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Would any sports leagues allow Vegas to have a team with the risk of fixing games and gambling being ever present?
As for the Inland Empire, aren't they for the most part in the LA media market except for Palm Springs?
They are part of the LA Market.
I can't see the Inland empire getting any team. 2 teams already in LA and the NBA needs to move to a proven market that can have success (*cough* Seattle *cough*). The NFL would move to LA not the Inland empire. Already 5 MLB teams in California. And the MLS needs to move to Markets that can have great success like the Northwestern Teams. Plus Inland Empire is part of LA's TV market.
Vegas would be a serious gamble. Not a huge Metro area (smaller then Salt Lake City's Metro), and are people really going to want to go to Pro sports events? If Miami has taught us anything, popular tourist destinations have flip-floppity fanbases for the most part (unless it's college sports). So overall I could see a hockey or Basketball team there but if I had to put money on it, they would be very unsuccessful.
Austin is an interesting one. I could see the NBA or NFL making a move (that's the Longhorn's turf), and if NHL moves to Texas it will be Houston most likely. But I could see MLB having some success in Austin. Growing area, and cool place to be. Definitely could be an option.
So what about Virginia Beach? Well, I can't see anyone flocking to that market for NFL, NHL, or MLB. It could be potentially an OK middle of the road NBA market but definitely would prosper.
Now if you want my opinion on the best Cities for future Major Sports franchises?
NBA: 1. Seattle (Obvious chose) 2. Kansas City or St. Louis 3. Vancouver BC
NFL: 1. LA (they do need an NFL team) 2. Toronto (Maybe move the Bills?) 3. Not Really sure could be anywhere, even London (it would definitely be interesting)
MLB: 1. Portland (Great Baseball culture and could prosper) 2. Austin 3. Nashville
NHL: 1. Seattle 2. Portland (Northwest cities have great fanbases which leads to potential growth of the sport) 3. Quebec City (Would have them higher but it's a small market with already an established hockey culture, which means zero growth of the sport)
Austin-Do people in Austin even want a professional sports team? They seem pretty content with being a college sports town. San Antonio would get a major league franchise before Austin ever would.
Inland Empire- There are already enough teams in the Los Angeles market. The only way I could see the Inland Empire acquire a major league franchise would be if a team relocated from Orange County. Putting expansion teams there would oversaturate the Los Angeles sports market. At least the Inland Empire still has Nascar, which is something LA or Orange county doesn't have.
Hartford- Too close to the New York sports market and Boston Sports market to put a team there. They already ready have a WNBA franchise in Connecticut and are lucky to even have that.
Hampton Roads- This area could technically support a major league team. They would have to come up with a serious marketing campaign that would present themselves as Virginia's team. Unfortunately this area is an unproven market and sort of an area sports owners don't even think about when in comes to potential cities to expand.
Las Vegas- Las Vegas is by far the most controversial city to put a team in. It market size is definitely large enough to support a major league franchise. The main concerns that pro-sports leagues have with putting a franchise in Las Vegas is largely due to the high level of sports gambling and the potential of high rollers fixing games and bribing players, coaches, and league officials. I think the city at least deserves to have a shot at it. If it doesn't work out, they could always relocate the team elsewhere.
None of the above. Vegas may be sports betting capital but what people who do live there are not enough into any to support a team other then the NBA perhaps? Most of the others are too saturated as is.
Me? I would look at markets where sports is HUGE. For example.. Des Moines ( MLB/NFL ), Grand Rapids MI ( NFL, NBA, NHL... ), OKC ( MLB, NFL ), see above with Birmingham and i would include NFL there as well.
None of the above. Vegas may be sports betting capital but what people who do live there are not enough into any to support a team other then the NBA perhaps? Most of the others are too saturated as is.
Me? I would look at markets where sports is HUGE. For example.. Des Moines ( MLB/NFL ), Grand Rapids MI ( NFL, NBA, NHL... ), OKC ( MLB, NFL ), see above with Birmingham and i would include NFL there as well.
Inland Empire- There are already enough teams in the Los Angeles market. The only way I could see the Inland Empire acquire a major league franchise would be if a team relocated from Orange County. Putting expansion teams there would oversaturate the Los Angeles sports market. At least the Inland Empire still has Nascar, which is something LA or Orange county doesn't have.
On the IE and baseball. I wonder if the Angels are sort of the team so to speak. Seems pretty close and is SD not far from the other end.
Not sure this makes sense. If you look the broader LA/OC/IE/SD it would seem that 3 baseball teams covering a population of like 20-25 million woulkd make sense
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