Nightengale: Salt Lake is ‘clear frontrunner’ in MLB expansion process
May 29, 2026, 2:05 PM | Updated: Jun 2, 2026, 12:56 pm
Rendering of a potential MLB ballpark to be built in Salt Lake's west side Power District.
SALT LAKE CITY – MLB expansion remains a hot topic, especially in Utah, where Big League Utah (BLU) aims to bring a franchise to the Beehive State.
Bob Nightengale discussed specifics in an interview on KSL Sports Zone with Scotty G. and The Coach on Friday, May 29.
“MLB seems very high on Salt Lake,” the USA Today MLB columnist said.
We have a real shot at bringing @MLB to the Beehive State.
Utah has the momentum, the vision, and leaders like the Miller family helping rally support behind a team Utah can call its own.
More here: https://t.co/BKHg74T1yX pic.twitter.com/WGKs22km0D
— Governor Cox (@GovCox) May 27, 2026
The state emerged as a serious expansion contender in 2023, and the case has only grown stronger with legislative support and the backing of local businesses.
“They do want a team out west,” Nightengale explained of MLB’s reported expansion plans. “I think Salt Lake is a clear frontrunner, more than any other expansion city, really.”
Expansion hasn’t always gone smoothly for the league, as shown by the Tampa Bay Rays’ long-running stadium and ownership issues. Founded in 1998, the Rays have struggled to draw fans at Tropicana Field despite fielding competitive teams for several years.
It’s a scenario the league would like to avoid repeating.
RELATED: How Utah rose to the top of the MLB expansion conversation
What sets BLU’s case apart from other cities is the ownership backing from Larry H. Miller Sports + Entertainment, along with the proven stability that comes from having previously owned the Utah Jazz and from having a shovel-ready stadium site.
“Especially with the ownership in place,” Nightengale said. “These other cities that want a team don’t have ownership in place. They’re very high on Salt Lake. The Miller family believes it will get a new stadium… Ownership is probably a bigger reason than anything else.”
He also mentioned Nashville as a clear frontrunner to receive an expansion franchise in the East.
While a timeline remains unclear, Nightengale suggests expansion could be announced as early as 2028 and begin play by 2031 or 2032.
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The current MLB collective bargaining agreement is set to expire on Dec. 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. That means before another game can be played, the league and the Major League Baseball Players Association must negotiate a new agreement.
The last time this happened was in 2022, when a 99-day labor stoppage cost the league a large portion of spring training, but still allowed for a full 162-game schedule.
The MLBPA’s opening proposal today pic.twitter.com/ZpZ4oabDt9
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 27, 2026
“I still think they’ll have most of the season in, if not all of it,” Nightengale said.
MLB and the MLBPA exchanged formal proposals earlier this week, with neither side coming away satisfied.
BREAKING: As expected, MLB proposed a hard salary cap to union officials today as part of the next CBA, sources tell ESPN. The salary floor for teams beginning in 2027 would be set at $171.2 million which includes player benefits with the ceiling at $245.3 million.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) May 28, 2026
The league proposed a salary cap and floor, something the MLBPA has refused to accept since 1994.
Negotiations will continue, but the current posturing is typical. Deadlines tend to speed up the process, and there won’t be a true deadline until the 2027 regular season is threatened.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
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