Collaborative Nations. A mashup

247sports.com/college

MLS going into 2020

Brought to you in reference by one of the greatest websites in the universe:

www.wikipedia.com

MiLB (Minor) League Contraction. Downsizing and a Dream League

cbssports.com /mlb/news/mlb-discussing-potential-overhaul-of-minor-league-system-that-would-cut-more-than-40-teams-report-says

ballparkdigest.com /2019/12/05/the-last-great-milb-contraction

Let me tell you what I've been hot stoving, simmering on my proverbial stove:  I was thinking of a consolidation on baseball in the city of Las Vegas.  Perhaps this place could hub the Dream League.  

I was thinking of almost 3 shifts of baseball almost around the clock in town.  I think there's a good mix of touristy' Americans and baseball fans that attend to town for perhaps an unconventional boost and timing of their fun.

Future National Flagball League Visual

In an alternate universe

The San Diego and Cincinnati Zoos are neato.
I'm not disparaging Minnesota or Indianapolis.  I do like a white guy effigy for the future Washington Warriors.  And in another sport, the Cleveland Engines is appropriate.
The Sur Toros, or "Southern Bulls", in Monterrey would be a good Mexican balance to the NFL landing in Toronto and/or other CFL stadiums as a Nord Force (Mounty nod), or Canadian Power.  A move and rebrand of the Jags in Louisville as the Kentucky Downs.  Joe Montana Biden seems to be staring at the Jets mobility alongside Udapimp, Idaho.
And I'm not making a happy joke about Rice-uh-Roniville.  But Oakland should get a nod in the rename to California 49ers.

Oilers again?

Feetball

Go Bengals Go ?

Birmingham or 'Bama has a ring

Map Gaps: The Non Population

There's a barren wall from the stretches of Alabama and Mississippi, through Oklahoma, up to Idaho.  It's a slash through the middle of the country.  The NBA has a flag planted in OK, but not MO with its two pro towns.  Sure, if this slash splatters we can talk about the likes of New Mexico and Kentucky, but I'm thinking about contiguity right now.

ProSportsExpansion.blogspot.com         GapMaps

A fissure in the map.  A slice of America.  A sliced up America.  A river of wild and wheat, and high hills.  Some places tote one or more big league teams.  One day Oklahoma will get their big want - football.  And the NBA can bounce around KC and St. Louis once again.  And with Omaha again.

Is there a travelling team to hoist a flag for these people who have to stretch out for their embrace of the big time?
Is there an Omaha-Dakota Diesel on ice?
Could there be a Wild West Drive?  Could the last leg of that squadron's home be Portland?
A West Coast brand could take on time in San Diego and Seattle on the hardwood, with some preseason action in AK or HI.  Use your imagination to get your town in on it, even if it's the minors.

A river of representationlessness runs through it.

Okie Sooners and Cowboys unite

Soccer and Team Name Scramble

St. Louis is seeking input from the crowd: mls4thelou.com
The ball moves fast in today's MLS.

Maybe one day something will culminate in Detroit or Arizona, such as the Drive or Arsenal.
Traditional names are okay, but they can also be played out.  If another team lands in Texas, I'm all about the unconventional, like some American smartassness such as Texas Divided.  Missouri Divided may be a bit much for St. Louis, and Sporting is an alliteration stolen by its cross state rival, but I also dig one-word tagging a town's team.  GATEWAY would be the bees' knees.  Or Midway.  Or Expedition.  What about something cool for Charlotte one day such as Air Charlotte?  Team Carolina.  There is always city-name insert animal_________.

Say my name.  Say a name.

Am I a baseball traditionalist unwilling to deviate from the standard naming in the smaller sport of roundball?  Do I have a single unconventional team name suggestion for future baseball.  Baseball really is the only sport without regional name, so something cool like New England will be Boston's future NL team.  A common expansion theme in my blog is two-place teams.  Tennessee Sounds would be a great MLB team splitting home camp time in Memphis and Nashville.  Southland Band would be a neat name for a Nashville Charlotte connection/collaborative.

For the NHL I've mentioned the success of the ice game in Atlanta splitting time w/ Austin as the Southlakes Fisherman.  Or Truckers.  Think about that wide swath of geographic viewership, but especially apparel sales.

