast, which is where North Carolina comes in.”North Carolina is currently the most populous state in the nation without a Major League Baseball team.A Billionaire Backer Steps UpOne of the biggest factors in landing an expansion franchise is finding ownership groups willing to invest billions of dollars.According to Graham, North Carolina already has someone willing to step up to the plate.”Tom Dundon’s on the record saying he wants to bring Major League Baseball to North Carolina,” Graham said. “He just purchased the Portland Trail Blazers for $4.5 billion. He just led the Carolina Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup. So that has to be appealing for Major League Baseball.”Dundon, owner of the Hurricanes, has publicly expressed interest in bringing MLB to the state, giving expansion supporters a potential deep-pocketed champion.Stadium Questions RemainWhile enthusiasm is growing, significant hurdles remain.Greensboro Grasshoppers General Manager Tim Vangel says everything has to line up just right for an expansion team to come to the Tar Heel State.”The state’s talking about maybe putting a provision in to start thinking about the possibility of funding a stadium,” Vangel said. “I’ve heard there’s maybe some land around, close to PNC, that might be available potentially. But there’s a lot of moving parts.”Can North Carolina Support Another Major Team?One question MLB executives would likely consider is whether the state’s sports fans can support another major professional franchise.Graham believes North Carolina’s strong baseball culture works in its favor.”You have all these minor league parks. You have really strong college baseball teams, including a team playing for the national championship in Omaha. And NASCAR is huge here,” Graham said.North Carolina is home to multiple successful Minor League Baseball teams and nationally recognized college baseball programs, providing an established fan base for the sport.What’s Next?For now, there is no official timetable for MLB expansion.However, with growing support, potential investors expressing interest, and North Carolina’s continued population growth, many believe the state could be well-positioned whenever Major League Baseball decides to add new franchises.Whether the next pitch comes in Charlotte, Raleigh, or another North Carolina city remains to be seen, but the conversation is no longer just out in left field.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Growing momentum, wealthy investors, and a booming sports market are fueling talk of MLB expansion in the Tar Heel State.

As excitement continues to build around North Carolina’s sports landscape, there’s plenty of chatter about bringing a Major League Baseball franchise to the state.

The Carolina Hurricanes’ recent Stanley Cup championship has reignited conversations about whether North Carolina is ready for a team in one of America’s oldest professional sports leagues.

Why North Carolina Is in the Conversation

Major League Baseball has not expanded since adding the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays in 1998. But many industry observers believe expansion will happen, with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred expressing interest in growing the league before he retires.

Sports radio host Josh Graham says North Carolina checks many of the boxes MLB could be looking for.

“It’s been a very, very, very long time since they’ve done that,” Graham said. “And 32 teams makes a lot of sense, especially considering the success of the NFL. So likely you’re looking at one team out west and one team to the Mid-East Coast, which is where North Carolina comes in.”

North Carolina is currently the most populous state in the nation without a Major League Baseball team.

A Billionaire Backer Steps Up

One of the biggest factors in landing an expansion franchise is finding ownership groups willing to invest billions of dollars.

According to Graham, North Carolina already has someone willing to step up to the plate.

“Tom Dundon’s on the record saying he wants to bring Major League Baseball to North Carolina,” Graham said. “He just purchased the Portland Trail Blazers for $4.5 billion. He just led the Carolina Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup. So that has to be appealing for Major League Baseball.”

Dundon, owner of the Hurricanes, has publicly expressed interest in bringing MLB to the state, giving expansion supporters a potential deep-pocketed champion.

Stadium Questions Remain

While enthusiasm is growing, significant hurdles remain.

Greensboro Grasshoppers General Manager Tim Vangel says everything has to line up just right for an expansion team to come to the Tar Heel State.

“The state’s talking about maybe putting a provision in to start thinking about the possibility of funding a stadium,” Vangel said. “I’ve heard there’s maybe some land around, close to PNC, that might be available potentially. But there’s a lot of moving parts.”

Can North Carolina Support Another Major Team?

One question MLB executives would likely consider is whether the state’s sports fans can support another major professional franchise.

Graham believes North Carolina’s strong baseball culture works in its favor.

“You have all these minor league parks. You have really strong college baseball teams, including a team playing for the national championship in Omaha. And NASCAR is huge here,” Graham said.

North Carolina is home to multiple successful Minor League Baseball teams and nationally recognized college baseball programs, providing an established fan base for the sport.

What’s Next?

For now, there is no official timetable for MLB expansion.

However, with growing support, potential investors expressing interest, and North Carolina’s continued population growth, many believe the state could be well-positioned whenever Major League Baseball decides to add new franchises.

Whether the next pitch comes in Charlotte, Raleigh, or another North Carolina city remains to be seen, but the conversation is no longer just out in left field.