Which city most deserves a pro sports team? (hockey, professional, leagues)

[maestro]

Originally Posted by wpotsie

Providence and Hartford would dip too much into the Boston or New York markets. It would never happen. That's why the Whalers left Hartford. THe city and area were losing population and most of the people j ust rooted for the Bruins, anyway.

I have to disagree. The Whalers left because 1) the owners were making ridiculous arena demands 2) they were getting a sweetheart deal by the city of Raleigh.

The Whalers actually drew decent pretty well, and the population hasn't really dipped to suggest that it's a dying city.

[maestro]

I don't know a ton about New Mexico. Are there enough big corporations in the city to provide a team with a solid business support base?

[Blue Grass Fever]

Detroit deserves a pro football team!

[Alanboy395]

Originally Posted by Blue Grass Fever

Detroit deserves a pro football team!

just fire matt millen and you will have a REAL pro football team!

[friendnc]

Originally Posted by dullnboring

I like your choices. I would pick many of the same. My top five would be:

1. Las Vegas - I believe the largest market without a major sports team
2. Virginia Beach/Norfolk
3. Louisville - it seems like it would be a good basketball city
4. Raleigh - they technically "have" the Carolina teams, but those teams play in Charlotte so I consider them more Charlotte teams, and Raleigh is a large metro area in it's own right
5. Austin - not sure if the market is there however

I also like OKC, Hartford, Providence and maybe even Honolulu.

Charlotte has the NFL Carolina Panthers (and NBA Charlotte Bobcats), and Raleigh has the NHL Carolina Hurricanes.

[dullnboring]

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

For folks who suggested Albuquerque, NM...having moved here 3+ years ago, I would highly concur.

Albuquerque isn't as big in population as some of the other cities mentioned, but it has some distinct advantages:

-Metro Population of 800,000+ (even though the city itself is around 500,000)...while shy of a million still, Albuquerque is one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S.; a suburb of Albuquerque is Rio Rancho, NM, which is the 3rd fastest growing town in the U.S.

-Albuquerque is the only "big city" in the state of New Mexico, and as such, would draw support from the entire state, not just the metro; also, El Paso, TX is only four-hours to the south of Albuquerque and is another city with a metro of approximately 800,000, which would also likely support a team in Albuquerque

-No "nearby" competitors...the nearest "big league" cities are Phoenix, AZ, Denver, CO, or cities in Texas many hundreds of miles away...unlike in the East or Midwest where huge cities near other big ones may overshadow the big cities, ABQ has no such competition in the area

-A proven track record of supporting well local college and minor league sports franchises

-Great year-round weather (for outdoor teams like MLB or NFL)

Albuquerque would be a great choice!

I totally agree. I briefly lived in Albuquerque (so briefly I should say "stayed" rather than lived ) and it just felt like it would be a good place for a team. As you mentioned, many of the Eastern cities are so close together that the markets sort of trip over themselves whereas there are very wide gulfs out west. For that very reason, I wouldn't be opposed to a team in Boise either even though it's quite small (less than 600,000 in metro area) and I feel that Salt Lake City should have more teams as well.

Another city that I didn't think of, in the East, that I think could support a team, would be Birmingham. It's 2.5 hours from Atlanta which is a sizable distance and would "fill in" the Southeast a bit.

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by maestro

I don't know a ton about New Mexico. Are there enough big corporations in the city to provide a team with a solid business support base?

I would say "yes"...some notable corporations such as Intel have a big presence out here, and this is growing seemingly every day with the huge population boom of Albuquerque. Albuquerque is a Sun Belt city that is going through currently the population boom somewhat akin to that which Phoenix went through in the 70s...maybe not on quite as large a scale, but I believe most projections have the ABQ Metro population over 1.5-million people in ten years. It is zooming! And with it, corporations are expanding locally, or moving in readily.

Corporate support for the local Triple A baseball team - the ABQ Isotopes - and for UNM athletics has been strong...I see no reason it wouldn't even be stronger for a major-league sport.

Also, corporate support would be available concievably from around the state (granted, much of the rest of the state is rather rural, but there are bigger towns like Santa Fe, Las Cruces, etc.), and even possibly El Paso, TX (which is more of a New Mexican city than a Texas one anyway).

It might be enough currently only to support one sport currently (MLB, NFL, etc.), but it would be enough. Let's just say if Oklahoma City is doing so well supporting the NBA, we assuredly could support a team here in ABQ.

[shad8974]

Not to be rude- I know everyone is scared of the ''OKIE THING'- But do some research. Entertainment/expansion/HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY- pours in from state/federal/city tax/renewal efforts/ridiculous large private investments...la de da da...lets not kid ourselves about who will land the next pro franchise.

GET TO KNOW OKC- CONSTANT FACELIFTS ABOUND- BECOMING THE ENVY OF MANY CITIES FOR MASTER PLAN DESIGNS....believe an OKC native. You will be hearing from OKC---sound takes some time to travel----especially to the east and west coast. Looking forward to the next 5 yrs. In 10 yrs were talking - my house can eat your house for breakfast- period. Believe in the big diamond in the rough- 2005 pop is 1.3 mil/ everyone is looking at 2000 figures(lol)- pop is expected to increace dramatically in the next ten yrs.

Me...... im gonna take a seat and chill while watching everyone see OKC explode. later

[shad8974]

Oh ABQ- please- now do your research on major interstates. I-35(just one) is the largest monster vein in the country. Come on now. Lets be realistic- get with the current times. Use that brain. think.....it might hurt a bit emotionally- but you cant take it to heart. Its way to obvious and will be inevitable.

Me- i get to enjoy the ride.

[tkx7]

Technically, all of New England is covered with the Patriots which would mean Hartford does have a team. I'm going to go North of the border and Say Quebec needs an NHL team. I also think Anchorage, Alaska should have an NHL team. They are very far away from other teams so they especially deserve a team. I also think Las Vegas is a good idea for basketball. Albuquerque and Bosie are well deserving places for some team too.