Which city most deserves a pro sports team? (Hurricanes, Stars, Nationals)

[happytown]

The players would probably go thru some torture just to git back to OKC...Who care about a pond. Better scene in OKC than you think and quite safe also compared to nawlins. I just got back from the french qt.....NOrleans was nutts to build a practice facility....Hello, the whole area is gone!! 250 thousand in nawlins...What a joke!!!! OKC looks like a utopia.....................

[Synopsis]

OkC has a lot of social life to offer, actually. And with Tulsa being only one hour's drive away, there are opportunities there as well. I hope the Hornets return to OkC. I can't believe that they went back to New Orleans, which I don't think will recover from Katrina for decades to come.

[UNT_Eagle]

Originally Posted by Lethal_Poison

- Columbus, OH- Cleveland successfully supports the Cavs on half the population, and a largely blue collar work force, along with a major league team in two other sports. So why not Columbus? They only have the Blue Jackets, and an almost new arena that can seat 20,000 for basketball.

Because any Pro team (NBA, MLB, NFL) would steal the thunder from the OSU Buckeyes.. The city won't allow ANY other team into their turf..

[Scraper Enthusiast]

1. Las Vegas
2. Norfolk/Va. Beach
3. Oklahoma City
4. Louisville
5. Hartford

[Lethal_Poison]

Originally Posted by Chaparral

Ummmm... you mean, like the Bobcats?

Yeah I forgot about the Bobcats, since they spend so much time in the cellar....I realized this almost immediatley after hitting send, but I didnt bother fixing it.

They did have one. Until the Clippers moved to greener pastures in L.A., primarily due to lack of attendance.

Chap

Could it be that the team was garbage? Not only that, but the population of San Diego in the early 80's was about 65-70% of what it is now in the city limits, and about 1 million less people lived in the county.

[Lethal_Poison]

Originally Posted by UNT_Eagle

Because any Pro team (NBA, MLB, NFL) would steal the thunder from the OSU Buckeyes.. The city won't allow ANY other team into their turf..

That is sad that a college football team would keep pro sports out.

[Lethal_Poison]

Originally Posted by Scraper Enthusiast

1. Las Vegas
2. Norfolk/Va. Beach
3. Oklahoma City
4. Louisville
5. Hartford

Norfolk/Va Beach can not support a major league team, and if you wanted to pick a city in Kentucky, you picked the wrong one.

[CNI]

Originally Posted by Lethal_Poison

Norfolk/Va Beach can not support a major league team...

On what do you base this conclusion?
Norfolk is over 1.5 million in its metro. It is in a state of 7.6 million (Virginia is the most populous state without a pro sports team). 100 miles from Richmond (no teams). Maybe 150 miles from Raleigh (no teams). Northern portion of NC could be part of Norfolk's fan base.
The Carolina pro teams do not have a solid fan base in VA. The Washington teamss have traditionally been VA's teams but I think that grip could be broken if the state had its own team Plus Norfolk/Hampton Roads has large numbers of transplants and people from other states in the area for military reason, for vacations during the summer, college, etc.

Just curious as to the logic behind your statement.

[T-8]

Hi everybody...I'm someone new here...
I'm from Italy, but I think I deserve to express my opinion too...Don't I ?

First of all, before talking about cities deserving professional sports teams, I would like to point at Vancouver, BC.
You know ? The Grizzlies played only 6 years there, and they said they left for lacking in people's support.
I think it was a big deal for that city to host an NBA team as well as it was by no means dramatic loosing it.
For some reasons, I'm bound to say that Vancouver Metro Area, including Victoria, the BC's capital city, could actually get good skills in hosting - and especially supporting - a new NBA team, though every US media says it would be the worst decision.
The reason they say so is that they think about other cities you all have mentioned:

- OKC (who is likely going to host the SuperSonics)

- Albuquerque, NM

- Hartford, CT

- Las Vegas, NV

- Austin, TX

This is my opinion: it doesn't matter how crowded is an area (thus, how much money you could earn relocating a team there or creating a new one), because you sell tickets every season only if the team's good.
Why did I mention Vancouver ?
Here it is: the Grizzlies had no troubles on selling GM Place tickets on their inaugural 1995-96 season as they were something new.
The next seasons, with fans being ignorating the most loosing team of the NBA history, GM Place was so empty that you could loudly shout your name from top being sure players on the court could hear you...
By the point of view of an owner, IT REALLY MATTERS if about 10,000 tickets remain unsold at every home match, 'cause it means million $ failed earnings.

And be sure, my dear friends, that whatever city hosting a loosing team would face the same situation.
Are you going to relocate the Seattle SuperSonics to Oklahoma City ?
Good.
But as well as KeyArena isn't sold out, Ford Center won't be too, if the team is that weak.
So the reason teams move is money, being sure it isn't team's fault: but I'm sure that if they're going to hardly work and win more games, the team could finally stay in there.

You wanna create some new teams in Albuquerque ?
EnjoyEP's reasons are serious and you can trust him: ABQ is that good he says.
But will the team be able to deserve that good ? I mean: will it be strong enough or will it be rumored to relocate after a few years, just like Vancouver Grizzlies ?

I've been talking 'bout basketball teams, but I think that my opinion could easily be referred to whatever professional sport.

I agree with creating a new NBA team in vancouver (maybe CBA's inactive team Vancouver Dragons ?), but I hope not to be the only one who has learned the Grizzlies' lesson.

Faithfully yours,
Francesco

fr.caste@libero.it
Tonnellotto

[Lethal_Poison]

Originally Posted by CNI

On what do you base this conclusion?
Norfolk is over 1.5 million in its metro. It is in a state of 7.6 million (Virginia is the most populous state without a pro sports team). 100 miles from Richmond (no teams). Maybe 150 miles from Raleigh (no teams). Northern portion of NC could be part of Norfolk's fan base.
The Carolina pro teams do not have a solid fan base in VA. The Washington teamss have traditionally been VA's teams but I think that grip could be broken if the state had its own team Plus Norfolk/Hampton Roads has large numbers of transplants and people from other states in the area for military reason, for vacations during the summer, college, etc.

Just curious as to the logic behind your statement.

First of all, Raleigh DOES have a pro team- The Carolina Hurricanes. They also have an awesome arena that could possibly house a pro basketball team.

Any how, the logic behind my statement is this....THERE IS NO CORPORATE PRESENCE IN SOUTH EAST VIRGINIA.

Who is going to buy the big blocks of tickets needed to sell out games? Who is going to buy the luxury seats? The personal seat licenses? The season tickets?

Nobody.

This area is full of people who would attend a couple games a year, and no major corporations.

Remember when Norfolk was trying to get the Nationals before they settled on Washington DC? The investors behind the team couldnt even sell a fraction of the season tickets and boxes they wanted to.

Norfolk is a minor league town, and always will be until they change their mindset, and start luring real companies here.