I’m curious how impactful an expansion or relocated MLB franchise in Charlotte would have on MiLB. Unlike places like Nashville or Salt Lake where maybe just 1 AAA club gets adversely impacted or dislocated, the Carolina’s are currently home to:

2 AAA franchises
5 Hi-A franchises
7 A franchises

Would all of these be able to survive if the region suddenly got a big time club? Does MiLB, at the behest of MLB, try to dismantle/consolidate the SAL and Carolina League to shift regional fan support and ticket sales towards the team in the majors?

If there presence does kill off some of these lower level teams, where does MiLB shift them to?

How many would join the new Carolina team's system?

(12-18-2025 05:02 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I’m curious how impactful an expansion or relocated MLB franchise in Charlotte would have on MiLB. Unlike places like Nashville or Salt Lake where maybe just 1 AAA club gets adversely impacted or dislocated, the Carolina’s are currently home to:

2 AAA franchises
5 Hi-A franchises
7 A franchises

Would all of these be able to survive if the region suddenly got a big time club? Does MiLB, at the behest of MLB, try to dismantle/consolidate the SAL and Carolina League to shift regional fan support and ticket sales towards the team in the majors?

If there presence does kill off some of these lower level teams, where does MiLB shift them to?

Charlotte Knights (White Sox) relocate to Birmingham, AL and replace the Birmingham Barons (AA, Southern League)

IL adds new teams in Hartford and Richmond replacing Hartford Yard Goats and Richmond Flying Squirrels (both AA, Eastern League); one affiliates with Charlotte the other with Charlotte's expansion partner

The AA Birmingham Barons (White Sox) relocate to Mobile and remain in the Southern League

The AA teams from Hartford and Richmond relocate to New Orleans and Jackson (MS) and move to the Southern League

The Southern League adds teams in Bowling Green, KY and Lexington, KY.

The Class High A Bowling Green Hot Rods relocate to Evansville, IN displacing the Frontier League team there. The Atlantic League's Lexington Legends are also displaced. The former Hot Rods move from the South Atlantic League to the Midwest League. The Midwest League and South Atlantic League add the Gateway Grizzlies (Sauget, IL), Florence (KY) Y'alls and the Down East Bird Dawgs (Kinston, NC) from the Frontier League.

In Low A, the California League adds Modesto and Oakland.

Finally, both Charlotte and the other expansion team add Florida Complex League teams at the Rookie level.

(12-18-2025 07:04 PM)Porcine Wrote:  How many would join the new Carolina team's system?

If I had to guess, the AAA Charlotte Knights would relocate rather than share the market.

The Durham Bulls probably become the AAA affiliate of the new club and one of the High-A and A clubs do the same.

The question becomes do all the other High A and A teams stay in business?