Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonathan Ashbeck
For sure:
Green Bay - no NBA, MLB, or NHL team
Milwaukee - no NFL or NHL team. They do have an AHL team but it's considered semi-professional, or also called, minor league. Wisconsin has never had an NHL team at all.
Oakland - No NHL team currently though they did had one when they were called the California (later Oakland) Golden Seals.
Jacksonville - No NBA, NHL, or MLB team. Just an NFL team called the Jaguars
Atlanta - No NHL team anymore as the Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg, now known as the Winnipeg Jets
Charlotte - No MLB team
San Antonio - No NHL, MLB, or NBA team
New Orleans - No NHL or MLB team though they do have a minor league baseball team called the Zephyrs
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FYI, the Packers are unofficially Wisconsin's de facto NFL team. For that reason, I don't see NFL owners ever awarding Milwaukee an NFL team, short of say if the Packers were to relocate to Milwaukee. But I don't ever see that happening, since the Pack have too much history at Lambeau to ever play at any other stadium. Keep in mind till the old Milwaukee County Stadium was demolished, that they played a few games a year in Milwaukee instead of Green Bay. Since then due to the fact Miller Park is a baseball only stadium, they've played all regular season games in Green Bay. IIRC that city doesn't have any venues that might be remotely NFL ready, to be able to handle a few regular season games in MKE instead of Green Bay. I'm sure if there was a sports venue in Milwaukee that could handle higher NFL crowds, that the tradition of the Packers playing a few games in Milwaukee would've continued to this day.
I wouldn't be against Milwaukee getting an NHL team, particularly if very small markets like Raleigh, NC have a team! Let's not forget years ago that Hartford, CT and Quebec City, QC had NHL teams before a move, and that both those areas were very small.
Finally as for Atlanta, they've lost 2 NHL teams over the years unfortunately. First one was the Flames(now in Calgary) who moved out in 1980(started in 1972), and the 2nd one was the Thrashers(now the Winnipeg Jets), who moved in 2011(started in 1999). Sadly for this reason I'm not sure if the NHL would allow another team in Atlanta, but I wouldn't say it's totally impossible that the league may decide one day to try again in Atlanta.
And to finally round out the places I want to talk about, Charlotte wouldn't be a bad site for an MLB team, either. Since there's a huge gap between Atlanta and Washington, DC, where there isn't a single MLB team. Someone on a previous page besides you mentioned the possibility of San Antonio getting an NFL team, but I worry the owners of the Cowboys and Texans would find a way to rally enough owner votes to block that from happening. It's silly to me, since I think San Antonio would definitely be a great site for an NFL team. Someone above on either this page or the last one said Baton Rouge, but I can't see that city getting a pro team, and anything other than a minor league one at best. I believe they have at least a minor league baseball team, to my knowledge(correct me if wrong).
Other cities that lack a certain team, and where I don't think it'd be bad for a future team to be created:
Saint Louis- NFL(I won't be surprised if the NFL has a team here again someday, since that city tried so darned hard to keep the Rams in Saint Louis. I could see StL perhaps persuading an NFL team owner(via a local businessman buying out the majority shares of ownership in that team?), to consider moving there someday), NBA(they used to have an NBA team, as I know. maybe the 'Ed' Dome the Rams vacated, could be renovated to support an NBA team?)
Albuquerque- none of the 4 main sports. but if Jacksonville of all cities can somehow have an NFL team, why not Albuquerque? there is a minor league baseball team there, and I wouldn't be surprised if they had minor league hockey of some sort either.
Louisville- none of the 4 main sports either. but I could see this city trying to lure a pro team to move there or via successfully getting an expansion franchise, someday. not sure if they'd have much of a chance for an NFL team, since Indy, Cincy, and Nashville aren't too far away.
Cincinnati- NBA(believe they once had an NBA team, though), NHL(they do have a minor league hockey team of some sort though)
Las Vegas- MLB, NFL(there are a lot of current rumors they might persuade the Oakland Raiders to successfully move there, we'll see. I don't think it'd be a bad idea, since they play in one of the VERY worst NFL stadiums as it is), NHL(have heard a lot of rumors about them trying to persuade the Phoenix Coyotes to move, and in 2015 while visiting Vegas, I recall seeing local billboards trying to rally support for the NHL to get a team to move to that city), NBA
Salt Lake City- MLB(since there's a current gap between Denver and Oakland with no teams), NFL(ditto here, no teams between here and Oakland. if Vegas ever gets the Raiders, I'm not sure if NFL owners would look favorably on creating a team in SLC), NHL(wouldn't be surprised if they already had a minor league hockey team of some sort here)
Pittsburgh- NBA(which once had a pro basketball team, a la Rochester and Buffalo. little sad to think there's a gap between Cleveland and Philly w/no NBA team, w/Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse all no longer having an NBA team), NHL(they do have minor league hockey I believe)
Buffalo- MLB(though they probably won't award one with Cleveland and Toronto having teams), NBA(once had a pro basketball team though, the Braves)
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