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Big Five

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Geographic Twin Cities in Major Sports America. Some Thoughts on a Regional Brand Franchise

100 miles in between big cities in America. That's basically how it is.

Not the existing St. Paul-Minneapolis combo.
But look at other, essentially twin-cities.

And it's nothing to say of Dallas-Arlington or NYC-Brooklyn Borough or New Jersey.  Suburbia is a reality in America.

I have blog blabbed  (mentioned) much of this before:
Omaha-Lincoln isn't a 50 miles separation
Cincinnati-Dayton  A minor league soccer club is having a nearly seamless transition in a relocation from the Cincinnati Saints to a reincarnate brand of Dayton Dynamo.  Basically less than 40 miles apart.  Ditto for Cleveland-Akron.
Austin-San Antonio is not 75 miles apart.
Tuscaloosa to Birmingham isn't an hour or sixty miles
Albuquerque to Santa Fe is 60 miles.

In theory, put one stadium or arena in between these cities.  For instance, Middletown is a Cincinnati-Dayton place and San Marcos the same in Texas.

What about a Toronto brand named Ontario?  It's essentially the town of both in Hamilton.  It's just the way it's branded.

The twin-cities nod, with cities not necessarily being across the river from each other, just reminds us that the proximity of each other can make for a super metro area and we all know it could be a logical weekly trek, or a relatively short hike for both footballs in America.  It's why I want an Ohio Divided franchise of MLS.  And it could be soon.  Because Dayton and Cincinnati and Paul Brown Stadium.  And Columbus already in the market.

Rochester and Buffalo minor league baseball shows some triple A baseball teams.    With the influx of an MLB team in that area, minor leagues departure from Upstate NY could mean minor league teams somewhere else.

Instead of increasing the number of AAA teams, would there be more minor league team colaboratives or an improved existing product for minor league affiliates?

Every good minor league team at higher tiered levels can have 3 guys that are major league material and the rest are there to help those very same guys improve.  Essentially that's the reality.  All of that is just thought for how when MLB expands, so might the minor leagues.  And with a two place team, the void of home (camp) games at one location could be the home (camp) games for the newly created minor league twin-city affiliate.  You know, bouncing back and forth and switching out.

Yes there are business issues like market saturation.  And regional sports networks rights.  All solvable.   Maybe my model of multi-town teams is foolish in the money aspect, even if great for ambiance because the money is more in television than it is in the seats (as of 2012).
What are your thoughts on this?

Nerd stuff:  daytondailynews.com/news/news/a-combined-cincinnati-dayton-metropolitan
 Think with your heads.

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Friday, December 4, 2015

Map of Major League Looks for MLS

I found it rather disappointing of Major League Soccer to expand as if they're MLB as they doubled up on spots like NYC and Los Angeles.  That's two spots that could've became a bigger soccer town like Charlotte and Tucson, Arizona to say the least.

The thought even occurred to me how the Chivas could've dissolved into a joint Los Angeles-Las Vegas  squad branded as West Coast.  I think the league is missing out on some expansion ideas.  For sharing towns for one team, the footballs, being a weekly venue, might not be the greatest pitch for my model, but many facilities are already in place in cities all across America.  Be environmentally friendly like the Sounders.  Use the places in place.

See some placemarks on the map.


What about some Detroit Arsenal?   or Diesel
New Orleans Monarchs
Santa Fe-Albuquerque Express
Ohio Divided housed in between Cinci-Dayton.
                                 I'd even love them playing at the NFL fields in Cinci and Browntown
Or, stealing from my hockey pitch:  Great Lakes Armada playing in Milwaukee and Cleveland?
Texas Excited playing in San Marcos in between Austin and San Antonio
Arizona Phoenix in Tucson
Boise Blue Sox
Carolina Wave     Fleet?
Speaking of the south, I get excited with the concept of a Bootleggers brand, coined something Southern or Appalachian.  FC Dixie unfortunately can evoke connotation but damn if it doesn't have a ring to it.  And Dukes.  But like I said.  

In that same region I think of a triangle of "Louis United" for Louisiana, St. Louis and Louisville.

There is some room for a "Midland" brand Barons, Stampede, Cattlemen, Ranchers, Squadron, Brigaide and on and on.

