Selig was out of options at that point (MLB's attempt to gin up a bidding war between DC and NoVA fell apart when the Arlington County Board, in one of the few wise and prudent decisions in its history, listened to public demand and rejected the only viable Virginia sites); DC could have driven a much harder bargain. Selig was claiming that Portland, Las Vegas, Mexico and Puerto Rico were all options. DC wanted the team bad.
Selig was claiming that Portland, Las Vegas, Mexico and Puerto Rico were all options. Portland was barely viable, and a much smaller market. Las Vegas would have indelibly fixed the G-word on the sport. As for the other two, puh-leeze.