We could see the first European MLB games as soon as 2017, as London’s Olympic Stadium may host games to launch the season in another international promotion.
Over the last decade MLB has staged exhibition games overseas in countries like Japan and Mexico to promote the sports. Most recently the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers squared off at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia. And Europe (specifically, Amsterdam) has been discussed as a possible MLB destination for several years now, following the success of the NFL and NBA in staging games there. One issue has always been a suitable venue — there are not an abundance of ballparks in Europe, to be sure — but it looks like the renovation to the Olympic Stadium for the Premier League’s West Ham team may also benefit baseball fans, per The Telegraph:
Confirming MLB had measured the Stratford venue, Russell added: “It’s tight and there would be some struggles with sightlines.” The stadium, which cost £429 million to build, has since undergone a £272 million facelift to make it ready for West Ham United’s 99-year anchor tenancy, which begins next summer.
The transformation work included the construction of a roof and a reduction in the ground’s capacity from 80,000 seats to 54,000.
Stadium owners the London Legacy Development Corporation appointed French firm Vinci earlier this year to manage the venue and stage sporting and cultural events there when West Ham are not playing home fixtures and when it is not hosting athletics meetings.