People are championing their favorite places it seems, or looking at overall appeal as a corporate relocation destination, but there are I think reasons unique to Amazon to want to broaden their national reach within the US that would have them wanting to be on the east coast. I think their overly aggressive corporate political culture will prevent them from even considering a metropolitan area in a truly “red” state, could be wrong but think it’s a reasonable assumption. So, Raleigh, love ya, best of luck but between the bathroom bill and voting Trump in 2016 I think any metro in my native NC is out as is any Trump state. That wipes out the entire southeast except for... Virginia.
Regarding other east coast metros, that leaves mid-Atlantic on up into New England. I see the cost of Boston putting them off, NYC fuhgettaboudit, Philly, nah, DC way too expensive unless they’re way back into the outer reaches of commuter hell in West Virginia which could be an outlier, I suppose. The only east coast metro outside of the southeast that I see fitting the bill gives me a sinking feeling because a corporate do-gooder SJW mindset would love to make it bloom again, that would be Baltimore.
But, I honestly think it’s the Norfolk-Virginia Beach region of Tidewater Virginia. Port city, metro population 1.7 million, nice airport although connections could be better but that would change with the advent of a large contingent of new business flyers I’m sure. It’s a red metro in a purple state turning blue, so if they want to cement a political influence that would represent quite a beachhead. Speaking of beachhead, the recreational opportunities and overall geographical attractiveness would be excellent, with the MSA comprising parts of the Outer Banks in North Carolina, Virginia Beach itself, lots of lifestyle appeal.
I just don’t see Amazon going to all that time and effort for a 2nd HQ just to go a couple hundred miles, they’re going to get in the thick of the opposite end of the country. Pro-business state but not red. Some semblance of a tech presence established although not necessarily a tech hub per se. I think they relate to a port city for more than just business reasons, too. Lifestyle and livability would be a major concern.
So, the Hampton Roads MSA comprising Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Newport News, assorted other smaller cities as well as the far northeast corner of NC is in pretty good shape on all of those points, in my opinion.
50,000 jobs would require a lot bigger population than Des Moines or Reno. Even a two million population area would be stretching it.
Amazon could choose a red state hoping to tip it blue, so NC or OH might be good bets.