Thing is, I'm not sure how many other options there are besides DC. The city council isn't going to allow the team to use RFK for a couple/few years if the team is going to go somewhere else. Going back to Puerto Rico for a few seasons would be a money loser and I don't think there's another city with a ready-to-play ballpark (I'd think that Harbor Park in Norfolk is too small and couldn't be expanded quickly enough for an April 05 start).
We're seeing a VERY high stakes game of chicken being played here. It'll be interesting to see who blinks first.
Buffalo is problematic because of weather.
The top media markets without a team are: Washington #8, Sacramento #19, Orlando #20, Portland #24, Indianapolis #25, Hartford #27, Charlotte #28, Raleigh-Durham #29, Nashville #30.
For purposes of TV, Washington is the big prize. The only thing that would be comparable is somewhere in NC where the Charlotte and R-D areas would broadcast the games. Sacramento already shares the SF and Oakland markets and Orlando shares the Miami and Tampa Bay markets. It's clear that DC is the first, best option for MLB. Plus, it's a moneymaker for the team. In DC, the stadium could be made entirely of luxury boxes.
There are always options. Richmond. Charlotte. LA. Austin.
Prolly more places than I am thinking now.
There always options. Its real estate. There a lots of houses. Lots of boats. Lots of cars.