Seattle NHL.  St. Louis and Austin soccer.  Your future second team.  Whatcha' got?

TV Markets. Bigger factor than the stands.

Aesthetics for less of a crowd is another thing.

Where the next markets will root big time.
Check out the TV markets.  It's the saving grace for places like Tampa, and Florida baseball in general.
wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_television_stations_in_North_America_by_media_market

foxbusiness.com/features/on-declining-mlb-attendance-former-executive-says-substantive-changes-must-be-made

They make money if you watch.  Here, there, or anywhere.  And if you don't know what I'm talking about, since 2012 television revenue for the sports leagues pretty much exceeds that made from ticket (gate) money.

Dayton Dragons brand should get an Upgrade

How about Reds switch Affiliate brands to new Minor Leagues?

The Dayton Dragons brand can go Double-A and be in the Eastern League or Southern.

This Reds affiliate can come up from a Low-A brand, up a couple notches, switching places with the Chattanooga Lookouts (who are currently Dub-A for the Reds again).  I know this would require moving some pieces around.  Which parts of the board would you move?  But I'm all for the Lookouts playing the Hot Rods team in Kentucky as part of the eastern division in the Midwestern League.

Ballpark Digest, Dayton

Less minor league clubs?

It surely would ease up on baseball logistics for the professional system map-wide, especially with concerns to expansion clubs coming up with 6 to 8 new teams.  It would be harder to run a hockey-like shared team system for baseball and player time.  But I've always said the facilities in Florida and Arizona could always get more use, morning, noon to night.

fivethirtyeight.com/features/do-we-even-need-minor-league-baseball

Moneyball through tech ball efficiency ??

Could be a CFL ticker tape future. Versus American CFL Franchises

West Coast host the Blue Bombers this year in Portland
Southern Musicals take on the Stampeders

Wild West Drive have their bye based in San Antonio
Ohio Squardrons  v Roughriders


Brooklyn Trollies v. Alouettes
Tiger-Cats take on the Upstate Icers

Lions @ Southlakes Fishermen.  This year it's in Austin.
Eskimos host the Oakland Talls
Redblacks play Omaha Trucking
Argonauts play home against Alabama Elephants

wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Football_League

More Americana comes to the Field of Dreams corn field in Iowa and elsewhere.

thelines.com/mlb-field-of-dreams-game

• Puerto Rico series – April 28-30: New York Mets versus Miami Marlins
• London series – June 13 and 14: New York Yankees versus Boston Red Sox
• Field of Dreams game – Aug. 13: New York Yankees versus Chicago White Sox
• Little League Classic (Williamsport, PA) – Aug. 23: Boston Red Sox versus Baltimore Orioles

And St. Louis got an MLS team and stuff.

Tampa should be Triple-A

Look, I'm saying it.

Exposed

The size of Tampa's TV market is the only thing saving its stay in MLB,... or sludging the talks along anyway.  It'd probably be better in Orlando.  They could play in both places and be the Florida Coastals, though I'd prefer one team at this time in Florida..... the Florida Marlins.

Be the Expos Triple-A town with a sexier distraction of a ballyard.  Hate me all you want.

  Any better unconventional ideas?

Ottawa thinking ahead...

ballparkdigest.com/2019/08/02/should-ottawa-plan-for-mlbs-potential-montreal-return

...for the return of sole Montreal ball and a corresponding Triple-A affiliate.

They play in a ballpark that opened up in 1993 for what was their Triple-A team.  They lasted until 2007, and were Montreal affiliated up to 2002.  If you remember, '93 was the Marlins and Rockies inaugarals.

Bullshitting around, I like a name like the Ottawa Diamonds.  It reminds me of Ice.  But I'm certainly for something crazier, unconventional and with less decorum.  Like what?

Rally Durham for MLB club ?

cbssports.com/mlb/news/the-business-behind-mlb-expansion-portland-montreal-and

-raleigh-taking-different-approaches-to-landing-a-team

CBS Sports shot below

MLB All-star game in December

Holiday spirit.  Let's hear it.  July in Christmas.
I'm not sure what the vibe is from the players and their union on the All-Star stuff.  Some dudes like the press and others enjoy the mid-Summer heat break.

