Bill Haslam, the former Governor of Tennessee, has high hopes that Nashville could be home to a Major League Baseball (MLB) team in the future, but is fully aware of the financial challenges that such an undertaking would present. The concept of Nashville as an expansion hub for MLB is considered promising, validated by the MLB commissioner, Rob Manfred, himself. The city’s mayor, Freddie O’Connell, has also voiced the importance of assembling a robust ownership group to carry this forward.
While Haslam, the future majority owner of the Nashville Predators, is optimistic about the possibility of an MLB team in Nashville, he acknowledges that the path isn’t devoid of obstacles. Is he keen on contributing to this effort from an ownership perspective? That particular detail is still to be determined as he stays noncommittal on his position.
Interestingly, Haslam, who is in the running to introduce a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) team to Nashville, didn’t dismiss the idea altogether. He stated to The Tennessean in early June: ‘I believe in Nashville.’ However, he was quick to add the caveat that certain conditions need to align for this to materialize: successfully securing a franchise and ensuring the financial aspect, including the stadium’s expenses, is viable.
According to Haslam, owning an MLB team is a nuanced affair relative to other sports franchises, primarily due to the flexible salary cap. He quoted the disparity between the New York Mets and the Milwaukee Brewers as an example. ‘Can we implement a salary cap that does not allow the Mets to have a $500 million payroll while the Brewers can only afford a $70 or $90 million payroll?’ questions Haslam, who becomes the Predators’ majority owner from July 1. His belief is that the league is actively working to address such discrepancies.
So, will hosting an MLB team benefit Nashville? It’s worth noting that the idea isn’t exactly novel. Music City Baseball, an organization established in 2019, has been aggressively pushing to attract an MLB team to the city. The MLB commissioner, Rob Manfred, who aims to establish a two-team expansion strategy before the end of his term in January 2029, has acknowledged Nashville as a viable potential location.
Nashville’s mayor, Freddie O’Connell, also endorses the idea, albeit with an emphasis on the indispensable need for a formidable, unwavering ownership group.
‘Baseball in Nashville is a viable proposition,’ insisted Haslam when asked about the prospect last week. The statement followed an announcement regarding Justin Ishbia, minority owner of Nashville SC, who is set to acquire a majority stake in the Chicago White Sox between 2029 and 2033. This development has sparked some speculation that the team may relocate to Nashville in the future.
The speculation began to gain traction in December 2023 when Jerry Reinsdorf, current majority stakeholder of the Chicago White Sox, engaged in a meeting with O’Connell during MLB’s winter meetings at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.
When asked about the prospect of accommodating either an expansion team or an existing team looking to relocate, Haslam expressed confidence in Nashville’s abilities. He believes the city is fully equipped to handle it, although his involvement in such a project remains a topic of interest.
In his words: ‘I truly believe that Nashville is a feasible location for a baseball team.’ Yet, he didn’t sugarcoat the difficulties attached to this endeavor. ‘The hurdles in our path, particularly the stadium issue, are enormous. You don’t want to secure a team without having a befitting stadium, and a stadium without a team residing is equally impractical.’