Expansion Discussion Thread

[mstreeter06]

Hey guys!

I want to try to keep things organized in terms of discussions for the 2015 season and discussions about our upcoming expansion plans.

I'll start posting any discussions/thoughts about expansion here so we can keep our thoughts together without missing anything.

Be sure to voice your opinions here if you have any thoughts/suggestions/concerns!

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Confirmed Future Expansion Owners:
Paul Nicholls - NDK-Paul (on board for phase 2 of expansion down the line)
Lawrence Tabachnick - LT (current IL owner taking over 1 expansion franchise)
Frank Esselink - fhomess
Matthew Katz - BaseballAddict32
Marek Singeling - Empayes (took over Oregon vacancy)
Steve Waugh - Steve Wunda
Pete Grassi - peteg9699

[mstreeter06]

Where We Stand (1/14/14):
-4 expansion franchise owners decided and locations selected (ID, WA, VA, GA)
-expanding for the 2017 season
-Expansion Draft protection list rules and specifics announced here

2016 Offseason Gameplan

• Finish 2016 Playoffs
• Announce 2016 Season Awards and Postseason MVP
• Sim game to 1/1/2017
• Relocate Arizona to New Mexico and California to Maryland; realign AFBL into 4 5-team divisions (FL West, FL East, PL North, PL South)
• Protection Lists from current 16 teams are due around this time
• Expansion Draft on 1/5/2017 (game date); draft will be held on the Forum or in Statslab
• Free Agent Draft on 1/15/2017 (game date) for 4 Expansion Teams; 5 rounds with expansion teams picking 4 times per round in reverse serpentine order as the Expansion Draft.
• Sim to Spring Training and resume normal sim schedule to begin 2017 with 20 teams with interleague play enabled for this single season.

I'll keep this updated as needed (likely weekly).

[mstreeter06]

Items Needed To Be Decided On (1/14/14):
-Nothing at the moment!
-Expansion Draft order has been decided
-League timeline leading up to expansion decided
-Expansion Draft protection list rules decided
-Expansion Draft process decided
-Expansion team supplemental FA Draft decided

I'll keep this updated as needed.

[mstreeter06]

4 Expansion Franchises:
Idaho Steelheads (Lawrence, LT)


Washington Resonance (Frank, fhomess)



Virginia Diamond Club (Steve, Steve Wunda)



Georgia Titans (Pete, peteg9699)

Logo TBD


AFBL 2017 Realignment:
California moves to Maryland; Arizona moves to New Mexico; Washington and Idaho will join the Frontier League; Virginia and Georgia will join the Patriot League; AFBL moves to two 5-team divisions per league.

Here is how the AFBL will realign starting in 2017...

[mstreeter06]

Here are a couple of things I did during the NPBL's expansion...

1. We extended the draft by a few rounds for a few years to replenish everyone's minors.  So, if say every team loses 10 players, you add 2 rounds to the draft for 5 years.  With expansion a few seasons away, you can even do this before the expansion comes to prepare everyone for the losses, so to speak.

2. Pullbacks; if you get to protect back 2 or 3 more players every time you lose 1, it allows for more strategy and involvement than just having everybody protect X number and that's it.

Just to keep all things expansion related in here as we begin preparation.

[mstreeter06]

Preliminary approved AFBL expansion franchise locations have been added. The league has decided that some states are feasible to host a major league franchise.

[mikezone13]

Can the expansion teams go into states where our minors are?

So I've got a minors team in Delaware, will I need to relocate my minor league team or will it be fine in there if someone wants to expand into the might state of Delaware

[mstreeter06]

Can the expansion teams go into states where our minors are?

So I've got a minors team in Delaware, will I need to relocate my minor league team or will it be fine in there if someone wants to expand into the might state of Delaware

In your case, the NJ affiliate in Delaware will be fine as Delaware wasn't approved as a potential home to an expansion team. In addition to New Jersey, the only other franchises with minor league affiliates outside of the major league team's home state are Arizona and Ontario.

Arizona's minor league team in Nevada and New Mexico are at a potential risk to find a new location to call home. This is only if one of the four expansion franchise would like to call Nevada or New Mexico home.

Ontario's minor league affiliate in Vancouver is only at risk if we ever have an owner desire to expansion/relocate to British Columbia in the future but this would need league approval first. I can't imagine this being an issue but just a note if it ever does become one.

If this is the case, I'll discuss with the teams involved.

[mikezone13]

Can the expansion teams go into states where our minors are?

So I've got a minors team in Delaware, will I need to relocate my minor league team or will it be fine in there if someone wants to expand into the might state of Delaware

In your case, the NJ affiliate in Delaware will be fine as Delaware wasn't approved as a potential home to an expansion team. In addition to New Jersey, the only other franchises with minor league affiliates outside of the major league team's home state are Arizona and Ontario.

What other states are off the agenda for expansion? I notice a few more white spaces

[mstreeter06]

Can the expansion teams go into states where our minors are?

So I've got a minors team in Delaware, will I need to relocate my minor league team or will it be fine in there if someone wants to expand into the might state of Delaware

In your case, the NJ affiliate in Delaware will be fine as Delaware wasn't approved as a potential home to an expansion team. In addition to New Jersey, the only other franchises with minor league affiliates outside of the major league team's home state are Arizona and Ontario.

What other states are off the agenda for expansion? I notice a few more white spaces

I have them listed in the 3rd post of this thread. I wonder if I need a separate thread? I'd like to keep all expansion related discussion in just 1 thread so everything is in 1 place.

Most states without a ML team are approved for expansion except those with low state total populations (~1.5 million or less).

[BaseballAddict32]

How are locations selected? Do we list what we want or is it first come first serve? Of those states Nevada is the most interesting to me because of Vegas. Not sure what the proper procedure is for this.

[mstreeter06]

How are locations selected? Do we list what we want or is it first come first serve? Of those states Nevada is the most interesting to me because of Vegas. Not sure what the proper procedure is for this.

It'll be a first come, first serve situation. I'll need to coordinate with Arizona's owner (Troy) who has their AAA team in Las Vegas. Stay tuned!

UPDATE: Arizona (Troy) will be alright with relocating their AAA Las Vegas franchise. Details in an announcement coming in the next few weeks. Nevada is yours if you want it

[BaseballAddict32]

Thanks Troy. I definitely want Nevada. Can Pete Rose be my manager or would temptation be too great? Seriously appreciate it. Should be a lot of fun and there is a lot that I can do with Nevada themes for teams.

[claphamsa]

West Virginia objects to East Virginia being considered, as they will soon become a sub state to the mountain Kingdom, I mean state.

[mstreeter06]

Who wants to live in Virginia anyway?