Tea, anyone?
According to Bloomberg, the Yankees and Red Sox are nearing an agreement to showcase their storied rivalry on an international scale with a two-game, regular season series in London, likely in June of ’19.
Bloomberg says that, according to people familiar with the situation, the series would be played at London Stadium, which was the main site used for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Major League Baseball and the clubs have yet to comment.
Joel Sherman of the NY Post added that the Red Sox would likely be the home team, and that more hurdles need to be cleared to make the series come to fruition:
More on potential series in June ’19: Still hurdles. No promoter yet for event. Plus no deal with London Stadium (main ’12 Olympic venue) yet. MLB considered Wembley but couldn’t properly configure for baseball. Considered season opener, but April weather in London not favorable https://t.co/rWbL38WPjJ
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) March 19, 2018
MLB would love to play in Europe next yr, see that as potential money-making future market. Would love for it to be #Yankees #Redsox for marquee value. So will work hard to clear hurdles and nail down those 2 teams and finalize event. But nothing final yet.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) March 19, 2018
In the 2016 MLB collective bargaining agreement, it was decided that games would be played outside of North America; London was apparently the only city listed. MLB, which has played games in Mexico, Cuba, Japan and Australia, is still the only major North American sport not to play in Europe. The NFL has even considered starting its own franchise in Europe, as they try to expand their game globally.
The Yankees began the 2004 season in Japan against the Tampa Bay Rays. Boston played Oakland in Japan back in 2008.
