Charlotte is about to get shut out of MLB by Raleigh | Opinion
Recent reports indicate Raleigh Major League Baseball supporters are negotiating with the North Carolina General Assembly for an incentive plan that would be used to recruit a Major League Baseball team to Raleigh. Discussions of changes to local hotel taxes, land giveaways, and such. It’s believed the Commissioner of Baseball will decide on up to two teams by 2029, but time is running out if Charlotte is going to “play ball.”
Is there an actual ownership group? One that Charlotte City Council endorses? Is there an agreed-upon site? We don’t get to imagine ideas on social media anymore; time is running out. No ownership group means nobody talking to state lawmakers right now. Either Charlotte shows their cards now, or they need to fold now.
Of the two potential North Carolina suitors, Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has the advantage, for now. But there are legitimate questions on whether he is asking too much in public assistance. He recently called for $600 million in public funds for an arena renovation for his NBA team, the Portland Trail Blazers. He already got about $300 million in public dollars for Lenovo Center renovations, including rights to develop up to 80 acres around it.
A lot of us in western North Carolina simply will not care about a MLB team in Raleigh. We are not going to support massive public tax dollars for a team way out in Raleigh when Asheville doesn’t even have a decent soccer stadium. Even in Raleigh, the ladies’ Carolina Courage soccer team has outgrown their stadium and needs a new one.
We can praise the Charlotte advantages on social media until the cows come home: An almost certain immediate rivalry with the Atlanta Braves, a four-hour drive on I-85 from Charlotte to Atlanta (with at least one casino on the route by the time the expansion team begins play), larger market size, clearly more support from South Carolina than any Raleigh team would ever have, etc.
All of this means nothing if there’s no serious ownership group.
If the General Assembly declines to offer an incentive plan this year, then the prudent thing for lawmakers to say is that they need to hear from both City Councils by early 2027 to see if they endorse any ownership group, where the stadium would be, and what are they asking for to have state taxpayer assistance. If not provided, then their bids officially end, period.
Given that we are the only state with two potential suitors, this should’ve been the approach all along. Then and only then can we discuss an incentive plan that would be the same if either city get Major League Baseball.
We simply should not pay for most of stadium construction costs. The maximum that should be offered for Major League Baseball should be $500 million overall, $50 million a year over 10 years. And no more state funds after that. That’s it. Dundon wants $600 million in public funds for a Portland arena renovation. That’s excessive. If there was a Charlotte ownership group, the Raleigh bid would be in big trouble.
The money for this incentive idea would be there. The North Carolina Education Lottery recently reported that Digital Instants, a form of iGaming, will make over $3 billion in gross sales and over $400 million in gross gaming revenue (dwarfing sports betting tax revenue), 10% more money (about $40 million) than expected, by the end of fiscal year 2026 on June 30.
A limited expansion (virtual sports and similar games) could be dedicated to these stadium projects and local park projects. An elective activity that is sports-related, helping sports venues. Not room taxes, property, or income taxes.
But first things first. Charlotte, are you in the game? Speak now, because Raleigh is trying the squeeze play to win the game now.
Justice lives in Fletcher.
This story was originally published June 30, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Charlotte is about to get shut out of MLB by Raleigh | Opinion."