Futuristic

Futuristic
Big Five

Monday, February 2, 2015

Proximity Screws them Over for a Big League Team

Nothing to say of the existing number of teams in quality play
Nothing necessarily to say of the population/money requirement per league
 To have MLB sustainbly in an area, it cost twice as many billions as the second most costly sport.
Population amount "screws" you?  You already know who you are.

Here's a little list:

Louisville
      The Closeness:  Cincinnati, Indianapolis.  Like Las Vegas and Austin, I think it's ready for some big time.

San Jose:  not 50 miles from San Fran.  The only thumb at SF is there won't be a San Fran hockey named team anytime soon.  Pretty much ditto for Sacramento.  And the top bread piece in a sandwich that puts Sacramento as the pickle is Portland's leagues vacancies.

Austin:  Texas sandwich of San Antonio (NBA, MLS Prospect), Houston, Dallas

Las Vegas:  the gambling factor.  Maybe sort of, kind of choked out by it's proximity sandwich between Phoenix and Southern California.  Then there's Salt Lake City Soccer and Basketball.

Indianapolis:  Chicago, Cincinnati MLB, Columbus NHL

Orlando/Jacksonville:  All of that Florida saturation 

Tucson:  Phoenix  

Columbus:  Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh

OKC:  a drive north from Dallas

Luring like cupid or defending turf (like revenue shares)

Hampton Roads, Virginia:  D.C. and Charlotte area teams

Ottawa:  Montreal                                   New Jersey

Baltimore basketball (and who-cares hockey):  D.C.
It'll take time, but eventually... .
Maryland-Virginia United sound like a good soccer name?  I think so.

Maybe a little of a stretch:
Little Rock near Texas, Memphis/Nashville, New Orleans.  South of Missouri teams.

Boise is pretty much the middle of a SLC, Porltand and Seattle triangulation. 

A Buffalo/Toronto proximity is questionable, even outside of the international NFL question (CFL league interest) and good spirit of Sabres and Maple Leafs.

Atlanta NHL was a square peg for a round hole, at least timing-wise.


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

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Professional Sports Expansion in the Midwest?

Where are the suitable vacancies?
What would be a good name?
Would you consider a travel-tag-team (2 cities as the home for one team)?  In other words, would you rather have something than nothing?

What is the potential you see in the map?  Could Kansas City-Omaha have an NHL franchise (much like they used to in the NBA)?  Omaha-Milwaukee-Cleveland is a good spread.  Oil money in North Dakota could make for something nice further north.

Could another fallback for a flailing and failing NBA or NHL team be another Chicagoland franchise?

What would you call a team geographically placed in the Midwest that camps in a few towns?
Longshoreman, Dockers, Rangers, Packers, Shippers, Roadwarriors?
Which league?  In terms of attendance and highest economic requirements to house a sport, this is the order (of difficulty):  MLB, NHL, NFL, NBA and MLS.

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


Mid-American Cities that should Get More Pro Teams. And Austin.

Memphis: Visiting the Possibility of more Pro Sports

There is magnetism in the state of Tennessee.  200 miles away in the state's heart is Nashville.  They already house the Titans and Predators.  It's only fair that you get the big league baseball squad right?  It can still be called Tennessee where the Grizzlies roam.  You almost had that NFL team in the 90s, right?

1.3 million folks in Memphis versus 1.5 in Nashville.  The Volunteer state has two Triple-A baseball affiliates and they're in both spots.  Wouldn't it be nice for the Grizzlies and Titans to play in both towns?  Because, I'm afraid, if it really comes down to it the way things are, Nashville would get the nod.  And you will still just have your Redbirds.

Memphis Redbird landing spotted.
The distance from Memphis upriver to their major league St. Louis squad is about 30 miles more than that of the distance between the Reds and Indians.

If there was to be a 2 team expansion, my guess would be Nashville and Charlotte, if not just Montreal and Charlotte.

The Tennessee Smokies and Southern Run Rays would be nice.  A team that would cover the two aforementioned southern towns, if not Memphis, and maybe New Orleans and Tampa, if not including the likes of Monterrey, would be neat.  An exponential expansion out west could also include a travel-tag-team  between western cities.  Let me give you an example:
The West Coast A's could play in Oakland and Portland and something to the effect of a Western Run Wolf Pack or Pioneers squad could take root in places like Omaha, OKC, SLC and Boise.  It's a romantic thought anyway.

But for Memphis, I like that minor league squad's name in Knoxville.  And I wish Major League Tennessee brand baseball would play in both the big cities for your state to enjoy, even if it took one team to play in two towns.

If you like the NHL, consider a pact with Nashville to change both of your brands (yours being the Grizzlies) to the umbrella name of "Tennessee".  I'm sure for MLS, you know the likes of St. Louis, Minnesota and others are ahead in line.

See some links below:

Major League Baseball in Tennessee. How to beat out Charlotte for an Expansion Bid. New Brave King of the South.

 Search (ctrl-F) "Memphis" here:  http://prosportsexpansion.blogspot.com/p/key.html

Tennessee Pioneers MLB Team Might Play where NFL's Titans Should. Sharing the State. MLB Memphis and Nashville.
I spy the Pyramid.
Defunct American CFL Teams
Time for more MLB in the South
Southtown Soundhounds MLS Franchise 
Some Failed Expansion Bids of the Past


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


Montreal: Visiting the Possibility of more Pro Sports. And Paris. And in London and the Greater Britain.

