Which cities should have Major League teams? (states, transportation, state)

[Canes2006Champs]

Originally Posted by dxiweodwo

I think nashville, tn and memphis, tn should have MLB teams.

Portland, OR should also have a major league team.

I also think Vancouver, BC can also have a MLB team.

The Mariners probably wont allow a team in either Portland or Vancouver. I think Portland would be a good fit for the NFL or NHL, although the Seahawks may have something to say about an NFL team there.

[2Adam29]

as much of an Omaha maniac as I am, Lincoln is plenty happy with the Huskers, it is unlikely that they will consistantly travel to Omaha for some major-league team. When you don't factor in Lincoln, we simply don't yet have a strong enough fan base. I think we'll get there, but we haven't reached that point just yet.

[bradly]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Albuquerque is another.

I second this since albuquerque has hit 900,000 five months ago, and well i should say were the 12th fastest growing metropolitan area, with some crazy fans..lobo fans, i guess i should include the isotopes too!
LOBO Country! Woof! Woof! Woof!..

Well i should say our wack governor is still fighting for a NFL team.. and now Albuquerque mayor Chavez is fighting for a NBA team, while a new Nascar "Duke City Motor Speedway" is propsed.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by bradly

I second this since albuquerque has hit 900,000 five months ago, and well i should say were the 12th fastest growing metropolitan area, with some crazy fans..lobo fans, i guess i should include the isotopes too!
LOBO Country! Woof! Woof! Woof!..

Well i should say our wack governor is still fighting for a NFL team.. and now Albuquerque mayor Chavez is fighting for a NBA team, while a new Nascar "Duke City Motor Speedway" is propsed.

ABQ is the 46th largest television market in the country which is probably a bit too small right now for a major league sports franchise. But at the rate it's growing, ABQ might very well land itself an NBA team sometime in the near future.

[nephthys]

Originally Posted by 2Adam29

as much of an Omaha maniac as I am, Lincoln is plenty happy with the Huskers, it is unlikely that they will consistantly travel to Omaha for some major-league team. When you don't factor in Lincoln, we simply don't yet have a strong enough fan base. I think we'll get there, but we haven't reached that point just yet.

The problem is there is so much funding with the College World Series and other things.... that Omaha doesn't have the money for a pro-team right now. I would bet Omaha will get a pro-basketball team if anything with in the next 10 years. College Football is too big for NFL, but with a new stadium Omaha could get a MLB team. Who knows. The city is big enough, but it all has to do with funding, and right now Omaha has too many other projects.

[Chicagoland60426]

I'm suprise nobody mention Birmingham & Jackson. Birmingham, AL and Jackson, MS don't have any Major League Sport Teams.

[bradly]

Originally Posted by JMT

ABQ is the 46th largest television market in the country which is probably a bit too small right now for a major league sports franchise. But at the rate it's growing, ABQ might very well land itself an NBA team sometime in the near future.

Statistics show 1 out of every 4 people in Albuquerque are die hard Lobo fans thats as crazy as i can belive we rank 2nd in that category, i probably belive that because i see mostly everyone in this city wearing red Lobo gear . The 1st would be in Austin were every 1 out of 3 people are die hard longhorn fans.

We would have a huge fan base, the lobo basketball games are a great example, let me tell you something. UNM's games are never televised so there is your answer, no one pays attention to New Mexico but we show em anyways who is better.. like we knocked the **** out of San Diego State 77-7 the highest scoring game in NCAA football this year.

[John Shaft]

Portland seems to be jockeying for an MLS franchise because it is "Soccer City USA." But a lot of folks (me included) can't get jazzed up about 0-0 ties.

Plus the weather is a concern here, so an MLB team would likely need a retractable roof. There has already been a lot of development downtown so areas for a stadium are limited. Plus parking would be nonexistent. Plus, the city it cutting expenditures for the 9th consecutive year, and I don't think people in Portland are too keen on the corporate welfare needed to finance a stadium for a billionaire owner (and good for them for it!). So IMO another pro franchise coming to Porland is a long shot for a while.

With the Sonics departure it seems like Seattle is ripe for another team. To me, an NHL team would be perfect as I don't think there are too many Canuck fans south of the border. But I don't know if hockey fits the Seattle/NW culture well enough.

Having lived in Fort Worth most my life, I don't there really is the push necessary to get an in-city pro franchise. Ft Worth folks like that they can go participate in the "big city amenities" in Dallas and then come back home to a smaller city feel. Of course Arlington voted for Jerry World so who knows. The Rangers would be welcome with open arms (particularly if Hicks ever sold the team).

Of the rest only Las Vegas seems to have the critical mass and money (and city ego) to push a franchise. But the town is so heavily dependent on out-of-towners; why do you want to travel to Las Vegas to see a game when there's gambling to be had (especially since you've probably come from a city that has its own teams)?

All that being said, I'm guessing the current economy is going to keep pro team expansion/moves to a minimum for a couple of years.

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by car957

Austin doesn't want it because it probably require us locals to fund the construction of a stadium and that trick was tried about 12 years ago. The citizens shoved that proposal down city council's throat and we kicked the sponsoring council person out.

Round Rock has the Dell Diamond and is home to the Rouind Rock Express, the minor league team for the Texas Rangers.

Austin could use teh stadium normally used for UT-Austin if it wants football.

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by dfrench8456

I think Hartford could have a NBA or NHL team i dont think attendence would be a problem theres a big sports fan base in CT Uconn sells out every game at the Xl Center aka Hartford civic center which is about 15500. The only problem is they need to build new arena.

Hartford DID have an NHL team, the Hartford Whalers. They moved to the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina and are now the Carolina Hurricanes.