Some fun thoughts for me:  When another team comes around for Chicago, let's get something to the boys in blue ...and maybe even the nerds...perhaps the "Force".
"Baron Dakota" gives me a chuckle with the thoughts of "barren" and oil.
Keeping with that cuteness, thoughts trickle to me of a tag-travel team brand for the stretches of Winnipeg to the two big spots of Calgary and Edmonton.  And the name:  Planes Canada (Plains).

Baltimore should chime in on a Baltimore-DC United brand.  What about a San Diego brand called "So Cal".  What else?

Any thoughts on marketing or locations?

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Tiered Map of the Next Expansions: NBA

I see the biggest balls fired at Seattle and Louisville.

See the likes of Little Rock, Birmingham, Boise and New Mexico?

The Show-Me State has MLB and NFL in its two towns but not the hardwood.  Kings (Royals) lineage to both KC and St.L in Missouri and in Omaha had a shared court after it was a Cincinnati and Rochester franchise.

See Cincinnati lumped in with Dayton on the map? (See post:  Ohio Aviators NBA Team)
Pittsburgh is another major league spot without.

The NBA has found homes in other big show neglected sports stays like San Antonio, Sacramento, Memphis and Oklahoma City.  The dance is even in Orlando, Portland and SLC (all now MLS spots).

Because of basketball, the NHL and NFL easily gave Charlotte the shot that kept on giving.  MLS is sure to give her a nod. 

We can envision some futures.  What are some you see?

See samples, such as the West Coast Clippers, Athletics and Raiders:
...and more

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Thursday, December 3, 2015

Expansion of One Team in Each of the Big Five Sports to Canada

And they will be All-Canada teams!  By that, I mean likely a team full of mercenaries representing a team for all of Canada.  And it could split time between Canadian locations for home games ("camp" games).

I have no intention on offending anyone's sensibilities by this image.  I'm just demonstrating my wish for more than just Toronto expansion, especially in the Big 3 or 4 or 5 sports, depending on who your are.
What to call Canadian franchises?  ....Especially ones that are housed in more than one Canadian settlement?  The Emperors?  Prime Ministers the Ministers.  Rakers?  Obviously I'll need some north input.

Take a look at some of my thoughts:

MLB:  North Country Lumberjacks (the 'Jacks) playing in both Vancouver and Montreal.  Click below.
( Major League Baseball in Vancouver and Montreal. Make it one team. North Country Lumberjacks)

NFL:  Norde Force playing at most if not all CFL facilities.  Or would you all prefer a bland conventional
                                                    expansion like something as a Toronto Lakers brand?
( Another Canadian MLB Franchise? Vancouver Athletics and Raiders? And the Norde Force Canadian NFL Team)

NBA:  Northland Voyagers?  Flight(s)?  Do you think Montreal and Vancouver along with other places?

MLS:  Norde Outlanders?  Same concept:  Travel Tag Team to suit the not-so Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver markets.  The Reindeer?  The Regiment - oh, that's kickass!
 And now for a more passionate inquiry:
NHL:  Saskatoon Reign?  Or would a North Coast Reign or Northlakes brand get some craze in the seats in places like Hamilton or Nova Scotia? The Fleet?  Could Saskatoon split time with the Dakotas territory as a North Coast or Midlakes Brand?  So many questions.


Television revenue more than makes up for any lackluster attendance figures in any of the sports.  Sometimes I want to say to a league, in this context, "To hell with your fancy schmancy venue requirements.  Have you ever seen the Winter Classics?"  Okay, sure, you don't want to house games in comparatively dumpy arenas, but if it's good for the Cincinnati Cyclones, I think that both the fans and players can manage some seats and a locker room whether they're Blue Jackets fans or players.  Or visitors in general. 

Even if the venue doesn't house a desirable amount of seats I bet you that they're easier to fill up, and besides, television ratings reign supreme.  It's the number one factor in sport$ spectatorship.  It's why the Rays are still in Tampa.  And with a team and its seats, there is always that factor of absence-makes-the-heart-grow-fonder vibe either way.  And Canada is one helluva' Regional Sports Network, wouldn't you say?

What do you think?  Got any ideas for team names?  Would Canadian prefer a unifying brand name that's more unifying, nationalistic, fun or all of the above?