There are those that obviously pain that there is no Montreal Expos or Nationals playing in the metropolis of Quebec.  I've talked about it before in the blog, article:  (click) Big Baseball back in Montreal after a decade absence ?

NFL:  Having the French slant, I don't see it sooner than baseball, though I've blogged about having an NFL franchise called the Norde Force which would rotate throughout CFL Canada to take on all of their foes south.  In achieving an eventuality for the NFL to land in Europe, I think a great way to go about it is to have the Montreal Fightin' Frenchman camp part-time throughout the regular season in Paris.  Emissaries of sorts as the team calls both places "home".  On that note:  I think it would be interesting for the Patriots to share time between Foxboro and London (go with British red uniforms to include Red  or White Socks while nearer the Queen).  New York Jets for a traveling-tag-team seems like a fit.  A lot of football already for NYC-Jersey.  The Jets being considered having ports in Portland, Toronto and London is an interesting thought.  And if L.A. can't get a team of their own soon... .




I would expect that the NBA is on par with getting a team to Montreal much like the NFL.  Same idea as above:  touch ground with Paris.  Celtics in Dublin.  Cavaliers in London

Congratulations on your great hockey and major league soccer squads.  Keep your chin up and MLB will be back.  You're too big to blink at.

http://sullybaseball.blogspot.com/2011/01/montreal-rays-or-montreal-as-why-not.html

Grit and nostalgia!

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

Some more articles:

Las Vegas Montreal Internationals Baseball. Major League Expansion Experiment.

Big Baseball back in Montreal after a decade absence ?

Big Baseball back in Montreal after a decade absence ?

In the coming decades will it happen?

Probably later than sooner, I say.
And I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Being an internet searcher of the subject, I'm sure you've seen the lip service that the two most recent baseball commissioners have given to it being possible.  Well yeah!  We all know that.  It's certainly the biggest city in eastern North America to be able to beckon a team.  Personally, I think you deserve it over Miami, I don't care how many Latinos or Cubans reside there.  But nonetheless, baseball would probably be given a shot to the likes of Charlotte and maybe even Nashville before the French populated place in provincial Quebec.  I do think that a relocation isn't out of the question.

Personally, I'm not rooting against Montreal, but my thoughts and 'passionlessness regarding the return of MLB to town is much like how I feel about the NBA returning to Vancouver.  You took your shot and the free throw missed at the baseline of your heart. - Not all people of your city, but enough of them.  And I feel there are many more deserving cities are ahead of you in line.  And sheesh, it can make for some cold baseball up north.  But Montreal is indeed a beautiful city!  And a dome isn't out of question.
Much of the American baseball world feels the same way, I'm sure.  And as far as the NHL goes, I'm sure your enthusiasm is justifiably so for more and more American participation in the NHL, especially our southern franchises.

One day though, I'm sure.
theguardian.com/sport/2014/aug/11/1994-major-league-baseball-strike-montreal-expos

sportsnet.ca/baseball/manfred-return-to-montreal-possible-for-mlb/
sullybaseball.blogspot.com/2011/01/montreal-rays-or-montreal-as-why-not.html

citylab.com/design/2014/03/baseball-coming-back-montreal-weekend/8718/

cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24771100/report-rays-owner-has-discussed-moving-team-to-montreal


Perhaps you can entertain some options that could bolster your argument for baseball - sharing.  I have considered cities with a mediocre shot to maybe consider teaming up with other cities (tag-teaming),
and justifying the attendance, which may be lacking according to MLB big business standards.  I normally would consider this to be a regional endeavor.  For instance:
Let's say Oakland never gets a new stadium.  Plus, baseball is just about 20 miles away, the Giants.
Imagine this:

-The West Coast Athletics could play in Oakland, AND a new stadium in Portland and/or Las Vegas.  Or consider Sacramento (a viable option).
-The California Angels could additionally play in Oakland (upon a relocated A's).
-A Marlin team, named Florida again, could play in St. Petersburg, freeing up a move of the Rays to Montreal.  Rebrand.  Do you thing.
-A team in Tennessee that plays in Nashville and Memphis, spreading the love across the state.  On and on.
It's a redundant theme in my blog, with many combinations thought-treed.
Outside of the box (stadium) thinking.
Heritage
http://eephusleague.com/

But yeah, as a Montreal fan, you could split time as Canadian Travelers between your city and Vancouver.  BC Place is already in place, yet I wouldn't consider Vancouver on its own.  I would lump them with your or a West Coast Athletics brand.

Or even consider Montreal tag-teaming as a French Embassy branded squad as the Cajuns in New Orleans (an American city not up to the viable requirements for an MLB economy,...at least on its own).

ixdaily.com/drop-your-skirt/have-sassy-halloween-american-apparel-montreal-part-1

To make your case, and see what you want sooner, you may have to come up with an out-of-the-box scheme, something unconventional, even if it's the Canadian Blue Jays.  You're a wonderful place of convention.  Display a pitch towards innovation!  Tag team now, and show Montreal's eventual place as a standalone breakaway.  Invest your thoughts and patience prevails.


