Forget building a new ballpark in Oakland. Do it in Las Vegas. The West Coast Athletics.

Imagine what the attendance figures could be for the Athletics baseball team for 40 home games in Oakland and 40 home games in Las Vegas.  Imagine the road team visitors that would find another excuse to come to Vegas.

Imagine "West Coast" apparel sales.


Like this idea?  Well, how frickin' feasible do you think it is for the Raiders?

From Portland to Vegas, the MLB map could change.

See more expansion, co-location and relocation talk for football, baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer on my blog (starting in Feb 2014, see table of contents/archive):  Major League/Pro Expansion <CLICK> http://prosportsexpansion.blogspot.com/ 
And please feel free to contribute your two cents with mine. 

Think "Midland" in Big League Sports

In the heart of America, even Oklahoma is represented in the big 5 sports.  Go Thunder.

Kansas might feel represented in some way because of the metropolis bordered on Missouri that is currently in the World Series.

Think about a regional team whose home games are camped in cities that don't quite make the cut for hosting every major pro league game, but could sustain some.  One week in Omaha, the next "home" game in Witchita.  Then Iowa City.  Maybe some pre-season in El Paso or the Dakotas.

Top to bottom, Minnesota and Texas are pretty well represented.

Taking a gander in between, it looks like Nebraska, Little Rock's area and Iowa would like some love.

For football, slap a stadium in between Lincoln and Omaha.
Iowa City has one of the largest stadiums in the country.
While in Kansas, the Witchita area has well over a half million people.  There is a 30k seat stadium there for use.  That would mean a higher ticket price if we're utilizing existing stadiums with limited seating.  The college facilities though, generally have more seats than pro places.

In the NBA, Omaha with Kansas City and some share time with St. Louis was housing a team.  The KansasCity-Omaha Royals are now the Sacramento Kings.  It could happen again.

College baseball is huge throughout the midlands.  Although I'm not sure how logistically difficult it would be to host MLB in non-MLB facilities, I fantasize about places like Omaha building a 35,000 seat gem to host 25 home-camp games a year.  What a great place for a facility to be used by more than just the pro players and ticket buying spectators....than the oil fields in North Dakota.

What cities would you lump into a Midland brand?  And for what sports?  Would you go as far as Albuquerque?  Maybe Boise.  Indianapolis.  As far as Midwest?

Sporting KC is within the area.  Pretty much all of the aforementioned cities and Austin are good fits for soccer.  If a team played all of it's "home" games in Midland and Austin, Texas and branded itself as Midland with an occasional game in Omaha and Cedar Rapids I bet you it would capture a large Midland Americans Football Club following.

Hockey.  Anchored in Houston, imagine the possibilities of other camps for a Midland named NHL team.  Perhaps a better anchor at this time is Austin.  Give Sioux Falls and Fargo their share of big time pro sports and if any inroads exists it's probably hockey over soccer.

Toss me some ideas, even if off-the-wall, for "expansion" travel home-"camp" team locations.

And names.
What about the Midlands Mustangs?

see: Midlakes Mustangs NHL Expansion Team

See more expansion, co-location and relocation talk for football, baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer on my blog (starting in Feb 2014, see table of contents/archive):  Major League/Pro Expansion <CLICK> http://prosportsexpansion.blogspot.com/ 
And please feel free to contribute your two cents with mine. 

The NFL North American Jets of Toronto and New York .... and more

The Toronto area has over 5.5 million people.  NYC has about twice that.

What kind of connotation does the name "Jets" carry?

Were I to be a league dictator, and if my dictatorial prowess wasn't permitted bringing the Raiders or Rams back to Los Angeles, I would surely share the Jets with L.A. for 4 football weekends.

Aside from L.A., the most gaping metropolis is Toronto.  Though, another coast to coast option would be Portland.  In my mind I've also toyed with the idea of Monterrey (New World Jets) and London (Atlantic Coast Jets) being a good landing for a share of the Jets.  Vancouver and Montreal wouldn't be bad either.  Mexico City would be in the running.

Out of all my thoughts, Los Angeles, without a franchise, at this point seems the most logical share between New York/New Jersey.  Some Coastal Jets.  Some bi-coastal jet-setter love for Atlantica and Pacifica.

My thoughts for when the league gets its ammonia dose and finally brings ball back to the city of Angels?:
Then the NFL could get bi-continental and stretch over the pond for 4 games.

Portland

Canada's biggest.

