If you ignore the political negotiations and financial obligations, a new ballpark is exciting for fans. It’s shiny bleachers and fresh concession stands and maybe, just maybe, a few more entrances to cut down on the lines. The hope is that’ll be happening pretty soon for two teams in Major League Baseball. I’d like to take a look ahead to what might happen in the coming decade or so.
For now, heading into the 2025 season, those two franchises have a home ballpark situation in flux.
The Tampa Bay Rays are playing their home, regular-season games at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the home of the Yankees in spring training and the Single-A Tampa Tarpons over the summer.
The Athletics are playing their home games this regular season and at least the ensuing two seasons in Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park, the home to the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. The plan is to move into their new Las Vegas ballpark for the 2028 season.
Barring some extreme circumstances, those are the next two teams to get a new ballpark. Just for fun, let’s go beyond those two, though. What might be the next teams to move into a new home?
Let’s shoot for the next 10 years. What teams will be in a new ballpark by the time the 2035 season is set to start?
MLB actually went through a relative boom earlier this century with new ballparks. Eight current ballparks were opened between 2000-04 and five more between 2006-10. If we dipped back to 1998, we could add two more, which means that half the MLB teams moved into their current homes in a 13-year span. As noted, that’s a ballpark boom. This is important because those coming before the boom and even some during it might come to the end of their shelf life in the next two decades.
Since 2010, there have only been three new ones. LoanDepot Park (Marlins) opened in 2012, Truist Park (Braves) in 2017 and Globe Life Field (Rangers) in 2020. Obviously, none of these three are going to be replaced any time soon.
Going to the other end of the spectrum, the oldest ballparks are Fenway Park (Red Sox, 1912), Wrigley Field (Cubs, 1914) and Dodger Stadium (1962). None of the three are going anywhere, as they are iconic and the teams have worked to modernize them as best they can for the long haul.
For the sake of brevity, we can also safely eliminate the following 14 venues from contention for replacement in the next 10 years, for various reasons: Oriole Park at Camden Yards (1992, but it’s iconic at this point), Coors Field (Rockies, 1995 and it’s still plenty gorgeous), T-Mobile Park (Mariners, 1999), Comerica Park (Tigers, 2000), Daikin Park (Astros, 2000), Oracle Park (Giants, 2000), PNC Park (Pirates, 2001), Great American Ball Park (Reds, 2003), Citizens Bank Park (Phillies, 2004), Petco Park (Padres, 2004), Busch Stadium (Cardinals, 2006), Nationals Park (2008), Yankee Stadium (2009) and Target Field (Twins, 2010).
That leaves eight contenders.
Los Angeles Angels – Angel Stadium is the oldest park we haven’t mentioned yet, having opened in 1966. It underwent significant renovations in 1997-98, however, so the feel is much newer than a ballpark that goes back to the ’60s. Just last month, the Angels extended the lease through the 2032 season and there are extensions that could run it through 2038. Ownership seems pretty content to stay put, but if Arte Moreno — who recently explored a possible sale but then decided to keep the team — eventually sells, maybe things change.
Kansas City Royals – Kauffman Stadium opened in 1973 and shares a gigantic lot with Arrowhead and the Chiefs. The Royals have been planning to build a new ballpark and move pretty soon. In fact, it’s been floated that they want to be in a new home as early as the 2027 season. Some political battles are forthcoming, but Royals ownership appears to be very committed to moving pretty soon. The sort of motivation they have means it’s likely going to happen, one way or another, even if it takes a few extra years.
Toronto Blue Jays – Rogers Centre is the sixth-oldest ballpark in baseball, having opened in 1989 as SkyDome (remember that?!?). The Blue Jays just spent $400 million to renovate the ballpark in the last two offseasons, though, so they aren’t going anywhere.
Chicago White Sox – Formerly (