Blue Jays President Breaks Silence on Vancouver Expansion Bid
Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro expressed support for Vancouver's potential MLB expansion bid, emphasizing the importance of growing baseball in Canada. While a Vancouver team could impact the Blue Jays' minor league operations and market share, the threat remains theoretical for now. Vancouver has begun formal steps to explore an MLB bid, but other cities are further ahead in the process.
- ▪Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro said the team supports efforts to bring Major League Baseball to Vancouver.
- ▪An MLB team in Vancouver would require the Blue Jays to relocate their Class-A minor league affiliate and could reduce their fan market in Western Canada.
- ▪Vancouver's city council has approved an 'expression of interest' process to identify potential ownership groups for an MLB expansion team.
- ▪Cities like Salt Lake City, Orlando, and Portland are considered more advanced in the MLB expansion race than Vancouver.
- ▪Shapiro's support poses little immediate risk, as MLB expansion is still years away from becoming a reality.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
By Jon Paul HoornstraContributing Sports WriterShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberSee more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.The city of Vancouver, British Columbia faces long odds toward inclusion in Major League Baseball's expansion plans. For now, at least, the team that has the most to lose if Canada gains a second franchise won't stand in Vancouver's way.An MLB team in Vancouver would effectively require the Blue Jays to relocate their Class-A minor league affiliate, while also cost Toronto some of its market share among baseball fans in Western Canada.
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