Major League Baseball (MLB) is looking to expand its presence in Europe, with a focus on Paris and Germany. The move comes as part of MLB’s long-term strategy to grow the game of baseball around the world.
MLB has been looking to increase its presence in Europe for some time, and the UK is seen as a key gateway to the continent. MLB has already established a presence in the UK, with the London Series, which saw the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees play two games at London Stadium in 2019. The success of the event has encouraged MLB to look at other European cities for potential expansion.
Paris and Germany are seen as two of the most attractive options for MLB expansion in Europe. Paris is the largest city in Europe and has a long history of baseball, with the French Baseball and Softball Federation having been founded in 1892. Germany is also a major baseball market, with the German Baseball and Softball Federation having been founded in 1934.
MLB has already taken steps to increase its presence in both countries. In 2019, MLB held an exhibition game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. The game was a huge success, with over 40,000 fans in attendance. MLB also held an exhibition game between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox at the Stade de France in Paris in 2020.
MLB is now looking to build on this success by establishing a more permanent presence in both countries. This could involve setting up a team in either country or even hosting regular season games in both countries. MLB is also looking to increase its presence in other European countries, such as Italy and Spain.
MLB’s expansion into Europe is part of a wider strategy to grow the game of baseball around the world. The league has already established a presence in Japan, Mexico, and South Korea, and is now looking to expand into Europe. If successful, MLB could become one of the most popular sports leagues in Europe, and could help to further grow the game of baseball globally.
