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Leagues and Governing Bodies

MLB Looking To Expand Horizons In Europe, Stage Regular Season Series In London

In late November, reports circulated that MLB "was deep in negotiations to host a regular season series at London's Olympic Stadium," according to Ryan Ferguson of the London GUARDIAN. The rumors "first appeared in the Daily Telegraph, and were later confirmed by a slew of U.S. outlets." MLB has never ventured to Europe, "but industry experts say the league has long viewed the Olympic Stadium as a potential venue to stage games." Now, those discussions "appear to have reached a critical phase, with officials viewing 2017 as the earliest feasible date for a series." MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred wants to continue the work of his predecessor Bud Selig in "expanding baseball to new markets." With such a crowded domestic sports landscape, MLB "must seek new interest, ideas and customers from overseas, as recent series in Australia and tours to Japan indicate." But many European analysts "hope that games on the continent will be tethered to a commitment by MLB to grow the game in untapped locales, with more investment in academies, infrastructure and coaching helping to improve the standard of play." Former player and author of Baseball in Europe Josh Chetwynd said, “I do believe there is a sincere interest in developing baseball in non-traditional markets. MLB recently installed a new head of international, who previously worked closely with Manfred. Whether that leads to a more robust coordination in developing baseball abroad, we’ll have to see." MLB "does a fine job with academies in Europe." But "much more can be done to grow the game there -- it lags far behind the NBA and NFL in popularity in Europe." One man "particularly keen" to see that happen is Great Britain head coach Liam Carroll, who said, “I think an MLB game played here would make my job a little easier, as well as even more enjoyable and rewarding. Participation increases will be inevitable. More people will find out that there are opportunities for so many different types to succeed in our sport" (GUARDIAN, 12/9). 

SOUTH KOREA: YONHAP's Yoo Jee-ho reported given South Korea's status in int'l baseball, the country is "perhaps due" to stage a World Baseball Classic game or even an MLB game "in the not-so-distant future." Korean-American MLB Exec Chris Park oversees the WBC and is "among those hoping to see MLB games in South Korea." On the sidelines of the 2015 Korea Baseball Organization Winter Meetings, Park said, "I'd love not only to see the World Baseball Classic staged here; I'd love to see Major League Baseball games staged here" (YONHAP, 12/9). 

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