NBA in Austin (Houston, Dallas, San Antonio: high school, university, casino)

[oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots]

Originally Posted by jobert

that was my point

Oh, I'm a bit slow in the head. Forgive me.

[jobert]

I say we finally put it to the test and get it out of the way. I'm starting a poll on whether this town actually wants a pro sports team at all. Anyone care to wager the percentage that will be against it? I'm guessing 85%.

[hoffdano]

I am truly ambivalent about pro sports in Austin. I am 100% against taxpayer funding of pro sports facilities.

I don't think economically it would be easy to be successful since SA, DFW, and Houston are not far away.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by jobert

What is the going rate for a professional sports arena these days - 300MM? How would you convince Austin taxpayers to pass a bond for that? Maybe in conjuction with adding hotel and rental car taxes? ACL, SXSW, and the countless other annual festivals would be hurt by it... Besides, we barely agreed to build the WTP4, and that was a necessity.

I think Austin is trying to be the anti-city, and appeal to the niche market of those looking for something different that isn't Dallas or Houston. A pro sports team would ruin that; it just isn't in Austin's blood.

I think this is pretty perceptive. Austin has NEVER been interested in being just another wannabe Dallas/Houston/Wherever - Austin has always been interested in being Austin, and in being different from all of those other places that need such things. It's a place for "the rest of us", and shouldn't be destroyed.

[verybadgnome]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

I think this is pretty perceptive. Austin has NEVER been interested in being just another wannabe Dallas/Houston/Wherever - Austin has always been interested in being Austin, and in being different from all of those other places that need such things. It's a place for "the rest of us", and shouldn't be destroyed.

Yeah I can see this too, that we have other things going for us and don't need such a thing. That and the expectation that teams will be subsidized by taxpayers will kill it here.

Also it seems that people, especially the sports lovers, live vicariously through the teams they support, a kind of fantasy escapism for the desperate. Sort a "well my jobs sucks, my neighborhood sucks, there's noting to do around here, and the homelife is awful but at least the Austin _______ers are having a great year." It's a bit pathetic when the perceived best thing about your town is the for-profit pro team manned by players who really have little to do with the local community b/c they could be traded at any minute and b/c they live in the exclusive areas of town.

[jread]

It will never happen. Did you know that Austin is the largest city in the nation with no major pro-sports teams (no NFL, no NBA, no MLB, etc.)? With UT here none of those sports would ever have a chance.

I think the only one we might have a shot as is an NHL team.... that's it.

Originally Posted by verybadgnome

Also it seems that people, especially the sports lovers, live vicariously through the teams they support, a kind of fantasy escapism for the desperate. Sort a "well my jobs sucks, my neighborhood sucks, there's noting to do around here, and the homelife is awful but at least the Austin _______ers are having a great year." It's a bit pathetic when the perceived best thing about your town is the for-profit pro team manned by players who really have little to do with the local community b/c they could be traded at any minute and b/c they live in the exclusive areas of town.

I completely agree. Cities like Cleveland and Detroit NEED pro sports teams, but we really don't here. Plus, the "super fans" you speak of that we do have in Austin would disregard anything that doesn't have burnt orange on it anyway.

[AustinSpartan]

Originally Posted by jread

It will never happen. Did you know that Austin is the largest city in the nation with no major pro-sports teams (no NFL, no NBA, no MLB, etc.)? With UT here none of those sports would ever have a chance.

I think the only one we might have a shot as is an NHL team.... that's it.



I completely agree. Cities like Cleveland and Detroit NEED pro sports teams, but we really don't here. Plus, the "super fans" you speak of that we do have in Austin would disregard anything that doesn't have burnt orange on it anyway.

And those people of Boston and NY, also a desperate cry of vicarious bliss? Imagine the disappointment this city will experience when UT football falls from its ranks as a BCS competitor, it will happen eventually!

[robino2001]

This question comes up almost yearly and the answers are the same every time. NBA would be the furthest reach of the 4 major sports simply because the closest major league team to here is an NBA team. The Spurs market is relatively weak to begin with - why would the NBA dilute it anymore.

Whomever said the NHL was the most likely of the 4 would be dead on... it's not going to happen, but it would be the most likely of the 4 (if you ignore the NHL's internal desire to contract and never take another shot at southern expansion again).

My answer to this question very simply is Austin can't support what they have (outside of the obvious, UT football)... so what makes anyone think they'd support a major league team at major league prices. If you want to see the major league stuff, travel the 60-180 miles to see what you want... otherwise, support your Aztex, Stars, Express, Toros... even Turfcats... there are TONS of seats available at all of these games.

[bgrn198]

Originally Posted by OmShahi

Honestly, I would want it to have one, but it's probably not ever going to happen. UT has a lot of influence to the city, and because of that I can't really see professional sports teams being successful in Austin. Especially the NFL.

UT is a gift and a curse, depends on how you look at it.

We have the Toros their owned by the Spurs

[shankaupas]

Austin has pro sports teams they are just minor league teams: Round Rock Express, Austin Toros, Texas Stars. I actually kind of like this model. It's fun to see the up and coming stars of their respective sports, and it does not overshadow UT sports.