[BrendenMM]

It's true! Michigan deserves more than one city to have pro sports teams.
Here are some things that could happen.

NFL:
Name(s): Grand Rapids Kings, Grand Rapids Officers, ?
Stadium: Deltaplex Arena, probably: They would have to create a new stadium, all the stadiums in the area are not that large.

NBA:
Name(s): Grand Rapids Parrots, ?
Stadium: Van Andel Arena

MLB:
Name(s): Grand Rapids Seagulls, ?
Stadium: Fifth Third Ballpark - Would be perfect!
I would vote a MLB team the best. Grand Rapids would be perfect
for a new MLB team.

NHL:
Name(s): Grand Rapids Surfers, ?
Stadium: Van Andel arena, or create a new one.

-BrendenMM

[green_mariner]

I would be more in favor of Major League Soccer.
Name(s): FC Grand Rapids Windmills

[Bhaalspawn]

It's a fun idea, but could Grand Rapids really support a professional sports team? There must be numerous larger cities that don't have any.

[ForStarters]

Love the idea... but can't say the same for your choice of names. The Seagulls? And, why on earth the Parrots?

It'd be cool if Michigan had a professional sports in-state rivalry. To be sure, with the talent on the Griffins, they could probably survive as pro team right now.

[belleislerunner]

The Windmills? Might run into marketing issues. That team would blow!

[danielj72]

Since GR is the nicer of Michigans two largest cities I say we move the teams we have in Detroit to GR. Change thier names as well, the Michigan Tigers, the Michigan Lions etc. I think the name Detroit should be removed from anything that represents the entire state. Detroit has brought shame upon our entire state because of the conditions they have created in that city. They do not deserve to have a sports team carry thier name when the entire state supports these teams. The Tigers, Lions and Redwings are Michigans teams, not just Detroits.

[MittenDweller82]

Originally Posted by danielj72

Since GR is the nicer of Michigans two largest cities I say we move the teams we have in Detroit to GR. Change thier names as well, the Michigan Tigers, the Michigan Lions etc. I think the name Detroit should be removed from anything that represents the entire state. Detroit has brought shame upon our entire state because of the conditions they have created in that city. They do not deserve to have a sports team carry thier name when the entire state supports these teams. The Tigers, Lions and Redwings are Michigans teams, not just Detroits.

Really? Just because you dislike Detroit means GR gets all of the sports teams? Wow, years and years of history (remember, Detroit was not always "bad") gone. And "Detroit" did not create shame for anyone, if you remember almost every area of Michigan is involved the manufacture of autos and everything that makes Michigan...Michigan. They do not "deserve" a sports team? Just what denotes deserving a sports team? Whether you like it or not, Detroit is a central part of Michigan's future and most of Michigan's population calls its metro area home.

[magellan]

Grand Rapids isn't big enough and doesn't have the financial resources to pull off a professional sports team (yet). The Van Andel Arena isn't big enough for NBA, which would probably be the most likely pro sports team to come first, and it's cost prohibitive to expand now (about $50 Million I heard was the last estimate).

Richard Devos does own the Orlando Magic, and people have jokingly said he should relocate them to his hometown, but that would probably never happen.

[beachmouse]

They're one of the largest American media markets without a major level and actually larger than a few areas that do. (Buffalo, Memphis, Oklahoma City, New Orleans, and Jacksonville.) And they've got a 2 million+ population base within an hour's drive which beats any NHL team outside of the Leafs, Habs, and Canucks.

The questions are a)the arena expnasion issue. Is there a way to get Van Andel to 18K+ (seems like the exapnsion design I remember was getting it to the 15K range for competition) and b) would people pay for the tickets? The Whitecaps and Griffs do well in part because they're an affordable family night out. How many people are willing to pay 5x current ticket prices, and in the case of the Griffins for an on-ice product that isn't going to be 5x better than what's there now with the existing AAA level team?

Having said that, if there was a more affordable way of getting Van Andel up to major leave levels, I think they could pull off an NBA or NHL team there.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

They're one of the largest American media markets without a major level and actually larger than a few areas that do. (Buffalo, Memphis, Oklahoma City, New Orleans, and Jacksonville.) And they've got a 2 million+ population base within an hour's drive which beats any NHL team outside of the Leafs, Habs, and Canucks.

The questions are a)the arena expnasion issue. Is there a way to get Van Andel to 18K+ (seems like the exapnsion design I remember was getting it to the 15K range for competition) and b) would people pay for the tickets? The Whitecaps and Griffs do well in part because they're an affordable family night out. How many people are willing to pay 5x current ticket prices, and in the case of the Griffins for an on-ice product that isn't going to be 5x better than what's there now with the existing AAA level team?

Having said that, if there was a more affordable way of getting Van Andel up to major leave levels, I think they could pull off an NBA or NHL team there.

I think that's pretty optimistic that you'd be able to pull from that population. Many of those metro areas are just way bigger than GR.