LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Major League Baseball’s owners received a presentation during this week’s Owners Meetings regarding the potential for MLB players to participate in the 2028 Olympic Games.

Baseball and softball were added to the 2028 Summer Games late last year, which will mark the seventh time baseball has been an official medal sport at the Olympics. Casey Wasserman, CEO of the Wasserman agency and president of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, made what MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred described as a “thoughtful and polished presentation” regarding the possibility of having Major Leaguers take part in the Olympics in Los Angeles.

Speaking at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at the conclusion of the meetings, Manfred addressed both the upside and potential drawbacks of having Major Leaguers take part in the Olympics in Los Angeles during the season.

“I think the pros are just the potential for association between two great brands … the opportunity to make a splash and attract the kind of attention that would be associated with a team -- it would eventually be multiple teams, I suspect -- of the best players in Major League Baseball in a short tournament like that,” Manfred said. “You've heard me before: Love that combination of nationalism and sport. I'm good on that.

“The cons, it's the logistics. Everyday games are tough. They're tough. And if you look at the calendar, I think it's complicated by the [Olympics’] proximity to what would ordinarily be the All-Star Game.”

Manfred touched on a number of other topics in the press conference, including the following:

The state of the game

“I think that the overall kind of mood or overarching mood of the group over the last few days was positive because of the momentum that we feel coming off 2023. We had 26 of 30 clubs increase their attendance. This is my favorite one: Between 2018 and 2022, we had five weekends over that period where we drew a million and a half people, over that entire period; we had 11 last year. … The percentage of tickets sold in the 18-to-35 age group was up 10% over the last four years. Our median ticket age since 2019 has gone from 51 to 45. You think about that, with that number of tickets, to move that average that much -- really significant change. So I think people feel like '24 is a year where we're gonna build on a really good 2023.”

The A’s relocation to a new ballpark in Las Vegas and securing an interim home after this season

“I would be disappointed, let me say it that way, if we didn't open that stadium Opening Day of 2028. Disappointed just in the sense I think it's the best for the A's and the best for the game. In terms of an interim home, I'm comfortable with where they are in the process. It's not like we don't know where they're going to be in 2024. They have options. I think they're doing a good job of exploring them and making sure we find the best possible opportunity.

“We need to, in the next few months, know [more about the interim location]. It's hard, even scheduling; although it's clearly going to be someplace in the West, there's a difference between some places in the West and other places in the West, right? So we need to get at it.”

The timeline to finalize the sale of the Orioles

“I'd like to get it done. I've never been comfortable with protracted processes, approval processes. Once it's public that there's going to be a sale, I think both ... the one who's no longer going to be the control person and the one who's about to become it, it leaves them both in an awkward spot. So we just want to get it done as quickly as possible.”

Whether he’s happy with the Rays’ stadium situation or would like to see it move more quickly

“Both of the above. I had a nice update from [Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg]. The St. Pete/Tampa Bay situation, he’s positive about where the substance is. But it kind of echoes the questions about Oakland. We’re at the point now, it needs to go. It takes a long time to get in the ground, get a stadium built, and the sooner the better, from my perspective.”

A new ballpark for the White Sox in Chicago

“I think the White Sox are important to the city of Chicago. I know they've got two [teams], but there's lots of places that would love to have two. And I think that I'm excited about the possibility of a new facility there. … I think the location would be great for them, and I'd love to see [White Sox chairman] Jerry [Reinsdorf] at this point in his career get one done.”

What it would take to begin expansion talks

“I think that we're going to have to get our footing on local media a little better. I think in times of uncertainty, it's hard to talk about additional change. Having said that, look, I've got five [years] left -- this year and four more. Those teams, even if I push the issue, they won't be playing by the time I'm done. But I would like the process along, hopefully selected; that's the best I can do for you.”