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

haveyouseenmybassball.blogspot.com 

Article: 

Las Vegas Montreal Internationals Baseball. Major League Expansion Experiment.

 

Las Vegas Montreal Internationals Baseball. Major League Expansion Experiment.

http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2014-05-15/mlb-expansion-montreal-las-vegas-interleague-mets-yankees-series-interleague-play-cities

The above article I have revisited a number of times.  It's frustrating.  Much like Toronto's population may/or may not beckon full-time NFL, the metropolis is an eastern black hole much like Los Angeles is to the west.  Montreal kind of reminds me this.  Not quite as starkly as the aloofness for attendance and general fan fair in Vancouver for big league hardwood, and since I'm not an avid NBA'er, correct my ignorance if I'm wrong, it's kind of like an overall general fear caused by Canadian vacancies in the larger markets of Vancouver and Montreal that makes for a hesitancy to bring ball back to the second and third largest cities there.
To balance this thought, one only has to think about the Vancouver Grizzlies basketball squad.  And probably almost every time I blog in a Big Four or five context, I'll mention it.  And it's hard to ignore the orevwa for baseball to D.C. from Montreal in 2004.

The article link atop this post:  What other cities are in the running for something MLB would call "east" in the alignment for a two team expansion?  Well, there's Charlotte to break up a Braves monopoly.  There's a chance for the Rays to move.  Nashville is a thought.  But as far as population and history, your case is pretty strong.  Even if we figure that it won't be soon we know that it will be.

tbo.com/news/business/speculation-begins-that-montreal-could-entice-rays-20131217/

forbes.com/sites/ericmacramalla/2014/12/12/sorry-expos-fans-the-tampa-bay-rays-arent-moving-to-montreal/

I have a thought.  What about a baseball team that spends time in Las Vegas and Montreal.  2 birds with one stone.  Two if's for a hell-yeah-I-think-that'd-work.   An Expos hat or Expose reference could be dawned on the uniform when the team is camped for a home series in Montreal.  Absence makes the heart grow fonder.  And more of a spread out schedule can make for more of an event-like atmosphere.  Certainly Las Vegas's tourist population would like to make a break for the town when their favorite team is in town.

Montreal Cheer
What could this team be called?

Las Vegas Montreal Internationals
LoVeM' Internationals
The Emissaries?
Delegates?  Flights?
International Expos

A name for any of these teams makes me thinks about "Jets".

A travel-tag-team for the two towns.

It could be argued for football, basketball and some cool trips along with a home (away-from-home) series to Paris or Hong Kong as well.

Is this a stronger case for such a combo-team:  bizjournals.com/bizjournals/news/2015/04/09/capacity


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

Article: 

Big Baseball back in Montreal after a decade absence ?

Which 3 NFL Teams play in a State other than their Namesake?


Answer is towards the bottom.  There are 3 NFL teams that play in a state that is other than that of their city.






See way more articles and chatter about expansion, co-location and relocation for football, baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer on my blog prosportsexpansion.blogspot.com/ 
A:  Redskins and New York teams.  Maryland.  New Jersey


Friday, January 30, 2015

When the Rams Leave St. Louis, Consider This

Could you have football really really soon after football leaves you again after a quarter century?  And now again?!  Well, if you get a new stadium .... blah womp wah, blah.... .

Or keep your stadium (, maybe renovate just a touch) and share the team, playing them part time in St. Louis.  And obviously part-time somewhere else.  (4 games here, 4 there, 5 here/6 there?).
Waiting for a polo ball to roll over the Cardinals and Rams

I really wouldn't necessarily want to do this and take away something to root for in New Orleans, but let's give it a thought:  Take the New Orleans Saints and rename them the "Southland Saints".

Is it the Gateway to the West, or is this river city of Missouri a Gateway to the South?  A case can be made.  Historically.  Ditto for the Jaguars sharing time, though in the real world they're locked into a contract.

St. Louis Saints hats can be worn.  Time between the Superdome and the Edward Jones dome.  A southland brand could draw in an exhibition and apparel sales from the likes of Louisville and Birmingham.  Little Rock can't get excitement from time to time.

After that ingrate Saints fan took the ball from my Bengals lady, I personally don't care if the bailed out city of New Orleans loses four games and goes to another franchise town of my disfavor.  Who Dat Who Dey got crossed.  And Go Reds!

But for something nice to say to the city of Nolans', Utah should trade the Pelicans name with you.  New Orleans Jazz should be it.  A share with St. Louis in the NBA would sound more appropriate in that regard also.  Southland Jazz playing in New Orleans, Nashville and St. Louis.  So many logistical options for innovative and brave souls.

mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/01/15/mls-commissioner-don-garber-gives-update-potential-expansion-cities-includin

Hosing the cities with a golden arch


See way more articles and chatter about expansion, co-location, relocation AND OTHER ALTERNATIVES for football, baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer on my blog prosportsexpansion.blogspot.com/ 
More bigtime in more places!

Sorry, St. Louis, it's true.  I'm a Cincinnatian.  And I can be a hater drinking the hateraid.  Just sayin'

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

2014 ProSportsExpansion Blog Review for the Year

 
I COULD USE SOME HELP COMPILING SOURCES ON STADIUM/RINK/ARENA OPERATING COSTS.
The resources of a university would be nice.