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Tiered Map of the Next Expansions: National Hockey League

Apparently, a desert brand in Arizona is not far enough away from the thoughts of Las Vegas.  And while Vegas is a different kind of oasis of crowds altogether, Seattle and Portland hold much more cold water.  So you can see where I'm laying my chips.
Not pictured on the map is Kansas City, which has a suitable big league arena.  Cincinnati is pictured and has one in the works as a major renovation.  For a long time, I've fancied a Great Lakes brand shared between the lakelands of Cleveland and Milwaukee.  Indianapolis could tag in on that brand along with Cinci.  SLC and Austin have the appeal.  Yes yes and yes to Austin over Houston.  Saskatoon could bring the love.  That's the hockey ambiance in my mind.  And road trips would also bolster an Omaha-Lincoln or Dakota brand.  Wouldn't that be a great regional brand named Midlands. 

Atlanta's hockey is much like Montreal's baseball is in my mind,....ya's had your shot, now get to the back of the line.  For a reincarnation of Montreal baseball, I believe a North Country brand shared with old Grizzly lands in Vancouver could make a viable brand in an east, central or west division.  And in the Canadian brand of daily games that is hockey, it would be neat to see a Southlakes brand shared between Nashville and Atlanta.

I'm advocating for Toronto 2 to be branded Ontario, in Hamilton or no.

Any thoughts?

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Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Sacramento Soccer for MLS. NEWS


News as of late is that Beckham and all of his soccer brilliance has culminated in a stadium stall down in Miami.  So it may be looking better for Sacramento in a way, whether the help turns out to be needed or not in landing a quicker spot as an expansion team at the big time level.  Hopefully northern Cali gets more rumble than just the 'Quakes.  Will the club bring the Sacramento Republic name up with them?

I have a suggestion though.

Do something bigger, city of the Sacramento Kings.  Expand your empire.  Be the California Emperors.  Or even the West Coast Emperors.  You're the state capitol.  Represent.  Represent bigger.  Because after all, you're bigger than that.



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Tiered Map of the Next Expansions: NFL

To me, barring Toronto's entry, Louisville lands it in the east.

Los Angeles just gives me a headache.  20 + years?  Equals mindblown.  That craziness might be balanced out by another kind, that being the chance of the Rams and Chargers moving into suburbia LA.

Wouldn't Portland like their football facade to be the Raiders brand?  I bet they'd take the Rams too.

So what do you think?  The Portland Horseman and Kentucky Downs sound like good teams?

Well anyway, I'd love to see Jacksonville taking a long vacation from the NFL.  It's a Florida city AND a navy city.  It is tarps up butt-hurt seats.  And it's not butt-hurt by any kind of additional weight from hot dogs, let alone a person.  Floridasportsitis.  Like Tampa baseball  I'm not a fan.  I've blogged about them moving to or sharing with Birmingham under the name of a Southland brand.  Or to Toronto, Louisville or making some kind of Alliance or Armada with London.  Just anything else.  I even said the Jackson Jaguars of Mississippi.  And I'm not kidding.  I think Portland or Louisville are more deserving than three in Florida.  Dissolve them and make them the Oklahoma Oilers, Cattlemen or Ranchers.

Shouldn't be too tough to deduce the four dots down the line and west of the Mississip.

There's a lot of football in Texas.  While there are no doubt fans of Cowboys in Oklahoma, a lot of them are of the college variety.  Texas already has 2 teams.  So, maybe OKC gets the nod before then.

If you're from Jacksonville or St. Louis you were probably saying, "hey man, tell me what you really think".
Return the favor, y'all.  Tell me whatcha' think.


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Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Tiered Map of the Next Expansions: MLB

Popular thought for MLB expansion is a bring-back to Montreal (absent since 2004), and expansion to Portland in the west and Charlotte in the east.


Big Ballers indicate Portland, Montreal and Charlotte as popular thoughts.  Places like Vegas are more of a question mark than a dot.

This map shows what I see as the Tier 1 and Tier Two cities as far as landing a team in maybe a 1st and 2nd expansion.  Expansion would likely come further down the road for San Antonio, Indianapolis and Nashville. 

Further down the line would likely see Las Vegas, Oklahoma City and New Orleans.

Throughout my blog I talk about combining cities for one regional team, for instance, imagine the Oakland A's renaming themselves West Coast and also playing in Portland.  The Athletics, with their stadium desires, are located roughly 20 miles away from the Giants.  They could move to Sacramento and become the California A's.  Or the Angels could split time with northern California.

I'm a big fan of partially or wholly relocating the Athletics and Rays.

