On June 17, Oregon lawmakers passed Senate Bill 110 in the House by a wide margin (46–6), sending it to Governor Tina Kotek’s desk. The legislation authorizes up to $800 million in privately-backed bonds to build a Major League Baseball stadium in Portland, funded via a surcharge on visiting MLB players and personnel–commonly known as the “jock tax.”
Notably, no taxpayer dollars will fund the stadium directly.
A Locally Rooted, Public–Private Funding Model
Oregon’s “jock tax” updates a similar measure from 2003, substantially increasing the bond ceiling from $150 million to $800 million–enough to cover a stadium projected at approximately $2 billion, with the remaining costs expected to come from prospective ownership groups.
This athlete-centric levy is being praised as a model for public–private cooperation–aimed at spurring infrastructure and community investment without burdening everyday Oregonians.
Positioned for MLB Expansion
Passing this milestone positions Portland as a viable candidate for MLB’s anticipated expansion–including the possibility of relocation. Although MLB has yet to commit, Commissioner Rob Manfred would like the expansion teams selected by 2029, the year of his planned retirement. New teams aren’t expected to debut until at least 2031.
While MLB continues to resolve stadium situations for the Oakland Athletics (moving to Las Vegas) and Tampa Bay Rays, Manfred has made it clear that expansion hinges on those issues being settled first.
Sports Business Journal reports that Manfred sees expansion as a strategic move to boost league revenues, realign schedules, and capture new fan markets. He’s publicly stated that expansion would ideally include one team in the eastern U.S. and one in the Mountain-Pacific region–aligned with a planned realignment that better supports MLB’s scheduling logistics.
“I’d say two things about expansion conceptually. We think we are a growth business, and there are markets around the U.S. that want baseball. That’s our principle motivation,” Manfred said.
“There are also advantages in going from 30 to 32 in terms of schedule and format. It would create an opportunity to realign (divisions)–fours work a lot better in schedules than fives.”
Other Cities in the Expansion Conversation
Portland’s momentum puts it in strong position, but it faces competition from several cities also eyeing MLB expansion. Nashville is widely viewed as a front-runner, backed by the well-organized Music City Baseball group and strong local support. Salt Lake City has emerged with serious intent as well, led by the Big League Utah coalition and backed by major corporate interests.
Charlotte and Austin remain in the mix, offering large, growing markets and strong sports cultures, though questions remain about market overlap and infrastructure. Montreal continues to advocate for an MLB return, banking on its baseball legacy and a potential new stadium plan.
Other names that have surfaced in speculative discussions include San Antonio, Indianapolis, and Orlando, though most are considered long shots compared to the cities mentioned above.
“In terms of factors, we’re huge on the idea of strong local ownership. So there has to be a strong local group, not too big a group, a single individual that is going to be the anchor, control person,” Manfred said.
“And public support in terms of either renovating or building an adequate facility is very, very important. And geographics are important.”
While Portland’s passage of the jock tax bill gives it a legislative edge, MLB’s final decision will weigh stadium readiness, media markets, and long-term sustainability across all contenders.
A Look Back at MLB’s Last Expansion
The last time Major League Baseball expanded was in 1998, when the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays (now Rays) joined the league, bringing the total number of teams to 30. That expansion came after a seven-year gap following the addition of the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins in 1993.
Since then, despite market growth and global interest, MLB has held off on further expansion–making the next round potentially the most significant in over a quarter-century.
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