Table of Contents for articles is on the right, as is the Index (word key)
2014 has seen talk of Oakland ball teams moving to the likes of Portland and San Antonio.  Some think Montreal should be a landing spot for Tampa's current ball club.  And last but not least, the NHL has let us know that it is going to expand from 30 to 34 teams.

So, the feasibility of my Triple T (3T, Travel-Tag-Team model) is questionable/debatable in terms of business feasibility and an arguably tangible/intangible ownership in the hearts of any fan base willing to embrace a part time team or regional spirit.

I haven't really done research so much as I have searched and landed on helpful bearings like wikipedia and news articles.  And there are some good sources http://prosportsexpansion.blogspot.com/p/informative-links.html )

Nearing the end of last Winter I kicked off a blog in order to form an information spot of consolidated browsing for finding out the best chances for whatever spot to be the place for the newest ballclubs.  I see some indications that more than a grassroots effort has been mounted in the likes of Portland and Nashville to land teams.  I would expect to see more, but I know the franchises are business driven and it's all about timing among other factors of investment and market saturation.  Who knows what New Orleans or Charlotte will look like economically in a decade from now and which investors will be around and willing and able to invest.  

Either way, I couldn't find a good consolidation (MAP) of future feasible franchise locations on the world wide web and so I blab on this creation of a blog.  There's not one site out there that I can see to preach the good words to me, so I blab to myself like some crazed disciple that's lost from reality.


Sex sells.  It's one measure.
Since it's not in the current leagues business climates and the economy in general, I spend a lot of time in Imagination Land.  It's good to be prepared should the time come though, right?  And with an imaginary gun to my head I came up with a way for more folks in more places to "realistically" have their own team, if only in name, that hits close(r) to home.  I do so, even with the existing (number of) franchises in each league.

If you can gather other people in your area who have a lust for the likes of an NFL, NBA or MLS squad, and especially a drivable representation in hockey or MLB, I think it best that you get started.  Talk to people smarter than you and I and get that snowball rolling for the next time a franchise goes looking for more appreciative digs like your hometown.

Greener pastures for some means the beach.  Pensacola.

Surprisingly, there's not a lot of material out there, or at least as much as there should be.  It takes time.  There are many micro to macro things that have to fall into place and the wait is like wine.  Like an expensive wine.  My blog is more about throwing Boone's Farm in a blender.  Tastes really good in my mind while I wait for my 2008 bottle of fancy pants to ferment.


There's a guy with a Facebook page trying to draw the Clippers here or there.  He might be throwing rocks into the moat but at least he sees the wisdom in David and Goliath.  Another for MLB in Charlotte.  Another for the NBA in Louisville.  A Nashville guy that created a web page with rationale abound.  Newspaper articles revisit the fantasy here and again and bored fantasy football people websites speak their piece from sportsnation to the insert-your-town Times or Business Courier.  But really, I'm surprised there isn't more going on out there in cyberspace.  Is it that daunting of an effort?!  A booster for the future.

Well yes.   Reality sucks.  A mountain sometimes seems insurmountable.  But you know how the saying goes:  "If everyone could do it then ..... ".  Is it not sweet to be the underdog with the story of a lifetime?

 Expand the team in name and/or places.

"Expansion" in name by branding is one way.  It can also be achieved by simply expanding in name.  The Rangers play in one place but it is still for all of Texas they take the field.  I argue that if a sports team were placed in Las Vegas and/or Portland, naming it "West Coast" would make for exponential apparel sales, probably for many places in between.  Expanding by multiplying their home bases (camps) is definitely a way to achieve it, and the issue of cost could be pondered.  Apparel for the "Tennessee" Titans sells more than it would for a team were it to be named the "Nashville Oilers".  A helluva' lot more people from Memphis would be able to attend a Titans game in Memphis, and maybe even a lot more folks from Nashville would give the Titans game a go if the games were only on a monthly basis for their own home court drive.

There are many examples singled out in about 270 posts.

What name would you want to scheme up for what place?  
Know a great or innovative spot in your city for a stadium?
Is the business of it (3T) a viably achievable model?

For the fuller yearly sum-up and feasible wishes for some things to happen soon, 
click here and scroll down to the highlight.

I would love your comments and votes.

bleacherreport.com/articles/1567575-potential-supersonics-owners-release-artist-renderings-of-amazing-new-arena  
Looks like you're getting the NHL again, but the NBA commish said you're not an NBA town... .  What do you think?





See way more articles and chatter about expansion, co-location and relocation for football, baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer on my blog prosportsexpansion.blogspot.com/

Monday, January 26, 2015

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

The answer:  MLS and NHL.  And likely the NHL first.

Austin is showing up in the spotlight a little late with regard to the big 3 sports.  You're surrounded by territorial bastards with a limited piece of the pie.  You are triangulated in the middle of the NBA near San Antonio and smothered by MLB's presence around Dallas and Houston.  Texans and Texas Rangers make you feel okay?  I hope so.