Monterrey, Mexico

The real Big Ben

And let's not whine about a 4 game loss for greater NYC.  The Giants are housed at that Meadowlands operation.  Share the love.


What do you think?  Gun to your head... . if you had to pick another port for the Jets team, where would it dock for 4 games out of the year?  If you're from New Mexico, are you feeling Albuquerque?



See more expansion, co-location and relocation talk for football, baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer on my blog (starting in Feb 2014, see table of contents/archive):  Major League/Pro Expansion <CLICK> http://prosportsexpansion.blogspot.com/ 
And please feel free to contribute your two cents with mine. 

Crossroads Racers of Indianapolis and Louisville. A nifty example of a MLB team shared for Kentucky and Indiana and beyond

Indiana and Kentucky are the 19th and 15th states admitted into the American union, respectively.

Imagine Major League Baseball in Louisville and Indianapolis, splitting time between the two cities.  I'm sure the Cubs, Cards and Reds wouldn't be overly thrilled at fans near and between them jumping ship for their own new representation of thoroughbred and indycar ilk, but rivalries are sure to bloom.

How does the "Crossroads Racers" sound?

There is some premier racing that occurs in Kentucky and Indiana.  Thoroughbreds horse and Indycar racing is in the sports lexicon.  While market sustainability for each of these metropolitan areas alone is questionable for being able to economically house a MLB franchise these days, splitting time between these two places which are about 115 miles away can be envisioned.  The metro areas of the "Gateway of the South" and Indiana's main town combined are about 3 million people.  The "Crossroads of America" with Indiana and Kentucky combined would be a population to be seen.  Would a following creep in from Tennessee and the Carolinas and other areas of out-in-the-country's outlands like Arkansas?  Yeah, Charlotte is chomping at the bit, also.

Imagine these numbers of the 15th and 19th states admitted into the union in this racing-style, adorning the back of the helmets.

While home-camping in Louisville for a game, couldn't you see a fine stallion mounted with a rifleman on the ballcap of the Racers team?

What about this bat-mobile gracing the ballcap of a home game in Indianapolis?

Louisville

Indianapolis

See more expansion, co-location and relocation talk for football, baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer on my blog (starting in Feb 2014, see table of contents/archive):  Major League/Pro Expansion <CLICK> http://prosportsexpansion.blogspot.com/ 
And please feel free to contribute your two cents with mine.

Dream up the next Northern MLS Franchise. And a Southern one.

If you know your sports and are aware of teams out there, this map might draw some questions.

Maybe as far as where is Minnesota, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Buffalo, etc etc ?????

More expansion currently slated for New York and Florida

What about a broad market for the next franchise?

What about something called "Northland"?
North Shore?
What about "Southland"?

As a dictator, I envision Minnesota's twin cities and Milwaukee for a north team.  I can also think of Boise and the occasional use of oil boom towns in the Dakotas as a co-location.

In the south, I think the likes of Louisville, New Orleans, Nashville, Charlotte and of course Atlanta are interesting.


I continually argue that a region team is needed in the major sports pro leagues to be more inclusive to a bigger fan base of the outlands by camping out in multiple locations for "home" (camp) games.  For instance, look at an instance, whether that be the NFL or MLB where a Portland/Las Vegas playing team named "West Coast" can bring in a ton of fans and sell a ton of jerseys.


See more expansion, co-location and relocation talk for football, baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer on my blog (starting in Feb 2014, see table of contents/archive):  Major League/Pro Expansion <CLICK> http://prosportsexpansion.blogspot.com/ 
And please feel free to contribute your two cents with mine. 

Will MLS embrace a "West Coast" Moniker Brand? Be the First.

I am for the West Coast Goats.  Or something. 

Chivas USA could be in the past.  New ownership looms.
If some rich guys want to miss out on whichever pro team won't capture sales on a West Coast apparel that could claim fans from a roadshow in Boise, the Bay or Albuquerque, go ahead and miss out on that.

Locations?
Carson, Cali is fine.  Throw in Las Vegas and it's even better.

Arizona, also?
What do you think?

http://talkingbaws.com/2014/02/04/top-15-sexiest-female-footballers-you-will-never-get-tired-of-watching/

West Coast Phoenix sound good?  The heart of Arizona is far enough away from Vegas, right?  http://alyceinw0nderland.deviantart.com/art/Phoenix-Tattoo-146222790

Carson, California.  Basically Los Angeles.