But man I miss the piss outta' baseball in December.
And yes, I know it'd have to be in like what???  Arizona and Florida.  It'd have to be domed right?  Do it the weekend after the Super Bowl.  Yeah.
Maybe as a concession to the Tampa-Montreal deal if it comes to fruition, that space ship in St. Pete can host the classic for the first few years.

Or maybe an All-Star Game II every year?  Some guys have a hot second half.  Let them warm up my Christmas viewing.  It could be an overseas spectacle.  Warm it up in Monterrey or Mexico City for awhile.  Extend a fig leaf one year to Havana.  Let them whiff the capitalism.  Spit ball something with me here.

What about a Wild West brand headquartered in Portland?

There's no MLB in Portland.  No NFL or NHL.

And all those leagues mentioned are not in the big time from the Dakotas, through Montana to Boise either.

And imagine the ambiance of a special backdrop and gathering of traveled tailgaters bringing their wanderlust.  If you build it up for a weekend they will come.

People would do that for the right brand, would they not?

4 or 6 games at the Big House in Portland for football, and perhaps since that city has more pizazz environmentally it could bring the multi-use stadiums back.  A retractable roof and some hockey could get glorious.

And 2 Sundays in Boise.  Until Salt Lake City lands a squad, it can be part of Wild West.
Ummm, Vancouver.  Those showing their Wild West pride versus the establishment Seahawks.

Don't forget the outlands.  Try a game in the western Dakotas.  Sturgis does a gathering folks know of.  Due north of that is Williston.  And don't forget the other sports.  A big league game could cast an overflowing draw at the home of the Billings Mustangs.  Americana spilling from the stands all over town.  Major League Baseball as more than a midseason parade.  A gathering outside of the gates.

Boise HQ2.  Wild West Wolf Pack on ice.  Wild West Trucker baseball playing games stretching from Portland to Omaha.  Do an actual game at the site of Field of Dreams. Tailgaters in all of these sports could call themselves the Wagon Train.  Does Independence sound like a franchise for what amounts to a camping-out traveling team in football?  Or does The Band sound better?  Brigade?

Tell these leagues to literally be out of the box.

Maybe you're looking at me like I'm crazy.  Or maybe like it might actually work.

My MADdenized Map of New NFL Turf. 

Multi-Use Stadium

Okie Oh Yeah

Which league will follow the NBA into Oklahoma first?  This looks like the precedence to me.  Which Major League, diamond or ice,.... or MLS?  Well, soccer may get there before big league baseball, but I wouldn't be surprised if it plays out this way.

Two-Place team coming to MLB

I'm just going to leave this right here.  Rays a part-time place team...

Forbes.com: Montreal Split Affects As Many As Four Cities

East Coast Expos.  Rays?

The Montreal-Tampa Internationals ?

North American Rays?
Don't stop there, MLB.  Save Oakland by parking the West Coast A's part time in Vegas and/or Portland.

Tale of Two or more Cities.  I'm more for the Florida Marlins again on both grapefruit coasts, but this can be an evolving process where my Northland Lumbjacks (or North Country) expand to Montreal and Vancouver.

My thoughts are this:  Montreal might in fact be the worse city of its scale to flirt this concept with.  I'm not sure they'll sing the tune of part-time lovers.  It seems better of an idea with a Canadian city. Or maybe I'm wrong and they will enjoy the international aspect, though I thought it neater for Vegas, but geographically this eastern standard thing is wiser.

Albuquerque and Santa Fe Sporting

Ah skeet skeet motherwhat.....playing in the seats

Broader Base Marketing

The Oh whoa is Oakland, O- Town jerseys are good.

So are the North ones.

dailyhive.com/toronto/new-raptors-red-north-jersey

 

Ohio Hardwood

Whenever that is....

When the likes of Louisville MLB, ...some more Triple-A teams

With international cities like Quebec City, Vancouver and Monterrey stepping up to fill in Triple-A expansion slots of the future for the likes of MLB Charlotte, San Antonio, Nashville and Vegas further down the road, this game of expanding by up to 8 more pro teams per one MLB expansion franchise is a finite dance.  So, why not have a Triple-A game before or after the Big Show one at the big show park?

