Major League Baseball (MLB) officials are optimistic next year’s groundbreaking series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the LA Dodgers in Sydney will be more than just a one-off.
Fresh from their bitter battle for last season’s National League West title, the two teams will meet in an official two-game MLB series at the SCG on March 22 and 23 to open the new baseball season.
The MLB has previously held season-openers in Japan and Diamondbacks president and chief executive Derrick Hall said he jumped at the chance to host two of their home games in Australia in a project that has been seven years in the making.
And the Diamondbacks boss said the highly anticipated matches are unlikely to be a hit-and-run mission.
“I’m hopeful that this series will be the first of many,” Hall told AAP at the SCG on Monday.
“I don’t see why that won’t be the case. It makes sense for us to be in the rotation with Major League Baseball to be playing games here every year or every other year.
“When there was talk about the possibility of coming here we jumped at the chance and it has exceeded expectations. The Major League have been pleasantly surprised at the reaction from fans here.
“We are very excited about playing two games at such a historic venue that look like being sold out… we are looking forward to putting on a show.
“There has been a lot of focus on Asia, in Taiwan and Japan and to us Australia just made sense and hopefully we can make it a regular thing.
It was a sentiment backed by the Diamondbacks’ superstar first baseman Paul Goldschmidt.
“It’s something that could definitely happen regularly,” he said.
“It is a matter for the front office but I don’t see any reason why that couldn’t happen.
“All the players are really excited about coming down here and it’s a great opportunity for all of us.
“The Major League Baseball are always looking for ways to expand and I don’t see why a regular game here couldn’t be successful.”
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