Sports teams: Cities that need one, Cities that should lose one
Muddy
USA
I was recently at an Oakland A's game at the Oakland Coliseum and I have to admit for an at the time first place team, there might not have been even 7,000 fans at the park. It had a very minor league feel to it. Now they've been talking about a new ballpark in Oakland for a while now, at least 20 years. If they can't finally get it, they really need to leave. And it got me thinking, where would they go? What other places really shouldn't have their teams and what are some places that should have one? Any sport.
Possibly add:
Nashville: For Baseball. It's really a growing city that super popular with young people moving too. But still not really not big town. The other teams in Nashville get good support, I don't think it's the worst idea and at least for baseball, only Atlanta is in the south, not counting Florida.
Charlotte: For Baseball. Same kind of thing. Their triple A teams is usually the top draw in the minors every year. Growing city.
Austin/San Antonio: I think it's only a matter of time. Maybe they are considered part of the Houston market. But I always think to myself it's crazy they only have the Spurs. That won't last. Big time expansion area.
Montreal: For baseball. They always talk about this one, and it looks like the Rays will play some games up there. But it was not really a roaring success the first time around. IMO they would need a new stadium if they were going to try round 2.
Houston: For Hockey. It's too big a market to not have all 4 sports.
Possibly subtract:
If you were to take all the sports teams up today and redistribute them where they should be based on population, do you think places like Buffalo, Cleveland or Pittsburgh would get football teams? Maybe not, but you just could never take those away, they have some of the most die hard fans in the NFL. Although there has been rumblings over the years about the Bills leaving.
Tampa/Miami: For baseball at least. I don't think you could based on the fact that Florida is growing like a weed. But seeing playoff games not sell out is just a odd thing to see.
Las Vegas: I know they just got 2 but I don't get the putting a team in Vegas thing. We'll see how things work out over the years but Vegas has like it's immediate suburbs and then there's absolutely nothing for miles and miles. Tough to draw fans to the ballpark when they don't live near there. It's kind of transient population too, I haven't been a believer but lets see if I'm wrong.
How about y'all out there
Possibly add:
Nashville: For Baseball. It's really a growing city that super popular with young people moving too. But still not really not big town. The other teams in Nashville get good support, I don't think it's the worst idea and at least for baseball, only Atlanta is in the south, not counting Florida.
Charlotte: For Baseball. Same kind of thing. Their triple A teams is usually the top draw in the minors every year. Growing city.
Austin/San Antonio: I think it's only a matter of time. Maybe they are considered part of the Houston market. But I always think to myself it's crazy they only have the Spurs. That won't last. Big time expansion area.
Montreal: For baseball. They always talk about this one, and it looks like the Rays will play some games up there. But it was not really a roaring success the first time around. IMO they would need a new stadium if they were going to try round 2.
Houston: For Hockey. It's too big a market to not have all 4 sports.
Possibly subtract:
If you were to take all the sports teams up today and redistribute them where they should be based on population, do you think places like Buffalo, Cleveland or Pittsburgh would get football teams? Maybe not, but you just could never take those away, they have some of the most die hard fans in the NFL. Although there has been rumblings over the years about the Bills leaving.
Tampa/Miami: For baseball at least. I don't think you could based on the fact that Florida is growing like a weed. But seeing playoff games not sell out is just a odd thing to see.
Las Vegas: I know they just got 2 but I don't get the putting a team in Vegas thing. We'll see how things work out over the years but Vegas has like it's immediate suburbs and then there's absolutely nothing for miles and miles. Tough to draw fans to the ballpark when they don't live near there. It's kind of transient population too, I haven't been a believer but lets see if I'm wrong.
How about y'all out there
Got something to say?
Start your own discussion
14 comments
Cape Coral-Fort Myers is the most populous city in Florida, but all they have is Twins and Rded Sox spring training plus the MiLB Mussels. (It's too fucking hot, anyway).
Because of baseball’s schedule, mostly night games and few days off, a much larger population is needed to support a MLB team compared to the NFL or NBA. A study was done several years ago and the absolute minimum required metro population living within 30 minutes of the stadium is 2 million people.
Sure there are other factors involved, but using population alone, Charlotte would the best choice in the US. I will discuss Montreal later.
The only other cities meeting that criteria would be San Antonio, Las Vegas, Portland, Indianapolis and Nashville. (Nashville as of the last count didn’t quite make it but they may be there now). And to be precise, there are a couple of California Statistical Metropolitan Areas also like Sacramento and Riverside that are 2 mil plus but I didn’t include them because Cali is already saturated with teams.
Montreal is a unique situation. Their popular warrants it. I believe it’s higher than US city without a team. But in book they had their shot and blew it. I was around when the team started in 1969. They built their fan base during the 70’s and 80’s but then things really went south. Look up their attendance the last 4-5 years of existence. Less than 10,000 fans per game. You can’t support a baseball team today with attendance like that. There are high school football teams in Texas that draw more than that. A hard NO to Montreal.
A city that often gets overlooked is Mexico City
Personally I think baseball is at a good level now. Interest in the game is declining among younger kids which is a shame because I think it’s the best game around. Two more cities max. Las Vegas abd Charlotte would be my predictions
Other than that, I’ve wondered if the A’s might move to Charlotte.
Las Vegas is an interesting example. One could argue both sides of whether or not Las Vegas vacationers and convention goers will choose to attend a football game that will take them away from the casinos for several hours. Only time will tell.
The result is it doesn't really matter if a team wins or loses..the $ is made elsewhere. Makes it much tougher to be a fan for sure.
Portland could be another spot but I don't if it feels big enough for a baseball team.
If Oakland does move, just keep those uniforms for the love of God. With the white shoes, that green and gold looks sharp, best uniforms in sports. To me the Austin A's could be a thing in the future.