Rob Manfred Comments on MLB Possibly Having Las Vegas Franchise

Both the NHL and the NFL are reportedly toying with the idea of a franchise in Las Vegas, and MLB may be hopping aboard the bandwagon.   

In an interview Tuesday morning on The Michael Kay Show (via YES Network), MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred explained that putting a team in Sin City isn't as inconceivable as it once was:

Last Tuesday, the Associated Press' Greg Beacham reported the NHL selected Las Vegas as the home of its next expansion franchise, "provided organizers can come up with a $500 million fee." Hockey may not be the only game in town either. USA Today's Jarrett Bell reported in May that Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis is steadfast in his desire to move the team to southern Nevada.

Any potential MLB expansion is likely years down the road, and Manfred has already gone on record saying Mexico City and Montreal would be among his preferred destinations:

Considering the league's past history with gambling, an MLB team potentially playing its home games in Las Vegas may raise some eyebrows. Two of the biggest scandals in baseball history centered on gambling—the 1919 Chicago Black Sox and Pete Rose's lifetime ban.

Beyond the optics, Manfred would have to consider whether there's enough of a market to support a team in Vegas. According to MiLB.com, the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s are averaging 5,048 fans a game, a little over 54 percent of Cashman Field's capacity.

Vegas has no shortage of entertainment options, and if MLB is the second or third league to get a team there, maintaining a steady fanbase may prove difficult in a city where tourism is such a significant revenue generator.