This is to scale...FYI
None of what I've said makes me think this is possible....it's a thought exercise and is fun to try to think of ways to make it work. Damn, did none of you ever build your own franchises in Madden or MLB The Show?
Cytown Update
- Thread starter norsemen
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None of what I've said makes me think this is possible....it's a thought exercise and is fun to try to think of ways to make it work. Damn, did none of you ever build your own franchises in Madden or MLB The Show?
Get wrecked....
Teams in Cities Under 65,000 Population
Beyond the top 20, I’ll check other MiLB cities with populations potentially under 65,000:
From the initial 20, plus additional verified cities:
As of March 13, 2025, there are approximately 26 minor league baseball teams in cities with populations under 65,000. This includes 120 affiliated teams and Rookie/Draft League teams tied to MLB, with populations based on 2020 Census or recent estimates. The number could shift slightly with 2025 roster finalization or updated population data, but this reflects the current landscape. If you need a deeper dive into specific teams or leagues, let me know!
Teams in Cities Under 65,000 Population
- Bluefield, VA/WV (Bluefield Ridge Runners, Appalachian League) - ~5,300
- Elizabethton, TN (Elizabethton River Riders, Appalachian League) - ~5,500
- Pulaski, VA (Pulaski River Turtles, Appalachian League) - ~9,000
- Greeneville, TN (Greeneville Flyboys, Appalachian League) - ~15,000
- Kingsport, TN (Kingsport Axmen, Appalachian League) - ~15,500
- Grand Junction, CO (Grand Junction Jackalopes, Pioneer League) - ~17,000 (Note: Now independent, but included for historical MiLB context)
- Bristol, VA/TN (Bristol State Liners, Appalachian League) - ~17,000 (VA side)
- Danville, VA (Danville Otterbots, Appalachian League) - ~18,000
- Burlington, NC (Burlington Sock Puppets, Appalachian League) - ~20,000
- Eastlake, OH (Lake County Captains, High-A) - ~20,500
- Rome, GA (Rome Emperors, High-A) - ~22,000
- Aberdeen, MD (Aberdeen IronBirds, High-A) - ~23,000
- Hudson, NY (Hudson Valley Renegades, High-A) - ~23,500
- Williamsport, PA (Williamsport Crosscutters, MLB Draft League) - ~27,000 (Draft League, tied to MiLB prospect pipeline)
- Kinston, NC (Down East Wood Ducks, Single-A) - ~28,000 (Note: Relocating to Spartanburg, SC, in 2025, but counted for current status)
- Lynchburg, VA (Lynchburg Hillcats, Single-A) - ~29,000
- Beloit, WI (Beloit Sky Carp, High-A) - ~36,000
- Kannapolis, NC (Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, Single-A) - ~37,000
- Asheville, NC (Asheville Tourists, High-A) - ~38,000
- Hickory, NC (Hickory Crawdads, High-A) - ~40,000
Beyond the top 20, I’ll check other MiLB cities with populations potentially under 65,000:
- Wappingers Falls, NY (Hudson Valley Renegades actual home) - 5,600, but team is branded as Hudson, NY (23,500), so already counted.
- Granville, WV (West Virginia Black Bears, MLB Draft League) - ~14,000 (near Morgantown, but distinct; Draft League included for consistency).
- Clinton, IA (Clinton LumberKings, Single-A) - ~24,000
- Burlington, IA (Burlington Bees, Single-A) - ~25,000
- Lake Elsinore, CA (Lake Elsinore Storm, Single-A) - ~28,000 (2020 estimate ~63,000, but earlier data suggests smaller; likely over 65,000 now).
- Dunedin, FL (Dunedin Blue Jays, Single-A) - ~36,000
- Fort Wayne, IN (Fort Wayne TinCaps, High-A) - ~45,000 (2020 Census ~263,000; older data may misalign, so excluded).
- Bowling Green, KY (Bowling Green Hot Rods, High-A) - ~62,000 (close but under 65,000 per 2020 Census).
- Daytona Beach, FL (Daytona Tortugas, Single-A) - ~64,000 (barely under, per 2020 Census).
- Teams over 65,000: Larger MiLB cities like Durham, NC (283,000), Tulsa, OK (413,000), or Fresno, CA (~542,000) are excluded.
- Relocations: The Down East Wood Ducks move to Spartanburg, SC (~38,000) in 2025, but Kinston’s current status counts for now.
