NBA Expansion

[nomansland]

Seattle and Vancouver are next up IMO.

Doesn't make sense geographically to expand in Seattle and Vancouver as they are so close to each other. They would need to redo all the divisions and move two teams to the east which leads to other problems like distance and travel.

2/3 of Minnesota, Memphis, or New Orleans go East. Travel problem solved.

[nynj2k]

RANKING BEST CITIES FOR NBA EXPANSION

1. Seattle: Obviously Sonics should of never left.

2. Kansas City: Great sports town, and while St. Louis is watching hockey, KC would be watching basketball, Missouri would guarantee to be busy year round in both major cities.

3. Las Vegas: The Raiders are moving there, the NHL now has a team there, what could stop the NBA from going? UNLV? There's football and hockey in Vegas why not basketball.

4. Pittsburgh/Cincinnati: The central/midwest region loves their basketball. Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, Indy, Minnesota. Those 2 cities love and support their current teams they'll love a basketball team.

5. Vancouver: No brainer, east Canada has the Raptors, west Canada lost the Grizzlies years ago. After they lost their team, Seattle lost theirs, which means the next closest city to see an NBA game is in Portland.

Personal New Jersey: I'm sick of watching the Knicks being a disaster every year, the Nets left Jersey for Brooklyn, they are complete garbage, and I'm not rooting for no Philadelphia team. I don't care if it's Atlantic City, Jersey City, Newark, or back in East Rutherford, Jersey needs a team again.

[GatorbaitDD]

Vegas & Seattle imo

[Cactus Jack]

Still salty.

Seattle city leaders failed to get the job done.

I'd rather see a team go somewhere that has no other professional franchises.

Maybe Birmingham, they are the 40th ranked TV market size.

Why are you still salty? You kept your team.

[MrBaynes]

As a Vegas resident, there was a time where I would vote Las Vegas, but the demographics just don't add up. The city is not big enough to host NFL, NHL and NBA teams. The NFL will thrive here because of the limited # of games, and the idea that opposing fans (who travel well anyway) will travel to Vegas to see one game. Sure casino hosts will comp some tickets for bigger players, but the local population and economy are not strong enough for 3 teams in addition to everything else the town has to offer. The entertainment dollar in Vegas is stretched very thin as is, there is simply too much competition. Vegas would support a winner, but if the team struggles, they will go elsewhere, and QUICKLY. UNLV Basketball is big, but last year they struggled and went from a team that sold-out routinely, to a team that sometimes had as few as 3000-5000 in attendance for home games.

If the NHL and NFL had not expanded first, I would say Vegas is the ideal location and can support one team. 3 is simply too many, even if the NBA basically lives in Vegas during the offseason.

[bmurph128]

AUSTIN, TX!!!

Austin would be a better option than any listed here; but there would be so much opposition to adding another Texas team (including from the other three Texas teams).

Good city, growing, good corporate base, lots of disposable income, no pro sport competition (not including UT).

This was actually going to be my rationale for Columbus.

Only have an NHL team, it's by far the largest City in Ohio, and we would draw quite a few of the Cincinnati sports fans that don't want to be Cavs fans.

Plus it's one of the best cities in the country and one of the best in the world..

[The Penguin]

Columbus

1) The Columbus television market was the #3 market for Finals ratings this year. Obviously there was "local" interest for the Cavs, but citywide there's a high interest in basketball.

2) It's a diehard sports city, routinely ranking high in television ratings of all sporting events

3) A state of the art arena is already built, housing the Blue Jackets, NCAA tournament games, Cavs exhibition games, etc

4) It's the largest metro area in the US that does not have a NFL / NBA / MLB team, almost double the size of Memphis / Salt Lake City / Oklahoma City / New Orleans

5) It's tied for 5th for housing the most Fortune 500 companies




Dan Gilbert wouldn't let it happen, but bringing in Columbus would be a home run for the league as you would have a passionate fanbase with nothing but college sports vying for the attention.

[Coachcavplaya23]

In the NBA 2k games I always created teams using different cities I think the NBA could expand to, except for Anchorage. Names are not particularly related to anything to that location, just things I came up with.

Cincinnati Comets
Anchorage Wolverines
Las Vegas Matadors
Nashville Hogs
Austin Rustlers
Raleigh Maulers


names suck, i know lol

It would be the Cincinnati Royals. Would be nice but it wont happen here.

[zronv7]

Flint, MI would be a great place imo


The Flint "Biohazard"

sounds good

[Coachcavplaya23]

Columbus

1) The Columbus television market was the #3 market for Finals ratings this year. Obviously there was "local" interest for the Cavs, but citywide there's a high interest in basketball.

2) It's a diehard sports city, routinely ranking high in television ratings of all sporting events

3) A state of the art arena is already built, housing the Blue Jackets, NCAA tournament games, Cavs exhibition games, etc

4) It's the largest metro area in the US that does not have a NFL / NBA / MLB team, almost double the size of Memphis / Salt Lake City / Oklahoma City / New Orleans

5) It's tied for 5th for housing the most Fortune 500 companies




Dan Gilbert wouldn't let it happen, but bringing in Columbus would be a home run for the league as you would have a passionate fanbase with nothing but college sports vying for the attention.

Columbus is way too close to Cleveland and Indiana. I think most teams are allowed to advertise within a 75 to 100 mile radius of their respective towns. There will some overlap for cities north of Columbus. I think it would do well at first but it will surely slow down IMO. Louisville might be a better destination.

[LouisLitt]

Jesus why?

Aren't there already enough trash teams in the league?

