we need a new MLB team (Atlanta, Jackson: moving to, stadium, rated)

[bryantm3]

other large cities have two MLB teams— chicago, new york, los angeles, san francisco— and they typically have two teams, one that has a broader regional appeal (the new york yankees, chicago cubs, san francisco giants, LA dodgers) and then they have a team that has more local appeal, for the "intowners" (new york mets, chicago white sox, LA angels, etc.). check out this map for what i'm talking about:

CommonCensus Sports Map

in light of the braves moving out to cobb, maybe intowners should have their own baseball team. face it, the braves' fans are located all over the southeast, not actually in atlanta— folks from virginia to mississippi root for the braves— and the movement of the stadium out to cobb won't affect them at all, and might actually help them access the games better if they're driving into atlanta to see them.

the braves have had a notoriously tough time getting intowners to attend the games— intown, the braves are seen as more of a regional or southern team, and many folks don't feel much affinity for them as it almost seems like the braves belong to the rest of the south.

if atlanta had a team we could really call our own— just us— i think a lot more people would get excited about going to the games. and think of the rivalry... oh my.

the thing is, we've already got a relatively nice stadium for them to use that the braves are abandoning. we could pretty easily accomodate an american league team to compete with the national league braves, and the braves wouldn't lose their regional support.

this might seem like a big idea, but was it that big of an idea for the other cities i listed? i would be 100% behind this. what do you all think?

[DaBurgh]

We shall call them the Atlanta Phoenix

[bryantm3]

Originally Posted by DaBurgh

We shall call them the Atlanta Phoenix

i love that name, and i thought about that, but the only thing is i was worried people would get confused about where the team was based, since phoenix is a city also.

[Lady's Man]

The Maynard Jacksons

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by bryantm3

i love that name, and i thought about that, but the only thing is i was worried people would get confused about where the team was based, since phoenix is a city also.

Maybe he was trying to be ironic?

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by bryantm3

other large cities have two MLB teams— chicago, new york, los angeles, san francisco— and they typically have two teams, one that has a broader regional appeal (the new york yankees, chicago cubs, san francisco giants, LA dodgers) and then they have a team that has more local appeal, for the "intowners" (new york mets, chicago white sox, LA angels, etc.). check out this map for what i'm talking about:

CommonCensus Sports Map

in light of the braves moving out to cobb, maybe intowners should have their own baseball team. face it, the braves' fans are located all over the southeast, not actually in atlanta— folks from virginia to mississippi root for the braves— and the movement of the stadium out to cobb won't affect them at all, and might actually help them access the games better if they're driving into atlanta to see them.

the braves have had a notoriously tough time getting intowners to attend the games— intown, the braves are seen as more of a regional or southern team, and many folks don't feel much affinity for them as it almost seems like the braves belong to the rest of the south.

if atlanta had a team we could really call our own— just us— i think a lot more people would get excited about going to the games. and think of the rivalry... oh my.

the thing is, we've already got a relatively nice stadium for them to use that the braves are abandoning. we could pretty easily accomodate an american league team to compete with the national league braves, and the braves wouldn't lose their regional support.

this might seem like a big idea, but was it that big of an idea for the other cities i listed? i would be 100% behind this. what do you all think?

I'd think you'd have to be a mega-city to begin with. The Bay area is larger than Atlanta but technically there are two teams in two different cities.

Not sure if MLB is open to expansion so I guess Atlanta would have to lure another team. But the Atlanta market is saturated with sports as is. If Atlanta doubles in size to around 10 million...maybe. And even then, maybe football...not baseball. Baseball doesn't have the level of popularity it used to.

I just don't think there is a need for another team. The Braves moving to Cobb is not a problem.

[alco89]

No, this would be terrible. We have trouble supporting the Braves as it is...

[Carolina Knight]

Atlanta does not need a second Major League Baseball club. The Braves need to focus on winning.

If MLB expands, Charlotte, North Carolina can easily support an American League expansion club.

[gerrythesnake]

No. Id rather have a hockey team back here

[WmMeeker]

Our Braves are our team. Although I oppose this stupid Cobb move, I will always stand by our Braves. Too bad Ted doesn't still own them.