Pro Sports in Arkansas (Little Rock, Fayetteville: travel, work, college)

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by MommyJulz

I personally do not think that Arkansas needs any pro teams. I had moved to Hot Springs in Jan 2002 and lived there until Sept. 2006 when I moved back to Texas. I miss Arkansas more than I ever thought I would. And let me tell you that part of the charm there is the fan base for one college team...GO HOGS!! I find myself now back in Texas "Callin The Hogs". LOL I think Arkansas does just fine with the Razorbacks. People there are more passionate about that college team than people will ever be here in Texas over their Pro Teams.

Know what you mean about fan base for one team only: we had the same thing living in the DC area during the 80s. All we had was the RedSkins, no other pro sports to speak of, no decent colleges in the immediate area and there was hardly a person within 50 miles that did not donate their Sundays to the Redskins. we are still avid fans.

Nita

[magrack]

Originally Posted by MommyJulz

I personally do not think that Arkansas needs any pro teams. I had moved to Hot Springs in Jan 2002 and lived there until Sept. 2006 when I moved back to Texas. I miss Arkansas more than I ever thought I would. And let me tell you that part of the charm there is the fan base for one college team...GO HOGS!! I find myself now back in Texas "Callin The Hogs". LOL I think Arkansas does just fine with the Razorbacks. People there are more passionate about that college team than people will ever be here in Texas over their Pro Teams.

Texas has professional teams?

Who knew?

[DFWMike]

Originally Posted by MommyJulz

I personally do not think that Arkansas needs any pro teams. I had moved to Hot Springs in Jan 2002 and lived there until Sept. 2006 when I moved back to Texas. I miss Arkansas more than I ever thought I would. And let me tell you that part of the charm there is the fan base for one college team...GO HOGS!! I find myself now back in Texas "Callin The Hogs". LOL I think Arkansas does just fine with the Razorbacks. People there are more passionate about that college team than people will ever be here in Texas over their Pro Teams.

You're right about that, Even being a teasipper, one of the most fun games I ever attended was at Fayetteville, they whupped our butts and that hog call stuck in your brain for days. That ranks right behind boomer sooner fight song for a lingering pain after a whuppin, even on tv i like watching the hogs games because of their chants, just like those crazy hyped up aggies, except arkansas actually has some great seasons.

As far as the question about Texas having professional teams, you may have heard of em, we have a triple AAA minor league team named the rangers, The Arlington Cowboys, going for a muffed field goal again in the playoffs, Our perenial chokers on ice, the stars and one very overrated german crying in his warm german beer because he can't play with the big boys in San Fransisco. Yup, you'd have to look real hard to find a professional team in Dallas. But hey, one of your own is building a billion dollar stadium in Arlington, guess that should count for something and he's bringing us the super bowl, so if we can't win at least we can watch someone else who can when they come to town in 2011, lol.

[Cali BassMan]

Heck Dallas can't even fish that good, they just lost the Tuna
How about building a race track? think that would be supported?
I'm kinda spoiled on the Pro Team thing, Raiders, 49ers, A,s Giants, Sharks, Kings, Warriors, and the new Areana League champion Sabercats, Sears Point Raceway, Lauguna Seca etc........

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Cali BassMan

Heck Dallas can't even fish that good, they just lost the Tuna
How about building a race track? think that would be supported?
I'm kinda spoiled on the Pro Team thing, Raiders, 49ers, A,s Giants, Sharks, Kings, Warriors, and the new Areana League champion Sabercats, Sears Point Raceway, Lauguna Seca etc........

you may be spoiled, but your teams, for the most part haven't done much lately either. I am about to retire to the TV room right now to watch the Dodgers give it to the Giants.

Oh, you mention Sears Point, we used to live in Novato, or better, Loma Verde. Sears Point brings back memories. Even living 5 years in Marin County we stayed loyal to the Dodgers.

Now, missing pro sports, you will be surprised how quickly you get over it or find other teams to route for.

Nita

[strumpeace]

Plus not having pro sports gives you an excuse to travel to St. Louis or Atlanta or Dallas every summer to take in a ball game.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Cali BassMan

Heck Dallas can't even fish that good, they just lost the Tuna
How about building a race track? think that would be supported?
I'm kinda spoiled on the Pro Team thing, Raiders, 49ers, A,s Giants, Sharks, Kings, Warriors, and the new Areana League champion Sabercats, Sears Point Raceway, Lauguna Seca etc........

Cali BassMan, before you rub it in: let's forget about the Dodger/Giants game last night.

[Stormcrow73]

Honestly folks, no major professional sports league is readily accessible to the common fan anymore. I say, stick with the minor league sports where you can actually get and afford tickets close to the action and maybe even get to know the players on a first name basis! I know when the Glaciercats and Riverblades were still in town, lots of people got to know the players and even play some hockey with them at the Skatium! As someone else mentioned, a major determining factor in success of a major franchise is TV market. The other important factor is corporate support, season sticket packages sold to companies to be used as perks. In the NHL, the typical breakdown of corporate vs. fan season ticket packages to "guarantee" profit is around 60% to 40%. Successful franchises don't care if real fans get to come see their team play. A prime example is the Washington Capitals who play to nearly empty lower bowls often while the real fans of the team are stuck up in the rafters. Now, those lower bowl seats aren't unpaid for...no no. But when they do get filled by a butt, it's someone from out of town there on business whose gotten tickets from whatever company or politician they're working with and they could care less who wins. Not a great game-time atmosphere. Stick with your Travs and the Naturals when they get there and the Twisters. I choose minor league sports anyday over the "majors".

[JamesinLittleRock]

I'd rather see any of the little rock minor league teams than a pro one. games are TONS funner.

[btoverdrive]

Stormcrow and James, I could not agree more. The majors have priced me out of the stadiums. Growing up in El Dorado, I have been a St Louis Cardinals fan all my life. I lived in St Louis for 16 years before being transferred to Omaha 3 years ago and it got to the point where I would not go to the games unless I was lucky enough to get the company tickets. I don't know enough about hockey to comment but I got the company seats to a Blues game about 5 years ago and the price on that ticket was $75. WOW.

Since being in Omaha I have been to many AAA Omaha Royals games, you can get a seat behind home plate for $8. Back in June I was in Memphis on business and went to a Redbirds game for $10 and had a great time, that is a beautiful new stadium. Two weeks ago I was in LR on business and had to spend a couple of nights there. I saw the Travelers were in town so after dinner the first night I went to the new ball park, got in free after the 5th inning. I had so much fun that the next night I went to dinner at Cajuns Wharf, yummy, and then went back to the ball park for another game. Paid $6 for a ticket and had another great time. That is also a great ball park, very fan and kid friendly. Also, if you have never been to a college world series game, you need to make a trip here sometime to see one. It is one of the best atmospheres I have ever experienced in sports.

With all the scandals in pro sports, steroids in baseball, thugs and felons in football and cheating refs in basketball, plus the outrageous salaries, the major league games have just about done me in. Bring on college football and GO HOGS.......