So, when Kentucky gets big league ball, like with lets say a Louisville Lumber club, the Bats could remain in town as their Trip-A affiliate,.... and even play in the big house.  Cincinnati can then get an expansion Trip-A team.  The Ohio Oaks could be their affiliate splitting time for home games between Great American Ball Park and the Dayton Dragons stadium.  Does Ohio Pros sound more snazzy?  What about their team name as the Cincinnati Natives?  Ohio Big Dancers.

On April 27, the Hartford Yard Goats changed their name to Steamed Cheeseburgers for a game.

click: Minor League Expansion

You rooting for Utah

You got something better?  Real jazzy.

Evoke Possibility

How do these make you feel?

Green Bay Packers

          ...possibilities of small town mecca?

Kansas City-Omaha Kings

.....tag teaming again?

Golden State Warriors

....a better and more flavorful geographical name

New England Patriots

....a wider swath of country

Carolina Hurricanes

 ....regional appeal

Minnesota United FC

....all state in all sports

NASCAR Part Two

This is mapping more of and continuance of this post:  ProSportsExpansion.blogspot.com_2016_NASCAR-is-spectacle-i-suppose

I've added some spots to the map.
Little Rock or Memphis?  Tough one.  I suppose the tipping of my preference will go in the spirit of expanding.  Memphis has stuff.  Let's lean Little Rock.

I'll forgo the Inland Empire for the likes of Riverside or San Bernadino for now.  The environment and all.  And proximity of LA and Sin City.
I gave a big win for bolstering Boise instead of Washington state, even though there is a track near Seattle (Evergreen Speedway).  Again, the environment and all.  Portland closed their's earlier this century.

Reference.com.  Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, VA is the shortest track at a little over 0.52 miles.

Look at this list of old track closures, and other venues like Xfinity ("minor league") and IndyCar .  The spots are already in place.  wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NASCAR_tracks#Defunct_or_closed_tracks




What about Alaska?  There are smaller venues going on that could be bolstered up.

Is nine additions good for now?

Indiana in it

Ya' dig?

Ohio on Ice

I really want Cleveland to share a Great Lakes squad with Milwaukee.  I'd love to be a part of it with Indy and Cinci too.

Nebraska Big Time

You got something better?  Express?

Titling Kentucky Teams

What?  You got something better than Louisville Lumber Co. or Louisville City FC?
The Stable?

Expansive Logo. C-Bus

Choo Chooooooo
Chugga Chugga, Chugga Chugga.

Get on the Bus.

From patch form to main logo, it has been a part of the year 2000 birthed B-jacks in one form or another since 2003.

Jump on the Wagon.  Get with Columbus, also known as the C-bus.
Ohio is full of big C's.  So, major league places like Cincinnati and Cleveland, and most especially unrepresented towns and cities of big time lore can appreciate a sign of inclusion by the Capital City BJs.  What better than a state flag?

Far-off Ticker Tape NBA

Kentucky Horseman @ Cincinnati Heights
Sonics @ Vancouver Norse
San Diego Troops @ Virginia Cavalry



Celtics @ Tennessee Grizzlies, this weekend in Nashville
Little Rock Reapers @ El Paso Riders
Pittsburgh Iron @  East Coast Armada (NJ/Jacksonville)

Las Vegas Giants @ Omaha Drive
Albuquerque Eagles @ Missouri Showmen (this time at St. Louis)
New England Boatmen @ Buffalo Barons
Montreal Mayhem @ Birmingham Bamas

Which sounds better for MLB in Charlotte ?

Google dumped polls on bloggerooski', so I do what I do.  Tell me some good names in the comments.

Carolina Colonials?
Continentals
Barons... .

Which sounds better for Portland MLB?

Or P-land Towers
Lumberjacks                       Thuh 'Jacks ?

... or  or ...or
tell me in the comments

Far-off Ticker Tape NFL

Kentucky Downs @ Colts
Portland Mountains @ Bengals

Oklahoma Oilers take on the Norde Force for their first time in franchise history at Edmonton.

St. Louis Showmen @ Canadian Power in Vancouver
London Armada @ Texas Trucking's new Austin Warehouse

What do you got?

Utah Wagons @ Omaha Oaks

Columbus Voyagers @ Football Toronto Raptors

 Or should it be Oregon Talls?