This weekend saw the second edition of the London Series between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. Another step towards a permanent fixture for this event in Europe. So the question on everyone’s mind is: When will the Paris Series happen?
London Series: A Success Story!
MLB, like the NBA, NFL, and NHL, wants to expand internationally and win over new fans. Europe has been a key target for Major League Baseball since 2019, when the first London Series took place.
Rob Manfred and MLB made a big splash by sending the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox to battle it out on English soil.
The excitement was incredible for this first edition, with all tickets selling out as soon as they went on sale. MLB then decided to increase capacity to sell an additional 5,000 tickets.
While the buzz isn’t as strong as in 2019, the 2023 London Series remains a standout event, and baseball fans turned out in force. We also know that a third edition will take place in London in 2024, featuring the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets.
Paris: MLB’s Next Target?
Following the success of the London Series, could Paris be the next European capital to host MLB games? We took the opportunity to ask directly if Paris would host a series in 2025. Here’s Rob Manfred’s response.
« Yes, it’s in the works. We’re aiming for a Paris event in 2025. But we can’t make it official just yet. However, Paris is part of our plans. » — Rob Manfred
So, while nothing has been officially confirmed, Paris is indeed part of MLB’s plans as the league seeks to expand internationally, particularly in Europe.
Now, it’s a matter of reaching an agreement with the owners of the Stade de France, the only venue in Paris capable of hosting such an event. The Stade de France concession is currently held by the Vinci-Bouygues consortium until 2025, and the stadium is currently up for sale through a tender process.
After the deadline for expressions of interest (June 2023) regarding acquisition and operation, the Stade de France consortium will determine which candidates will respond to the tender. The dossiers will be evaluated 70% on the financial capacity of the applicants and 30% on their ability to manage the venue. Then, the tender will be officially launched in June, with responses expected by the end of November. A decision by the State for a sale or concession is expected in early 2024, with a final allocation in 2025.
In the acquisition dossier, PSG is ready to make certain concessions, including hosting France’s national rugby and football teams at the Stade de France, as well as concerts and other events as requested by the State. In this context, the club is not ruling out potential partners in event management and real estate.
PSG has not yet left the Parc des Princes, but by bidding for the Stade de France, it is taking a first step towards the possibility of moving from its historic stadium.
On the legal side of the dossier, in the event of a stadium transfer by the State, the Stade de France will need to be removed from public domain status. This will require a law to be passed and approved by the National Assembly. The new owner may not wish to host an MLB baseball event given the work and modifications needed to create an atypical field and the stringent and demanding requirements of MLB. On the other hand, this will be an unparalleled international publicity opportunity for the new owner. The French Baseball Federation is eager for this to happen to take advantage of the moment to convince French authorities to invest in the sport in France.
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