No doubt there is magnetism for Houston lacking the NHL.  Houston vacated their pro hockey.  The NHL wouldn't ignore that fact.  Just like Las Vegas lulls the leagues as virgin turf, Austin could beckon for south Texas and heart of America balance.

Is Austin for a pick a shocker?
Latino San Antonio gives you competition for soccer.  Maybe too much competition for Austin.  You're just too close.  I would love for the compromise to be in the form of a stadium in San Marcos under the name Texas Divided.  Slick, huh?

Aside from that compromise, I think you're the best bet for the next NHL team in Texas and the heart of the country in general.

More and more football in Texas isn't a shocker.  Even the international brand.  I bet hockey is more of a cosmopolitan fit in Austin than Phoenix or Miami.

A shocker wild card pick for the NHL would be Austin.  Hook 'em horny.


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


State named teams. A Wider Geographic Home for the Big Leagues
NBA MidAmerican Express Travel Team (for Louisville, El Paso & Austin...and maybe St. Louis?) 
MLS, Will the Major Leagues land in Austin for the first time, or will San Antonio get that Soccer team before their capital city???
Mid-American Cities that should Get More Pro Teams. And Austin.

San Antonio: Visiting the Possibility of more Pro Sports
San Marcos, Texas Should Be the Second Site For Texas Teams
Defunct American CFL Teams


Saturday, January 24, 2015

New West Americans. #NHLExpansion. Do You Recall the New York Americans? Travel-Tag-Team Idea

The name New York Americans is a throw-back in hockey:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Americans
America expanded west.  Instead of the old New York Americans, couldn't we range out a new brand for a NHL franchise called the New West Americans?  Arenas in places that would fall short of NHL attendance standards could charge more and play fewer games.   But it would mean more NHL in more of America.  not that I think that's needed, but it's a thought.  And an expansion team in the league could be a travel tag team  The American heart could grow fonder.  I think it's a win for the growth of the NHL.

A travel tag team, declaring it's home games at camp stations and embracing outlanders as a brand could be done on the Canadian side, also:    click  Canadian Band - NHL Travel Tag Team for Outlander Canada 
   Expansion is about to happen
Instead of like a Seattle/Vegas expansion to balance out a T2/Quebec City set of teams in league alignment, I have a few ideas:   Do a northwest market team combining camps of Seattle and Portland as one "Northwest" named brand.  Also, do a travel-tag-team for multiple big cities in the rest of America.  Put the T2 thought into the awaiting Hamilton arena calling them something "Ontario" and do something to the same tune as the U.S. travel-tag-team from Nova Scotia to BC for the provincial outlands.

I think a more efficient expansion could be done for any of the big leagues by considering those left out to tag along to one extent or another.  Pulling out of a market and seeing which ones are stronger could be indicated by how much support this travel teams receives at which home camp.  The trickiness is in the branding I'm sure.  Example:  If there was ever a Great Lakes brand splitting ice camp time in Cleveland, Milwaukee, Indianapolis and Cincinnati, and if either market has dismal turnout, the next season that city would be dumped from the schedule.  Toe tapping markets.

1929
With the Americans name I was strictly trying to make a nostalgic tie.  If the name is too nationalistic we could dull it a bit with the name Eagles or (even better) the Turkeys, paying homage to early entertaining thoughts of America while giving Canada something to think of as maybe being a potential slight.  Turkeys could be a point of pride for those who know Benjamin Franklin.

What would you call an all-other-of-America outlander team?  The Rebels?  Outlanders?
The Rebel Riders?  Sliders.  Overlords.  American Band.  Trackers.  Skiers.  The Unions?

Some cities that I thought that could be lumped into this travel tag team brand:
Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Atlanta, New Orleans and/or Houston, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Omaha, SLC, Portland and Seattle.   That was going by the tracks on the map below.  Boise, I see you.  I have thought of a Great Lakes brand with main docking to occur in Cleveland and Milwaukee.  Let those AHL cities take part.

With the tracks, a thing could be made of it.  The bandwagon trainriders fan groupies.  Amtrackers.  Sponsorship for logistics is in there somewhere.  Corny, but thoughtful, I know.  Logistics would be interesting, a great gun-to-your-head exercise indeed.

The 'Trackers?
The Express?  Midwest Express?
I imagine my idea could be tried at the AHL or ECHL level but I'm thinking since hockey is fourth fiddle here, it might not generate enough buzz around the amber waves of grain unless it's the NHL.

Crazy?  Yeah, well, Miami and Phoenix frozen ponds.  Success in Nashville and North Carolina.  Worth a shot on goal?
What say you?

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

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Canadian Band - NHL Travel Tag Team for Outlander Canada

Will we (the league or fans) settle with Quebec City and Toronto2 in the vast lands of the provinces as the next expansion?  It's not new turf for the NHL.  Couldn't T2 be called something else like "Ontario" for a better broader market blitz?

Please make comments as to what you think would be a good name for a travel team that is essentially a tag team for towns in Canada that don't already have a franchise to call their own.

What would you say?:  What would you call an all-other-Canada team?
Canadian Band?   The Misfits?  The Rebels?  Outter Banks Mounted Patrol     The Bear Ducks     Mighty Pucks     Outdoorsman     Overlords?     The Moose Flock      the Gooses     the Meeses     the Hockeysexuals .... the Fightin' Anglo-Frenchies....not important to me right now.  The puck has to have a chance to land before deciding an encompassing name.
wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_outdoor_ice_hockey_games

What I'm interested in is the list of cities it could call camp.
A rink in every town, right?  In Canada.
Let's talk population and then let's talk which cities have rinks that could at least seat more than some parents and a few uncles.

