Storyline: The possibility of MLB in Nevada will allow the state to expand its opportunities and prospects.
It’s becoming increasingly difficult to focus and talk about online MLB sportsbook odds, what with all the hullaballoo surrounding the Oakland Raiders and their possible relocation to Las Vegas. The question floating around the corridors of the game is whether Major League Baseball will follow the Raiders to Vegas.
MLB Commissioner, Rob Manfred (CBSSports.com)
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred hasn’t been shy about appreciating the positive prospects that Las Vegas has to offer to an MLB team. Talking to the YES Network, Manfred didn’t wholly dismiss the complications that gambling presented. However, he didn’t think the deluge of casinos was a viable excuse for disqualifying Las Vegas.
Despite the Commissioner’s fairly casual approach to the gambling issue, the casinos are hardly the only problem plaguing the Raiders’ relocation to Las Vegas. Las Vegas isn’t exactly known for its fervent sports fandom and it’s difficult to determine whether the presence of a sports team will change that.
Nevada is a sizeable state, encompassing over a hundred thousand square miles and inhabited by an estimated three million people. The state has two major cities, Las Vegas and Reno, with numerous small towns in the vicinity of both places.
Las Vegas and Reno are not completely new to the concept of sports, already boasting various noteworthy college and minor league sports teams. The cities have also produced a number of successful sports stars, including NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Bryce Harper, and Kris Bryant.
Courtesy: USAToday
Even eliminating their burgeoning affiliation with sports, there are various other factors that make Nevada a strong contender–not only for the Raiders but for Major League Baseball as a whole.
The state’s cities play host to several major airports that are open 24/7, which only makes Nevada more attractive as a potential home for baseball. Nevada is a modern state with all the amenities needed to support the millions of fans that might descend upon its cities during certain seasons.
Las Vegas, in particular, has the diversity angle going for it, setting the city apart from many of its rivals. You only need to visit a baseball game in Las Vegas to observe that there are people from all walks of life enjoying what many think is America’s favorite pastime.
As far as Las Vegas’ own perspective on the issue is concerned, the city is always looking for new ways to attract more visitors. The Raiders’ relocation can only benefit its economic standing.
Courtesy: ballcharts.com
For a lot of people the gambling issue isn’t the problem most analysts think it is. Rather it’s an opportunity, a chance to make the Vegas team one of the most unique in the league.
Of course, the relocation is hardly a done deal. There’s a lot of paperwork that must be processed before this move can go through–a lot of obstacles that must be overcome before Nevada can begin its journey as the new home of Baseball.
For Nevada, this is an exciting new adventure, one that will allow the state to expand its opportunities and prospects.
