NC State Chancellor Backs MLB Move to Raleigh
University leaders disagree on whether a new baseball franchise would boost the local economy or drain college sports revenue.
By Gavin Wilson ·
NC State University Chancellor Howard Howell said on Thursday that he would like to see a Major League Baseball team play in Raleigh. His comments came a day after UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts voiced concerns about how a pro franchise might affect college athletics in the region.
Howell, who previously chaired the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, stated that a professional baseball team could serve as an economic engine for the city, the surrounding region, and the state. He cited the growing population as a reason the area is ready for another major sports team.
“We’ve got more and more people moving into this area,” Howell said. “I would say that this area can handle not only a world-class hockey team that won the national championship, but also can handle if there's a baseball team.”
Raleigh is currently a top candidate for expansion. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has indicated he wants to announce new cities, likely one in the East and one in the West, before he retires in 2029. Local investors, including Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon and billionaire investor Marc Lasry, have publicly supported bringing a franchise to the area.
North Carolina is the most populous state without an MLB team. Wake County’s population was estimated at 1.257 million in 2025, up from 1.129 million in 2020. The metro area contains more than 1.5 million residents.
Roberts, the UNC chancellor, worries that professional baseball will compete with college sports for fans and money. He noted that the MLB regular season runs from late March to late September, with the postseason extending into October. This schedule overlaps with college baseball and roughly half of the college football season.
“I worry about attendance, I worry about the family entertainment budget, and I worry about corporate sponsorships,” Roberts said. He added that he believes university leaders at NC State and Duke share these concerns. Howell, however, argued that the tent is big enough for everyone, pointing to the success of the Hurricanes since their arrival in 1999.