Old Montreal Canadiens practice outdoors
Population in order of non-NHL cities:

The 9th largest area is Hamilton  -  in Greater Toronto
Kitchener                                                                                        All in Ontario
London
St. Catherines - Niagara

I might be funnin' for just a little bit and say that Ohio is so wonderful all of these places in Canada just want to be close.  But then I would have to give Cleveland a compliment.  But Who Dey and Go Reds.
Every place Canadian up there is close to Toronto.

wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_census_metropolitan_areas_and_agglomerations_in_Canada

Then the list goes on from hugging more of Ontario, stretching provinces coast to coast from Nova Scotia to British Columbia.  The areas of Halifax and Victoria having north of 300,000 people.  Would 3% of them attend a game.  Is there a facility big enough in those stretches?

If we had two Canadian expansions one could be east and the other west, with an adequate facility to be the anchors for a little more viewership in Vancouver and Hamilton.

wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_indoor_arenas_in_Canada

What are we going to define as "big enough"?  Does it have to be upwards of 13,000 seats for the typical NHL match?  Certainly, if a match were less frequent the desire and ticket price could be higher, certainly in Canada and the likes of Halifax and Saskatoon.


I would love some ice veined Canuck to tell me a thing or two about my spouting.


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

#NHLRelocate #NHLExpansion

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

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


PredatorpanthercatCanes of Miami Suburbia
There was a hockey tumbleweed that slid across the streets and chili temperatures in Atlanta.  The Thrashers franchise went back (re-located/re-branded) to a more befitting appreciation in Canada Winnipeg.  Carolina won a cup and the Nashville crowd is supportive.  Business is business.  And the gamble of hockey in the south can apparently work.  This business of pro sports in resort and transplant retiree Florida sure is something.  Hockey in the Cup hoisting town of Tampa is good but the baseball isn't.  Miami must saturate itself in the sports market in the form of another of many attendance problems in pro Florida sports.  And for Atlanta and big time hockey, the sports saturation might've been the case as well as customs and timing.  And this saturation could've resulted from melting ice.  I want to do something with the Florida Panthers.

I want them to go.  They should at least go to Atlanta every once in awhile.  A Georgia metropolis, arguably the capital of the American South, and a Florida location could make for interesting geographic branding to encompass its locations under one name.  Bringing ice to the south is somewhat counter-intuitive as it is.  A team home camped in Atlanta and Miami would be called what?  What umbrella surname?  Southeast?  You can't say "south" without Nashville or Charlotte, can you?

Can we call a team that plays home (camp) games in at least two towns the Southlake Panthers?

Houston would be a nice skate from time to time.  It'd have to be more of an event in that town to get a consistent turn-out, or at least one to count on people showing up to.  Southlake of Houston camp playing the Stars of Dallas.  Perhaps New Orleans pre-season or something.

Could we call them Southlake Fisherman (or something unique)?

Fisherman?  Could we call them the Southlake Fisherman?  When hell freezes over?  Can ice be frozen in the south?  Sure.  Ice rinks are synthetic.  Naming them whatever is cool, let's do it.  I don't much care about the south, being honest.  But there are Panthers in Carolina also, albeit football.  Jaguars, cats and bears, oh my.  There is pride in a name like Buckeyes or Tar Heels as opposed to some mythical Tigers and Lions and Kings of everywherelands.  What makes one stand out?  Unique.

I think a lot of non-hockey fishers would buy the apparel, especially with a southern brand touted in some options of wear.  Fisherman.  Motherpuckers.  A lot of ways to go with it, and what better place for a collegy name than an area proud to be represented by its college sports teams like the 'Tide, War Eagles and Volunteers?

Why not try my argument for a team for a few places?  The franchise's ice is already spread thin.  Widen it to a southern brand in place(s) and name.
The NHL could even include Las Vegas.  A broader and more literal inclusion of the "South" is Las Vegas.

Florida Panthers cheerleaders - the Ice Girls



Distraction:  ftw.usatoday.com/2014/10/florida-panthers-nhl-sparse-crowd-ottawa-seantors


I have argued the same type of thing for other regions of the country like a Great Lakes brand and some sort of West Coast, Northwest or Western brand with Portland/Seattle/Las Vegas and that melt of Arizona.  West Coast Coyotes would've been a better and more expansive brand.  Great Lakes, North Coast, North Shore, Northlands and so many ways to bring in a travel-like tag team for the lakes and likes of Cleveland, Milwaukee, Syracuse, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and the Dakotas.  Atlanta and Miami:  At least think about sharing ice time.  NHL, consider sharing your brand with more of us unappreciative Americans.  At least in a way that makes us more appreciative.  Absence makes the heart grow fonder.  And Miami and Atlanta aren't small American or Canadian towns.   A little here and a little there will have some more of us screaming like little girls at a Beatles concert in no time.  More of us will have a team. 


