The Major Leagues confirmed that there will be no regular season games in Mexico City or in San Juan, Puerto Rico, during the 2025 season.
This decision marks a shift in the league’s international strategy, which will prioritize other markets, such as Japan, in next year’s calendar.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred explained that despite the efforts made, a viable economic agreement was not reached to bring the games to San Juan.
“We would like to go to San Juan, but the situation changes year after year. “I hope everything works out in the future.” Manfred announced after Wednesday’s owners meeting.
For their part, Mexican fans will have to wait to enjoy Major League soccer again in their region.
Although the Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium in Mexico City held a successful streak in 2023 and 2024the league decided to prioritize other international destinations in 2025.
“We’re not going to San Juan. We did not, despite many attempts, have an agreement that made economic sense for us,” said Commissioner Rob Manfred.
The season begins with a historic series in Tokyo on March 18 and 19, where Shohei Ohtani’s Dodgers face the Cubs.
Tokyo, the focus of MLB in 2025
According to Manfred, this opening in Japan corresponds to “very good commercial reasons” and represents a strategic approach in the Asian market.
“We had a very aggressive international commitment last season. Obviously, we are opening in Tokyo. “Tokyo is really our focus right now for very good business reasons.”
The current working agreement, which runs until 2026, contemplates games in Mexico City and San Juan that year, as well as commitments in London. This gives hope that the two Latin American centers will return to the international football map in the medium term.
MLB has historically had a strong presence in San Juan, with 49 regular season games held at Hiram Bithorn Stadium between 2001 and 2018. In Mexico, the impact has also been significant, with games in the capital stand out as major events in the internationalization of sports.
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#MLB #announces #games #Mexico #Opinion
**Given MLB’s stated focus on expanding in Japan, how might this strategy impact the league’s long-term engagement with Latin American fan bases and the development of baseball talent in the region?**
## World Today News Interview: MLB’s Shifting International Focus
**Guests:**
* **Dr. Elena Rodriguez:** Sports Economist, specializing in market analysis and fan engagement.
* **Javier Sanchez:** Baseball journalist with extensive experience covering the MLB in Latin America.
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World Today News. Today we’ll be delving into Major League Baseball’s recent announcement regarding the 2025 season, specifically its decision to forgo regular season games in Mexico City and San Juan, Puerto Rico. We’re joined by esteemed guests Dr. Elena Rodriguez and Javier Sanchez, who will shed light on the economic, social, and sporting ramifications of this decision.
**Section 1: Economic Viability and International Strategy:**
* **Host:** Dr. Rodriguez, the MLB commissioner cited the lack of a “viable economic agreement” for the absence of games in San Juan. Can you elaborate on what factors typically contribute to such agreements, and what challenges might arise in securing them for international markets?
* **Dr. Rodriguez:**
* **Host:** Javier, from your perspective as a journalist covering Latin America, how do you see this decision impacting baseball’s popularity and growth in the region?
* **Javieranalyses**
**Section 2: The Japanese Market and MLB’s Global Vision:**
* **Host:** The article highlights the MLB’s focus on Japan for the 2025 season opening. What makes the Japanese market attractive to the MLB, and how does this strategy align with their broader international objectives?
* **Dr. Rodriguez:**
* **Host:** Javier, what are your thoughts on the balance between expanding into new markets like Japan while potentially sacrificing established fan bases in Latin America?
* **Javier:**
**Section 3: The Future of MLB in Mexico and Puerto Rico:**
* **Host:** Despite the setback for 2025, the current agreement includes potential games in Mexico City and San Juan in 2026. Do you think this postponement is simply a delay, or does it signal a longer-term shift in the MLB’s priorities?
* **Dr. Rodriguez:**
* **Host:** Javier, what message would you like to convey to passionate baseball fans in Mexico and Puerto Rico regarding this news?
* **Javier:**
**Concluding Remarks:**
Thank you, Dr. Rodriguez and Javier Sanchez, for providing such insightful analysis on this complex issue. The MLB’s decision regarding international games undoubtedly raises important questions about economic viability, fan engagement, and the league’s evolving global strategy. As the landscape of professional sports continues to evolve, we can expect further discussion and debate on these critical topics.
We encourage our viewers to share their thoughts and perspectives on this issue in the comments section below.
