Push for Raleigh MLB expansion riding momentum of historic Canes championship

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — The push to bring a Major League Baseball team to Raleigh continues to gain traction, especially after 180,000 Caniacs took to the streets of Downtown Raleigh on Saturday to celebrate the Hurricanes Stanley Cup victory.

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“We want Major League Baseball to come to North Carolina,” Governor Josh Stein said during Saturday’s parade.

It’s a movement that has bipartisan support as well.

“If there’s an opportunity for North Carolina to get an expansion baseball team, I’d love to see it,” Senate Leader Phil Berger said on the floor of the General Assembly last week.

Berger said he’s not sure yet whether a push to try to get an MLB team in the state will be part of the coming budget.

“The question of money, not necessarily the thing, maybe, but I’d be interested in seeing what steps we would need to take in order to facilitate putting North Carolina in the best position,” he said.

A big positive outside the incredible support Caniacs showed throughout their Stanley Cup run is the backing of potential ownership, including Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon and former Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry. 

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“We’re now on the national level with the National Hockey League champions, number one, number two, that has put the spotlight on this area, all the good things about this area, all the growth about this area,” NC State economist Michael Walden said.

Walden has studied the potential impacts of MLB in Raleigh, estimating $300 million in new economic activity each year if a team were to call the Triangle home.

“I’ve been here about 50 years,” he said. “This area has just continued to grow and add people and people love it here, so I think this is the next step.”

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has said he wants to see the league expand by the time he retires in 2029.

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