What do you think?

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About College Baseball and Hockey Getting Bigger

Minor League football and basketball has had a minor league system for years called the NCAA.  Basketball has had the D-League for a minute.  And there is some momentum if it isn't just talk for minor league football.

Baseball and hockey have had players mature and prosper through the college ranks but their main feeders have been their farm clubs and affiliates.  Could boosters keep their crowds hot for their students in alumni in the Spring for baseball?  Hockey schools usually keep a reasonably small amount of seating, kind of like UC Bearcat baseball's 2k seats.

There has been a hum about wood bats coming to college.  I think the whistle ping of bats is going out of style.  Baseball and hockey don't generally garner crowds the like of Division I College programs.

So anyway, that's a big no-duh to many sports fans.  How can baseball and hockey become more hyped and hoot-worthy?

2,200 record crowd for UC Bearcats home campus game.
No need for outfield seating for this stadium nestled on campus



24,000 seats at the World Series every year in Omaha


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Sunday, November 29, 2015

News. MLB Europe and NFL Europe. Cincinnati


My Bengals are leaping from the Jungle to the Pond.  And there has been a Who Dey Embassy there since the 1980s.

espn1530.com/onair/mo-egger-9170/listen-a-bengals-fan-from-london


Baseball is obviously taking a note out of the NFL expansion playbook by its plan of action to do regular season in Europe and Mexico.

usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2015/11/11/mlb-hopes-for-european-games-within-5-years


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Friday, November 27, 2015

Imagine some Minor League Football Affiliations and Brands. Part II, In or Outside the Big League City

NFL minor league affiliates if they played the same place as the NFL parent.  Or another town.
Note some expansion-by-place names for some.

In Town, sharing the varsity field
Perhaps a most local flavor in name while sharing the existing pro infrastructure
COWBOYS: Texas Tycoons
PATRIOTS:  Foxborough Foxes (think the British chasing)
EAGLES:  Philly Iggles
BENGALS:  Ohio Nnats (Gnats) or Fightin' Cinci-natians.  The Dayton Bengal Tigers could still play there
BROWNS: Rock-n-Roll Hall of Famers, Ohio Rockin' Roll Calls.  Shuhboohka.  See what I did there?

BEARS: Chicagoland Express
COLTS:  Indiana Stable
STEELERS:  Eastland Ironmen
RAVENS:  Baltimore Banners
GIANTS:  NY Gnats ?

JETS:  Brooklyn Bombers
SEAHAWKS:   Star Bucks (yep, I left room for sponsoship and maybe even Nascar lookin' helmets)
PACKERS:  Green Bay Backers
RAIDERS:  West Coast Raiders 
BRONCOS:  Colorado Rapids 

49ERS: California Goldenboys
DOLPHINS: Florida Fishermen  
CHIEFS:  Kansas Todos
CARDINALS:  Phoenix Preachers
BILLS:  Ontario Lakers

VIKINGS:  Minni Soda Tike Kings (sponsored by pepsi products), or Minnesota Brigades
LIONS:  Michigan Riders
REDSKINS: Chesapeake Bay Navy
PANTHERS:  Rally Cats
CHARGERS: Beachers

SAINTS:  Southern Sounds
RAMS: Mississippi river Rams
FALCONS:  Birmingham Elephants
TEXANS    Texas Stampede
JAGUARS:  Southlakes Sailors (Jacksonville)

BUCCANEERS:  St. Petersburg Wave
TITANS:  Tennessee Dueling Banjos

Aesthetic enough?

Out or in-town minor league affiliate?
...mostly from the part one post

 COWBOYS:  OKC Cattle Drive
PATRIOTS:  Road Islanders
EAGLES:  Philly Iggles, consider Scranton Beagles
BENGALS:  Dayton Tigers
BROWNS:  Canton Bulldogs

BEARS: Midway Iowans
COLTS:  Ft. Wayne Horseman
STEELERS:  West Virginia Ironmen
RAVENS:  Baltimore Banners
GIANTS: New Jersey Generals, NY Gnats ?