[The Penguin]

Columbus

1) The Columbus television market was the #3 market for Finals ratings this year. Obviously there was "local" interest for the Cavs, but citywide there's a high interest in basketball.

2) It's a diehard sports city, routinely ranking high in television ratings of all sporting events

3) A state of the art arena is already built, housing the Blue Jackets, NCAA tournament games, Cavs exhibition games, etc

4) It's the largest metro area in the US that does not have a NFL / NBA / MLB team, almost double the size of Memphis / Salt Lake City / Oklahoma City / New Orleans

5) It's tied for 5th for housing the most Fortune 500 companies




Dan Gilbert wouldn't let it happen, but bringing in Columbus would be a home run for the league as you would have a passionate fanbase with nothing but college sports vying for the attention.

Columbus is way too close to Cleveland and Indiana. I think most teams are allowed to advertise within a 75 to 100 mile radius of their respective towns. There will some overlap for cities north of Columbus. I think it would do well at first but it will surely slow down IMO. Louisville might be a better destination.

Lakers - Clippers
Nets - Knicks - 76ers
Bucks - Bulls


All closer to each other than Columbus to Cleveland or Indianapolis. I understand residents being set in as Cavs fans, but I think having something of their own would convert a lot of people.

[Z Cabarkapa]

I have long been in favor of going to 32 teams with new franchises in Seattle and Mexico City. They join the Western Conference and New Orleans moves to the Eastern Conference.

[Run PDX]

I would say Seattle and Vegas, with New Orleans moving East.

4 teams per division, 16 teams per conference.

Simple.

[Coachcavplaya23]

Columbus

1) The Columbus television market was the #3 market for Finals ratings this year. Obviously there was "local" interest for the Cavs, but citywide there's a high interest in basketball.

2) It's a diehard sports city, routinely ranking high in television ratings of all sporting events

3) A state of the art arena is already built, housing the Blue Jackets, NCAA tournament games, Cavs exhibition games, etc

4) It's the largest metro area in the US that does not have a NFL / NBA / MLB team, almost double the size of Memphis / Salt Lake City / Oklahoma City / New Orleans

5) It's tied for 5th for housing the most Fortune 500 companies




Dan Gilbert wouldn't let it happen, but bringing in Columbus would be a home run for the league as you would have a passionate fanbase with nothing but college sports vying for the attention.

Columbus is way too close to Cleveland and Indiana. I think most teams are allowed to advertise within a 75 to 100 mile radius of their respective towns. There will some overlap for cities north of Columbus. I think it would do well at first but it will surely slow down IMO. Louisville might be a better destination.

Lakers - Clippers
Nets - Knicks - 76ers
Bucks - Bulls


All closer to each other than Columbus to Cleveland or Indianapolis. I understand residents being set in as Cavs fans, but I think having something of their own would convert a lot of people.

I know these cities are closer but these cities are all in the top 5 for most populated cities in the country. They can sustain 2 teams easily in their markets. Some may convert to whatever team they share but they need to make sure it will be sustainable for along period of time. It will catch a buzz at first but after that remains to be seen.

[jbent87]

don't cry if you're a crappy small market team who can't appeal to FAs. Tank and draft your own homegrown studs. Paul George gave the Pacers 7 years and they didn't win. He's now an All Star and set to get paid - why wouldn't he chose where he wants to do that at if everyteam is knocking on his door?

[Sothron]

I'm hoping Seattle and Vancouver. That was a rivalry that never got the chance to really develop.

[BernteB]

As a Vegas resident, there was a time where I would vote Las Vegas, but the demographics just don't add up. The city is not big enough to host NFL, NHL and NBA teams. The NFL will thrive here because of the limited # of games, and the idea that opposing fans (who travel well anyway) will travel to Vegas to see one game. Sure casino hosts will comp some tickets for bigger players, but the local population and economy are not strong enough for 3 teams in addition to everything else the town has to offer. The entertainment dollar in Vegas is stretched very thin as is, there is simply too much competition. Vegas would support a winner, but if the team struggles, they will go elsewhere, and QUICKLY. UNLV Basketball is big, but last year they struggled and went from a team that sold-out routinely, to a team that sometimes had as few as 3000-5000 in attendance for home games.

If the NHL and NFL had not expanded first, I would say Vegas is the ideal location and can support one team. 3 is simply too many, even if the NBA basically lives in Vegas during the offseason.

i would assume that 41 nba games could easily be sold out by tourists alone. the nba is maybe the most popular sports league in the world (yes, more popular than every european football league). everyone i know would want to watch an nba game, if he ever makes it to the us. the league lives off its players and in no other sport individuals are hyped as much as in (nba) basketball.

[Cactus Jack]

the nba is maybe the most popular sports league in the world (yes, more popular than every european football league). everyone i know would want to watch an nba game, if he ever makes it to the us. the league lives off its players and in no other sport individuals are hyped as much as in (nba) basketball.

No it's not.

[nomansland]

AUSTIN, TX!!!

Austin would be a better option than any listed here; but there would be so much opposition to adding another Texas team (including from the other three Texas teams).

Good city, growing, good corporate base, lots of disposable income, no pro sport competition (not including UT).

This was actually going to be my rationale for Columbus.

Only have an NHL team, it's by far the largest City in Ohio, and we would draw quite a few of the Cincinnati sports fans that don't want to be Cavs fans.

Plus it's one of the best cities in the country and one of the best in the world..

I was just in Columbus and loved it. Great, perhaps underappreciated city.

But it would be pretty low on my priority list given Ohio already has a team.