Vancouver taking a swing at bringing an MLB team to the city

Vancouver will be taking a swing at bringing a big-league baseball team to the city.

Baseball metaphors abounded at Vancouver city hall Wednesday, as council considered taking the first steps to bring a big-league team to the city.

Mayor Ken Sim tabled a motion to greenlight an expression of interest process ahead of Major League Baseball’s anticipated two-team expansion in 2029.

“I want to assure everyone that this motion did not come out of left field. Our office has been approached by serious proponents regarding a potential bid for the MLB. We’re asking proponents to come forward, demonstrate their capacity and outline what a partnership with the city could look like, and we’re asking our team members to bring that information back to council so we can make informed decisions,” Sim said.

“Our chance has arrived, and this should be a home run. Let’s step up to the plate.”

All but one councillor present voted in favour of the motion.

Coun. Sean Orr was opposed, questioning the ultimate feasibility of a bid.

“To me, this is a pop fly with no runs scored,” he said.

The city issued a statement Thursday, explaining the expression of interest process is a way to facilitate an invitation for proposals.

“This is an early-stage step. The city is not approving a stadium, selecting a site, or committing to a team,” the statement said.

“There is no commitment of public funding. Any future proposal would require council approval and would be subject to full regulatory processes, including public consultation.”