 JETS:  Portland Jets (Oregon).  Bold huh?
SEAHAWKS:  Vancouver Hawks
PACKERS:  Milwaukee Backers or Bootleggers
RAIDERS:  West Coast Raiders (of Las Vegas)
BRONCOS:  Salt Lake City Steeds 

49ERS:  Boise Bluelegs.  Or does Bluebloods or Blueboots sound niftier?
DOLPHINS:  Tallahassee Fishermen  
CHIEFS:  Kansas Chiefs (Play in KC or Topeka)
CARDINALS:  Albuquerque Road Runners
BILLS:  Toronto Billygoats

 VIKINGS:  Dakota Oilers
LIONS:  Lansing Ligers
REDSKINS:  Virginian Marylanders
PANTHERS:  Rally Durham Triangles (Raleigh)
CHARGERS:  Tijuana Bulls

 SAINTS:  Southern Saints (Jackson, Mississippi)
RAMS:  Kentucky Downs (Louisville)
FALCONS:  Birmingham Elephants
TEXANS:    Texas Ranchers
JAGUARS:  Southlakes Sailors (Jacksonville)

BUCCANEERS:  Pensacola Pirates
TITANS:  Memphis Trumpeters 


 Go ahead, call me a flop.

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Imagine some Minor League Football Affiliations and Brands

     Spit-ball with me.  What day would they play?  Which place?  Should the teams be more like a regional fence post, or should they just play at the same facilities as an NFL parent club?  Or even the same day as a pre-game flexor and exhibition?  $5 more to get into the gate earlier?:

COWBOYS:  OKC Cattle Drive
PATRIOTS:  Road Islanders
EAGLES:  Philly Iggles
BENGALS:  Dayton Tigers,...or should they be the Dayton Triangles (of ol')?
BROWNS:  Canton Bulldogs....or is a better market move the Columbus Panhandles (or too much OSU already)?




BEARS: Midway Iowans
COLTS:  Ft. Wayne Horseman
STEELERS:  West Virginia Ironmen
RAVENS:    
Baltimore Banners                                                      

Take that, ye terrorist chimpanzees

GIANTS: New Jersey Generals, NY Gnats ?

JETS:  Portland Jets (Oregon).  Bold huh?
SEAHAWKS:  Vancouver Hawks
PACKERS:  Milwaukee Backers
RAIDERS:  West Coast Raiders (of Las Vegas)
BRONCOS:  Salt Lake City Steeds 

49ERS:  Boise Bluelegs.  Or does Bluebloods or Blueboots sound niftier?
DOLPHINS:  Tallahassee Fishermen  
CHIEFS:  Kansas Chiefs (Play in KC or Topeka)
CARDINALS:  Albuquerque Road Runners
BILLS:  Toronto Billygoats

VIKINGS:  Dakota Oilers
LIONS:  Lansing Ligers
REDSKINS:  Virginian Marylanders
PANTHERS:  Rally Durham Triangles (Raleigh)
CHARGERS:  Tijuana Bulls

SAINTS:  Southern Saints (Jackson, Mississippi)
RAMS:  Kentucky Downs (Louisville)
FALCONS:  Birmingham Elephants
TEXANS    El Paso Texans
JAGUARS:  Southlakes Sailors (Jacksonville)

BUCCANEERS:  Pensacola Pirates
TITANS:  Memphis Trumpeters

Logistically sound?  Some neat choice names of ambiance?

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Thursday, November 26, 2015

A Team in an East City and One West City for a 34 Team NFL. Choose your Merry Christmas.

And out of fashion with most of my blogospheric condition and campaign for a multi-town team, I'm saying pick one. Pick one city in the east and one in the west that should get a NFL team.

West:  Boise, Salt Lake City, Oklahoma City, Austin/San Antonio, Little Rock and Vegas of the Las.  I guess I could stretch and touch onto untoucheds like Omaha and Albuquerque.  Honorable mentions.

East:  Louisville, Toronto and Birmingham

Okay, I'll go east to west.
I'd say Birmingham if not for the reality of Jacksonville.  But sorry.  And I find 3 teams in Florida as bleh, especially under the same expansion drafting with their southeastern region neighbor in Carolina.

Without embracing my Canadian brand idea of Norde Force with a multi-CFL-Stadium-sharing football, I can't vote for Toronto.  Different week, different Canadian towns for such a franchise I think could work, and Canadian television ratings and northern unity would kill it.  In a good way.  I think the NFL and CFL could co-exist and the NFL would serve as a northern unifier and perhaps enhance Canada's brand.  The NCAA tit to our NFL tat, if you will.  Maybe one day we could share a minor league system.   
See this November's post mentioning minor league football.

