MLB bid to expand footprint in UK

Article posted by Coliseum, May 13^th, 2022

Image: MJR Group Ltd./Coliseum

Major League Baseball (MLB) (US) is to return to London (UK) with regular season games taking place in 2023, 2024 and 2026.

The ‘BBC Sport’ stated that the move was announced as part of a partnership to try to grow the game in the United Kingdom.

The Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. As of 2022, a total of 30 teams play in Major League Baseball – 15 teams in the National League and 15 in the American League – with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada.

The ‘BBC Sport’ further stated that in 2019, the MLB teams New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox played each other at the 80,000-capacity London Stadium (UK) in what were the first MLB games staged in Europe.

Said MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred Jr., “The inaugural MLB games in London were an overwhelming success. We are confident in making a long-term commitment to London and are looking forward to returning to the City with more MLB games, special fan events and other opportunities to play and watch the game.”

The St Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs were scheduled to play each other in London in June 2020 but their series was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

It is yet to be announced which teams will play each other in future series in the English capital.

Stated the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, “Today is a historic day for London and baseball. I want to continue attracting world-class sport to our City as part of my mission to make London the sporting capital of the world.”

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