MLB views London as 'priority market' for international growth

As the Mets and Phillies prepare to play a two-game series this weekend at London Stadium -- marking MLB’s third visit in the past five years and ahead of another date in 2026 -- the partnership between the league and London is a “marriage that has worked” as the league “gains more international exposure,” according to Ken Maguire of the AP. MLB Chief Operations & Strategy Officer Chris Marinak said the league has “clearly identified the U.K. as a priority market and an area that we plan to emphasis for international growth.” Maguire noted MLB had also identified Paris “as a destination in the March 2022 labor deal between MLB and the players’ association,” and the city “was in line to host in 2025 but the league pulled the plug in November , unable to land a promoter.” The Yankees were “said to be interested in playing in the French capital”  --  but the games were never officially announced. Marinak confirmed that there is “no current plan to move that series to another international city.” But he added that the Paris experience “hasn’t dampened MLB’s hopes for Europe.” Maquire noted a year ago, London was “described as ‘the jumping off point’ for Europe.” Marinak: "At this point there’s no new location or venue or anything that has crossed past the stages of conceptual conversation." Last year’s London series between the Cardinals and Cubs saw an average attendance of 55,000 , with an estimated 71% coming from the U.K. MLB said that “#LondonSeries trended globally on X on both game days,” its U.K. social media channels “achieved 133% growth in the past year” and MLB merchandise sales in Britain “are up 43% over last year.” The league also said that its “growing partnership” with the BBC resulted in distributing the first World Series game on BBC digital platforms last year ( AP, 6/4 ).