Proximity to Colts Country and Bengal Brand could be an argument against locating in Louisville.  But rivalry.  And that's good.

I vote for Louisville.  And before, I've blogged about the Kentucky Downs.  <click>

Out of the many choices of the west, I'm partial to be braver with a twice per month venue, in a sport with many suitable stadiums in place like football.  So I mull over the likes of Little Rock.  SEC college football's presence there doesn't make my choice seem so much as brave as logical.  OKC already has a big ball.  So does SLC.  They have big balls in Utah already, both are round and one is already afoot.  Texas already has enough big balls; maybe not big enough to them, like Texas sized for a measure, but I'm more apt to share and spread the love with OKC than central Texas.  Ditto for El Paso and further west to New Mexico's Santa Fe or Albuquerque, though that might be a good idea since there's no big shadow of super major college football to compete or overcome. 

I would've thought MLS and then NBA, in that order for Las Vegas as its first sports landings.  And again, a weekly buildup for football can work in a lot of places.  But Las Vegas is one of the worldly never sleepsing towns, and as cosmo as it is, their football should be true to its name.  The international football kicked more frequently with feet that is.  My vote is for that soccer futbol over the elbowfingerball American brand.  I'd love Vegas to share the West Coast Raiders.  But anyway.

So my virgin choice of Little Rock is there and Boise is up for consideration too.  Boise Blues has a ring to it?  Boise Blue Legs?  If you know your football and fields I won't have to break it down for ya'.
And oh God, how it's hard to resist this one-choice quandary as I box myself in with a title and convention.  I'd like to combine OKC and Little Rock into a two or more state regional powerbrand by having a Midland Stampede team or Mustangs brand.  Or Midland Cattlemen (take that CowBoys!).

But I'm sorry, heart over mind:  Oklahoma City wins.  Population of all of Arkansas is 3 mill.  Little Rock Band has a nice ring to it though right?  Oklahoma Oilers is alliteration.  OKC Cattlemen does too.  But here's my expansion of brand compromise.  It ain't the Boston Patriots, baby.  The team is in Oklahoma City but I still want it with the Midland name.  That's more than a 7 million people name.  Express, Pack, whatever.

Midland.            Oklahoma City.

Don't be a dry old jive turkey.  Be unconventional.  If we can't do two-town teams, especially in the multiple games per week sports, look to brands like New England, Golden State and Carolina; not the unFlorida Marlins or unCalifornia Angels of Anaheim.

Louisville.  OKC.  Kentucky.  Midland.

As you can see, either way, I'm more for an expansive expansion.  Regional Sports Network this.  Think apparel with that.  Cha-ching.
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Minor League Football. The Better Idea?

This idea could aid the sport in an effort to stop patronizing universities and producing Johnny Footballs.  A development league.  A maturation process.  There's nothing wrong with a blue collar option as part of a broader hardworking American attitude adjustment.

I gleaned some ESPN background noise and heard Trent Dilfer talk about improving the NFL's product.  He would do it through development.
He said that he's writing an article about it for ESPN magazine.

In the past Arena Football as well as CFL have been considered a farm for the NFL, more so in the past, but the leagues are different games on the ground essentially.  Many leagues have come and gone.

My question to football hungry folks and geography sports nerds alike is this: what cities should get a minor league NFL team?  In its infancy as a development (minor) league, do you think many of the programs would share the grounds of the big league programs?  And what days would they play?

I find it particularly of poor taste having college or pro games on Friday nights.  If you don't know why I feel that way, you must be a really late football bloomer.

Also, in the adult world of business, I'm not the biggest fan of essentially extending Monday Night Football into something like a Thursday.  Daddy's gotta get up in the morning.  Are you with me on this?  Sorry  I went a little off tract.  But anyway, what day to play for the minors?

And what are some good affiliate towns for the likes of Cowboy nation (with a camp already in Cali) and the Bengals?  Would a minor league squad in Louisville or Dayton be good for a Tigers team?
Sounds like fodder for another post to me.  Name a city and give a name that team.

Whata'yah'tink?

espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/page/hotread140604/nfl-minor-league-address-injuries-player-development

 


On a side note:  I think there is a sore need for most companies to stop having sorry excuses of navigating much-to-be-desired information for these big organizations websites.  Consulting niche?

