Asheville, North Carolina; October 21, 2019 – As the 2019 PEBA postseason picked up steam, rumors of potentially ground shaking moves began to surface from the league’s front offices.  According to sources who wished to remain anonymous because of the sensitivity of the information being discussed, league officials are seriously examining the viability of placing a PEBA franchise in several US cities which have previously voiced their desire to obtain a professional baseball club.  Among those cities specifically identified by the source are Tacoma, Washington which fans will recall already constructed the Tacoma Dome in 2017 in anticipation of landing a PEBA franchise; Charlotte, North Carolina, which was a rumored destination for the Crystal Lake Sangnats following the passing of long-time owner Larry Ellison; and a yet-to-be determined locale in Texas thought by most insiders to be either Dallas or Austin.  Reports have surfaced which placed several members of the PEBA’s venerable competition committee in Tacoma last week inspecting the Tacoma Dome and meeting with community leaders, though the substance of those discussions has yet to be revealed.

Adding further fuel to the fire was a report this week from the Charlotte Observer which indicates that an unnamed PEBA owner has recently completed the purchase of a 32 acre parcel of land just outside downtown Charlotte.  Efforts to identify the purchase or purchaser have yet to surface a property record.

It is not yet known whether the league’s front office is considering the possibility of placing expansion franchises in these locations, or the potential relocation of an existing franchise, though speculation remains rampant that Tempe Knights owner Chris Van Hauter continues to press league officials for financial relief, or a more suitable location for his penniless franchise.  It is believed that the league’s front office would prefer relocation over provision of a bailout to cash-strapped teams as the league fears establishing a dangerous precedent.

Still, some officials are insisting that in order to increase league revenues, expansion be strongly considered by the league’s governing body, and there is speculation that this idea has gained traction in recent weeks.  Building on the success of the league’s lone international franchise the London Underground, rumors suggest that the league dispatched a small army of business analysts to Europe sometime in 2019 to investigate potential fits for a future baseball franchise, though details of the team’s findings remain under lock and key for now.  Some early reports indicate that Scotland, Italy and France have been the targets for initial exploratory discussion and it seems that most PEBA owners are intrigued by the idea of potential future expansion opportunities outside the United States.  Closer to home, it has also been rumored that the US State Department has encouraged the PEBA to look into the possibility of placing a franchise in Cuba following the thaw in relations between the two countries which began in 2017, and some executives – while dismayed at the possible financial opportunities available in a country just emerging from behind the former iron curtain – believe that a rabid fan base such as the one in Cuba presents a perfect opportunity for the league to increase its international footprint.  It is believed that all options remain on the table at this point, and some have identified Canada and Puerto Rico as further options for North American expansion and/or relocation.

Industry insiders indicate that the PEBA may be seeking to expand internationally as the league’s multimedia and broadcast rights approach re-negotiation.  The opportunity to introduce thousands of new fans to the game while entering entirely new markets via the league’s interactive experience on GooTube+ is seen as a potential coup for the PEBA which could greatly expand its media revenue in the coming seasons.  Sources also indicate that the executives leading the GooTube+ platform are pushing hard for an international expansion because of their desire to increase the platform’s visibility in new markets.

Still, logistical issues remain to be hammered out as increasing travel times for the players remains a major hurdle to future international expansion and has consistently presented problems during the Underground’s formative years in a US-based league.

What remains to be seen is if the PEBA governing body is serious about expanding the international footprint of the league, and if so, how soon. While recent changes in the structure of how the LRS and PEBA conduct trades have given television executives some hope that PEBA is serious about expanding the game internationally, others remain skeptical. The league has long been known for it’s prudent financial decisions and a cautious and calculating approach when it comes to change. An overriding concern of the league has always been to make sure all ownership groups are fully committed and on sound financial footing. Either approach, relocation or expansion, is likely to be a tough sell within the league.

One insider who wished to remain anonymous told us that relocation might be the more likely scenario, though expansion isn’t totally out of the question. But any expansion would likely be minimal, two teams at most, with the possibility of adding two more teams in five or six years if the first round of expansion were successful.

All eyes will be on the PEBA owners meeting in early December for clues to the league’s future.