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

#NHLRelocate #NHLExpansion
Click:
NHL - If each franchise had to camp in two cities... .
West Coast Whales NHL Team in Seattle, Portland and Las Vegas
Some NHL Expansion Talk
"West Coast" named Franchises get an MLB, NFL and NHL Team. Bigtime Win for Portland and Vegas.
Expansion Team Chatter for Hockeytown NHL. Vegas finally going pro.
At Least Two New American NHL Teams in Addition to the Two New Canadian Ones. 
Shuffling the Franchises for MLB, NFL, NHL and NBA (......Okay, no Campy Talk, so ONE SPOT)

"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 
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
Dakota NHL Team                                      ....AND MORE
                         Just search (Ctrl F) "NHL" in the index:
prosportsexpansion.blogspot.com/p/key.html

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Tag Team in your Town. A travel team. The West Coast Athletics and Raiders of Portland and Las Vegas Example

Let us say that the United States became a more cohesive place of less market initiative (or initiative by masses of people in general) in the form of a communist nation.  And as the Roman cathedrals would still play an integral role in our daily lives, sports carried forth.  And a grand dictator or king decided that each of the 50 territorial districts were to be granted a team (it would no longer be referred to as a franchise).

The king, upon consulting his experts, found out that the quality of play would suffer greatly, thus the competitiveness, and likely the viewership would soon follow.  The king then concedes that magically having 50 professional teams per league in the Big Four sports probably isn't the best idea.

"What about the sector capitals of Anchorage and Honolulu?!", the dictator exclaims.

"I have an idea", says the jest to his majesty.  "We will make one of the existing teams play there.  For football, baseball, basketball, soccer and hockey we will make it so!"

"How?", says the King of Sharing the Love. 

"Oakland's Stadium is dismal.  We'll either rehab or construct another one.  It's a good time to play at college stadiums in the mean time.  All we have to do is rename the team the "West Coast Athletics".  We can do the same thing to the Raiders", says the consultant.  "And for Portland and Oregon, sir, we shall include them and Las Vegas, Nevada.  We will build colosseums everywhere!"

"Sounds good" says his highness.  "What will be the format to include all of these regions under an umbrella team be called?"

"Tag Teams, sir", more appropriately, "travel tag teams".

He continued.  "Your magesty, I have thought of others in name, like a "North Coast" hockey team, plenty of East Coast and Southland teams".

"Very well then".

"We can lump questionable cities that wouldn't fill the stands night in and night out.  There are plenty out there.  I'll show you this, my king.  mlbreports.com/2011/07/01/mlb-expansion/.  There is plenty of want without sustainability at present.  And when there's a need to accommodate more talent, cities can break away on their own when they can handle it".

"Gravy", said the king.  "Let them eat gravy.  Portland, Charlotte, Las Vegas, Nashville, Austin, Louisville and the outlands!"


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

Thursday, January 15, 2015

If Ever a Major Sports Team in Rhode Island and Again for Connecticut

Both states are sandwiched between Boston and NYC. And overlooked for expansions of pro sports leagues is a bi-product of this reality around power markets.

Providence "on its own" touts well over a million people in "its" area.  It is pretty much not 50 miles away from Boston.  So, there are people easily commuting from Rhode Island to work in Boston.

It falls under the realm of New England.  Football:  check.   Baseball?  Red Sox of Boston.  At the baseline of Celtics Hoops.

What about the New York Islanders?  Rhode Islanders?  It would pretty much amount to spreading out the teams that are already in the same area.  Could the Islanders play in Rhode Island instead?  Closer to the Bruins?  An exhibition there as the "Road Islanders" would be nifty.

What about Connecticut?

Connecticut
Hartford's old team started out as the New England Whalers before a league merger to the NHL.
Over 920 thousand people are around the area.  Why would I mention Hartford if it's not the largest city in the state.  Well, they had the Hartford Whalers play in the NHL about two decades ago.  It's the largest inland city in the state.  And Connecticut is a small state, with only Rhode Island being smaller and butted up against it.

wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartford_Whalers


Baseball for any of these markets?  No room.  New England Revolution cover the other football.

Hockey is the only justification I can see.
New York City is hellbent on two teams per sport.  But something tells me that it's not beyond the realm of possibility for a New York hockey squad to skate scoot up the coast.  That's the only shot I see.  A five hole finger towards Boston.  Good for rivalry.

Last game ever for Hartford, 1997, usatoday


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

Small examples of Combining for Power

In Cincinnati, rivals in high school sports merge.  Now there will be one instead of two.  It's becoming a new consolidated high school.

Yes, these high schools aren't 4 road miles apart and, as an example in the pro world, merging the Mets with the Yankees would do much of nothing, but it helps me think about a combination making for a stronger brand.  But a Glen Este and Amelia merger makes for a better team.  Talent has to be local.   Much of West Clermont kids south of Milford, west of Batavia and northwest of New Richmond, will combine into a better sports program.  West Clermont's two high schools are now one.  In Cincinnati's Hamilton County, over twenty years ago Greenhills and Forest Park High Schools combined to become Winton Woods HS.  Stronger numbers bode well.

