One of the most popular posts on this blog was the possibility of Major League Baseball in Utah. It's time for a 2022 version.
Much has happened in the past 3 years. Well, that's an understatement. I terms of the subject of this blog here is a chain of events. First, The State Legislature decided to build a new, modern prison in the salt swamps west of the Salt Lake Airport. Leaving 700 acres halfway between Salt Lake City and Provo open for a new development. Bonus: the locality hasn't decided what to do with the site. Second, a BYU alumnus named Ryan Smith stated a company called Qualtrics. His company grew and grew and grew and grew. Suddenly, Smith is the most wealthy Cougar ever. He buys the Jazz from the Miller family...something I never saw coming. He buys a stake in Real Salt Lake. He is a sports fan who still has billions to burn. He forms a group to bring Major League Baseball to Utah. Finally, Arte Moreno decides to sell the Los Angeles Angels, a team which plays in the fourth oldest stadium in Baseball. This stadium doesn't exactly hold the same nostalgia as the three ballparks that are older...Fenway Park, Wrigley Field and Dodger Stadium. Suddenly, people are saying Salt Lake Angels. A MLB may move there, but I doubt it will be the Angels. More on that later.
Let me tell you a little about the site. I-15 is to the East. The Bangerter Highway is to the North. The Front Runner, the high speed rail is to the west. It is in, arguably, the wealthiest community in Utah. The nearby freeway sees nearly 250,000 cars every morning. It can easily handle baseball traffic. Some of the largest tech companies in the world, like Adobe and Dell have centers within 5 miles. I don't see any negative to moving a team to this site. Baseball owners are probably drooling at the prospect.
Site plan reported by the Salt Lake Tribune made by the Point of the Mountain State Land Authority. (Published May 24, 2021. Accessed August 30, 2022.)
The stadium would likely be near the current I-15 access in a location designated for retail and entertainment. The area I highlighted is about 20 acres. This is an educated guess.
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Location in Salt Lake County relative to Salt Lake City courtesy of Google Maps.
Another thing to keep in mind, in spite of relatively low salaries, the Utah Jazz and Real Salt Lake are perennial playoff contenders. Sure, between the two of them, there is only one championship, but in terms of wins and losses, it is hard to find teams that have been consistently better. Plus both teams have arguably the best home-court/field advantage in their respective leagues. They also regularly sell out their venues. With Utah adding 50,000 new residents every year, it's hard to imagine that baseball will be less successful.
Plus this is your outfield view
There are negatives. Sunday play and alcohol sales will be issues. Some players may not want to come to Utah because of negative stereotypes or even negative personal experience. These are issues that the Jazz and Real Salt Lake deal with as well. Many athletes who have played for these teams have chosen to remain here after their retirement. Even those who finished their careers outside of Utah have come back.
I would also argue that Salt Lake is likely, at best, the fourth best market for Baseball. Based upon the 2020 Census, I would put Portland, Austin and San Antonio ahead of Salt Lake. Portland could more than match the scenery. But Salt Lake has spendthrift Smith and 700 prime acres. I don't know if Portland, San Antonio and Austin can match that right now.
Does Anaheim deserve to lose this team? They are 13th in the league in attendance. This, in spite of a 52-71 record. They are up from 16th last season. But, before the pandemic, they were 5th. They have historically been in the top ten. The team and the stadium have seen better days. The play of the team and the aging venue and the recent success of the Dodgers are likely factors for the drop in attendance. Certainly, they still draw well in spite of the negatives. But it is not trending in the right direction. I think the team needs a new stadium, there is enough room to build a brand new one in the parking lot. If it were my team, I would keep them right there.
If not the Angels, could it be the Athletics or Rays? Possibly. It remains to be seen. Again, I prefer expansion. The Athletics have been trying for decades to get a new stadium, while the current one is falling to pieces. Not like they can't build a new on in the parking lot there. But no one wants that. The Rays? I can't see why they can't get a deal done there, either. The difference between Smith and the current owners of these clubs. Smith will spend his own money. They current owners aren't willing to.
If all this happened, what would become of the Salt Lake Bees, the current AAA West team in Utah? Salt Lake City is eyeing the stadium district for redevelopment. If unoccupied, it would likely revert to a community greenspace. This would enhance the neighborhood and possibly spur some needed gentrification. The current stadium is shared with the Utah Utes Baseball team. However, the Utes could build a stadium on or near campus, and perhaps share a stadium with East High School. The current Salt Lake Bees team would likely relocate. My guess would be Fresno, a city whose AAA team folded after the 2020 minor league season didn't happen. Boise, Spokane, Vancouver, BC, Vancouver, Washington and Tucson would be other possibilities.
I think baseball in Utah in the near future can happen. I agree that the field is ripe for Utah Baseball. Personally, I want MLB to put an expansion team in Utah. I don't think the Angels should move. There is no reason for it. The Salt Lake Angels talk is premature. Perhaps a team with owners who want their cities to foot the bill for a state of the art stadium will sell to Smith. Hopefully, it will be expansion.