- Complex Leagues: Arizona and Florida Rookie teams (e.g., AZL, FCL) are in training complexes, not distinct cities under 65,000, so excluded.
From the initial 20, plus additional verified cities:
- Confirmed additions: Granville (14,000), Clinton (24,000), Burlington, IA (25,000), Dunedin (36,000), Bowling Green (62,000), Daytona Beach (64,000).
- Total: 20 (original) + 6 (additions) = 26 teams.
As of March 13, 2025, there are approximately 26 minor league baseball teams in cities with populations under 65,000. This includes 120 affiliated teams and Rookie/Draft League teams tied to MLB, with populations based on 2020 Census or recent estimates. The number could shift slightly with 2025 roster finalization or updated population data, but this reflects the current landscape. If you need a deeper dive into specific teams or leagues, let me know!
Perhaps it isn't good to go to ChatGPT to ask for this kind of info.
First off, the Appalachian League is no longer part of the minors (as of the 2021 reorganization), it is now a collegiate summer baseball league. Second, on a cursory search, there's a lot of info on that list that's just wrong. Rome, GA is 37,000 people, not 22,000. The Hudson Valley Renegades play in Fishkill, NY, not Hudson, NY or Wappingers Falls, NY. Lynchburg, VA is 79,000 people, not 29,000. Third, it counts Clinton and Burlington, who also don't have official minor league teams any more.
Finally, like I mentioned, some of the cities on there that are correct are part of larger metros or micros. Eastlake, OH is part of the Cleveland metro. Beloit has Janesville right next to it. Hickory, NC is part of a metro that has 300,000+ people.
LOL….next time I’ll do some peer reviewed research and list all of my sources before making a post on a fan forum about a fun hypothetical scenario about sports.
Cool, you found reasons it probably wouldn’t work. Thank you for your contribution to this thread.
Cool, you found reasons it probably wouldn’t work. Thank you for your contribution to this thread.
Do those 26 cities lose half their population during the summer when the bulk of the baseball season occurs?
I had the same thought. I grew up in Kane County, out side of Chicago. We had a minor league baseball team, the Kane county cougars located in Geneva, IL. Looked up the population of Geneva, 21k. But around Geneva you have St. Charles, Batavia, West Chicago, Aurora close by. Geneva, St. Charles, and Batavia have a combined 80k population. Aurora has a population of 180k. And those are just off the top of my head, you have other cities close by who would go to a game.
And thank you for your derailing of a thread about an entirely different topic.
I have been to many of those cities. Rome, GA is over 100k metro area (#361 in list).
Metropolitan statistical area - Wikipedia
The Ames MSA is Story County which is just over 100k also.
This thread survived the Great Ankeny Debate and the Central Iowa BBQ Derailment. It shall soldier on.
Huge event get for CyTown - Boys Basketball Tournament coming to Hilton / CyTown
cyclones.com
IHSAA Basketball Tournament To ISU, Hilton Coliseum In 2027 - Iowa State University Athletics
BOONE, Iowa – A century after playing championships inside State Gymnasium, the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and Iowa State University (ISU) enter
I wonder if the girls are also going to move to Ames or stay in Des Moines.Huge event get for CyTown - Boys Basketball Tournament coming to Hilton / CyTown
IHSAA Basketball Tournament To ISU, Hilton Coliseum In 2027 - Iowa State University Athletics
BOONE, Iowa – A century after playing championships inside State Gymnasium, the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and Iowa State University (ISU) enter
Only if Iowa State wants to play their last two league games on the road every year.
That's a big deal for Ames. I'm sure it was not easy to pry that one away from the pull of tradition.
Games are played M-F, they can still play Saturday games at home during state.
Boys state is the week after the MBB regular season finishes.
And the girls tournament runs Mon-Sat.
Huge event get for CyTown - Boys Basketball Tournament coming to Hilton / CyTown
IHSAA Basketball Tournament To ISU, Hilton Coliseum In 2027 - Iowa State University Athletics
BOONE, Iowa – A century after playing championships inside State Gymnasium, the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and Iowa State University (ISU) enter
Wonder if they would think of an eight team High School Holiday Tournament there too - or 4 girls / 4 boys teams.
I stand corrected. Looks like last year they were the same week but this year and previous years were the week after. I would assume they just schedule it the week after regular season ends.