What will the mascot of West Clermont HS be as a merger of Barons and Trojans?  We'll see.  And with regards to name and place there are choices.  To note the magnetism and acknowledgement of suburbia Cincinnati here are a few names:  Eastern Hills HS, Eastgate HS.  To keep its autonomous flare and re-acknowledge or reassert its place in another Ohio county it's likely to keep the name West Clermont (HS, Local School District).  Another less likely, but accurate one I have thought of is "Appalachia West HS" given its location in westernmost Appalachia in Ohio.

But anyway, back to the mercenary sports representation:
If Tampa dropped their baseball team and the Marlins would play there part-time and take their old Florida name back, the Marlins would be a stronger brand.

If the Grizzlies business were to suffer in Memphis, expand some play for the Tennessee Grizzlies in Nashville. Call the Angels "California" again, especially if the Athletics leave Oakland.  Be innovative and play some ball out of the Los Angeles area and share some love with the viable Sacramento.  The West Coast Raiders playing in Oakland AND Portland and/or Las Vegas.  Stuff like that.  A bigger better brand.

Married.  These principals.  Microcosm.  cincinnati.com/story/news/local/union-township/2014/08/20/husband-wife-principals-enjoy-rivalry/14349793/
Branding issues: cincinnati.com/story/news/local/union-township/2015/02/02/column-west-clermont-high-schools-mascot-colors/22753981/

Raiders or Titans or Wolves.  Oh my:  cincinnati.com/story/news/local/union-township/2015/04/29/raiders-titans-wolves-west-clermont/26571645/
See more expansion, co-location and relocation talk for football, baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer on my blog http://prosportsexpansion.blogspot.com/ 

MLB Urban Youth Academies. Emissaries and Embassies of Baseball and Teams



MLB Urban Youth Academies
Puerto Rico, Houston, New Orleans, Cincinnati and Compton/L.A..

In the works:
Cleveland, Detroit, Miami, Philadelphia and D.C..

Houston has an academy.  Technically, aesthetically or whatever, New Orleans falls within the Astros domain, though no Astros stuff is plastered dominance around there from what I know.
In the L.A. area, the Angels and Dodgers post up.

What if every team committed to an academy in the area proper within reach to the stadiums and then another in the region?  There's Urban.  What about Rural?

How would the Reds and Indians do it if Columbus is in between?  Would the minor league team be tasked?  The Columbus Clippers Community Center?  Worth a thought.

mlb.com/news/article/107103890/urban-youth-academies-show-growth-progess


League of Nations


<----Cactus League
Grapefruit League
I have seen other maps indicating New Orleans falling under Astros Turf.  One being for the Regional Sports Networks.  This one is from a small facebook poll.





Some local thoughts for me are this:
The Cincinnati Reds could consider one in a rural area and another in the inner-city.  Just like with the sponsorship by a big business in Cincinnati, perhaps a Dayton company and one in West Virginia would help praise an academic-tutoring and extra-curricular place for kids to come.  You might get some more friends in Reds Country and take some away from Pittsburgh ; ) if you extend to the likes of West Virginia.  Would the Reds compete embassies in Nashville with the Braves?
The Reds do have a Caravan during the hot stove season to spread their word:  cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/cin/fan_forum/caravan.jsp

Are San Fran and Oakland tasked with figuring their urban academy?  What about your (insert team) Nation?  Any thoughts on a rural and urban outpost location to promote the game and serve as an outlet for the community?

nola.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/03/new_orleans_youth_academy.html

http://lubbockonline.com/sports-high-school-baseball/2014-04-10/playing-hardball-few-girls-make-name-themselves-plains#.VIKdQGct0Sl

 http://myersparktrinity.blogspot.com/2010/12/girls-can-play-baseball-too.html

WMLB and my Lady Redlegs v. the San Diego Madres

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

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

New Orleans: Visiting the Possibility of more Pro Sports

Nothing I'm about to say to sports-minded and geography-minded individuals is going to be brilliant, especially if you are a native and lover of New Orleans.  But here she goes:

Football and Basketball is big time American enough.  New Orleans has a national stage every year.  Additionally, football is represented in college and arena.

But the cream of le crop of American Apple Pie and Big Time cities is the ol' passtime of baseball.
Currently, the Triple-A team for the Marlins is the New Orleans Zephyrs.  Before 1978, the Pelicans (now the name of the NBA team) played baseball in the minors. Major League Baseball has an Urban Youth Academy in town and that's great.  There are seven across the country right now, and other than New Orleans the only other outside of a MLB town is in Puerto Rico.
mlb.com/community/uya.jsp

Over a million people call the area home.  Right now, that figure doesn't come close to cutting it for MLB's business model.  There are a lot of considerations for other cities before a thought of New Orleans. 
bizjournals.com/bizjournals/on-numbers/scott-thomas/2011/08/methodology-for-sports-capacity-study.html

Rounding out the Big 4, you would need hockey.  For seeing hockey:  maybe not in my lifetime for the NHL.  Dey just don't care.  I think it's a safe guess, though crazier things have happened, like teams sludging through Florida and Arizona.

Big Five?
New Orleans.  A port at the heart of America.

 Next?
Get 'dat football team.  Land Major League Soccer.  Regionally, I would put my money on Austin or San Antonio next, but I bet it's in your future before anything else.


wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_in_New_Orleans wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_in_New_Orleans


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