See more expansion, co-location and relocation talk for football, baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer on my blog (starting in Feb 2014, see table of contents/archive):  Major League/Pro Expansion <CLICK> http://prosportsexpansion.blogspot.com/ 
And please feel free to contribute your two cents with mine. 

Some NHL Expansion Talk

What I would like to see?  A successful franchise camping in multiple (even if perhaps questionable) markets in a region.  A Seattle/Portland Northwest brand team would work.  There is room to branch off in the future and skimming toes in the water before "jumping" in.  Nashville was a success and Atlanta wasn't.  Who'd uh thunk?
http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/half-of-the-nhls-rumored-expansion-cities-dont-make-sense/

http://predlines.com/2014/10/01/overview-nhl-expansion-part-one-got/

http://toomanymenonthesite.com/2014/10/03/nhl-expansionrelocation-could-portland-be-in-the-nhl/

http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/looking-at-six-potential-nhl-expansionrelocation-destinations-from-las-vegas-to-hamilton/

We're pretty sure Toronto is going to deservedly get it's second franchise and some Nordique action will be played again in Quebec City.  And we'll get an American team.  Las Vegas is too questionable in many o' minds.  I'd really be for the West Coast Coyotes doing the deed in Vegas and the Northwest metropolises.  But go ahead and expand to those camp cities.  But still,....Arizona...., re-brand yourself as "Western" of some sort and share time in Austin, Texas !!!

But really, I'm for the Coyotes to expand camp to other cities as a west coast brand.  And that way the NHL could use their third chip for an expansion in the Great Lakes region with a shared team from Milwaukee to Cleveland and places in between like Cincinnati and Indianapolis.  The Great Lakes Armada or Fleet has a ring to it.

 

A lot of this is rehash of things I have already said in my blog.

prosportsexpansion.blogspot.com/ 

See more expansion, co-location and relocation talk for football, baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer on my blog http://prosportsexpansion.blogspot.com/ 

 See some samples below or INDEX

The Biggest Calls for New Big League Teams 

West Coast Whales NHL Team in Seattle, Portland and Las Vegas 

Canadian Band - NHL Travel Tag Team for Outlander Canada 

More Canadian NHL teams 

"Northern Lights" NHL Team a New Expansion Team for Seattle and Portland. Try that on for Size. 

NHL Team in Austin and Las Vegas called the West Coast Cattle Drive 

Austin, Texas. MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL or MLS Next ????? Answer: #NHLExpansion 

Florida Panthers can be ridiculous. Co-Locate the Team. Rebrand. Southlakes Fisherman. #NHLExpansion 

MLS Expansion. A team called "Upstate". More Upstate New York NHL also? 

Yankees Hockey: The Great Lakes/North Coast Hockey Team. A New NHL Franchise and Concept 

East Coast Whalers of Norfolk and Hartford. A Two-Place Team in the NHL 

Milwaukee Bay in the NHL

Minor League Soccer. A Travel Team Representing Two Towns or more.
Dakota NHL Team
The NHL in Lincoln-Omaha. A Big League Team for Nebraska
NHL Regional Coverage. For Now. West__ South __ Great Lakes
East Coast Feds. Imagine this NHL Franchise
NHL - If each franchise had to camp in two cities... .
Midlakes Mustangs NHL Expansion Team 

Minor League Baseball in a Major League Town

Kansas City
Brooklyn
Tampa
Florence, KY

These are but a few cities with a major league team in very close proximity to minor league clubs.
And in Tampa, it's called the Yankees.  Makes ya' sick, huh?

The independent league teams listed are the KC T-Bones and Florence (Greater Cinci) Freedom.  Cincinnati is sandwiched in between two of their farm cities (Louisville and Dayton).

Sustainability of the minors in a major league town?:
http://www.mainlinemedianews.com/articles/2014/07/20/sports/doc53cc679273a62965871413.txt?viewmode=fullstory


Minor league sports:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minor_league

What other mentionable blatherings are there?
http://prosportsexpansion.blogspot.com/2014/07/minor-to-major-team-proximity-and.html

Phillies minor league affiliate in-state.  A Philliate.

See more expansion and relocation talk for football, baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer on my blog (starting in Feb 2014, see table of contents/archive):  Major League/Pro Expansion <CLICK> http://prosportsexpansion.blogspot.com/  The first post lays out some of the concept.

And please feel free to contribute your two cents with mine.