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Wednesday, November 25, 2015

To many, Seattle and Portland without Big Hockey First is Crazy Stupid

seattletimes.com/sports/other-sports/is-nhl-expansion-decision-in-quebec-city-las-vegas-delayed-because-of-seattle-city-councils-sodo-arena-vote/

Get in line, desert hockey.  We've seen that mirage already.  At least it's a watered down, if not melted allusion, compared  to the beautiful sounds and northern bays for the cold import of ice hockey into more of America.

In the spirit of my regional expansion teams (tag teams) idea, I'd like to see a franchise killing two birds with one stone.  I'd love to see a joint team, a tag team for the towns of Seattle and Portland.  It would be a Northwest brand.  West Coast Ghosts sounds fantastic.  Or Grey Coast Ghosts.  'Jacks (Lumberjacks), Fleet, Armada,...so many options.  Let Glendale and Las Vegas share camps for the West Coast Coyotes or call it Death Valley and name it the Phantoms or Horsemen.  Riders.  Brigade.  Banshees.  Wolf Pack  My goodness, that made me hard.

Does what I said sound like an efficient if not at least an exponential expansion?
Texas.  Hooah.  A Phantom Soldier on a real base.  See my posts about NHL in Austin.
I've mentioned some of the above in blog posts before.

Sound off.  What do you think?




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Saturday, November 21, 2015

Respectable Texas Brand Identities and talk of an Austin NHL Identity

Respectably and thoughtful geographic brands are out there.  Here are some:

New England Patriots
Golden State Warriors
Carolina Hurricanes
Texas Rangers

What I'd like to see again:  the Florida Marlins
Arizona Cardinals and Coyotes were respectable moves
I'd like to see a Carolina'esque franchise for hockey based in the Dakotas. 
But likely, as expected, franchises will go where the money is, and in times with saturation,where the market is untapped.  It's a safer wager.  I'm thinking with the size of Austin, Houston, and Texas in general, coupled with NHL's expansion trend, it'll be the Lone Star State before the colder plains.

Look at the state of Texas.  You have greater Dallas, San Antonio and Houston.

You have Stars, Spurs, Rangers, Astros, Mavericks, Rockets, Cowboys, Texans
They stick true to identity of their claim.
Respectable brands.  Embraced apparel and fashion for most every hat wearing Texan.

marymcintoshart.fineartstudioonline.com
I see more hockey coming into the fold.  If you thought Houston, you were close.  Austin it should be.

What would be the brand name?  I vote Texas.  Dallas has a high minor league hockey AHL affiliate in greater Austin, called the Texas Stars.  Perhaps if Austin lands the big time claim, Houston could scoop that up.

But back to the Austin brand name hopes:  I like the Cattlemen, Cattle Drive (The Drive), Texas Herd.  What else?


Soccer?  I've mentioned in the blog before "Texas Excited and Texas Divided"

Will Texas stick consistently with their locational identity for the next team?  What're some good names?


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See much more expansion, co-location and relocation talk for the
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Friday, November 20, 2015

How Could Athletics Baseball Attendance Be Improved?

And ratings be broadened?


sexyteamfans.com
Those are your figures.  You may say their numbers of butts in seats would be better with a new ballpark.  I'm sure they would but that's not the feeling for the electorate on the east side of San Fran.   I think the overall attendance would be improved if half the time, or a quarter of the time, would be spent in Las Vegas under the West Coast moniker.

It's talked about throughout my blog, perhaps my favorite franchise expansion-slash-morph and territory expansion.  The West Coast Athletics.  Even if the team stayed in Oakland or went to Sacramento or San Jose, having the brand deemed California or West Coast would bring in more apparel money.  Think Portland. 

And I have also talked about some combo-nations for places teaming up with Tampa.

Think about how playing in multiple places would make the heart grow fonder in other hometowns and how that might improve attendance.


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Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Sorry St. Louis. What are you Going to Raid? A Pontoon down in Saints Country? #NFL St. Louis and L.A.

This article purports the chance of the Raiders going to St. Louis when the Rams and Chargers come to call Los Angeles home.

The identity of St. Louis is music and docile birds; not river marauders. 


I'm with the author on this much:  the merry-go-round of moving teams would piss me off if I were, let's say, an Oakland or San Diego fan.  I'd tell the NFL to piss off if I was scorned.  

What say you?

Pissing off like a golden arch. 


St. Louis blog post:  click here

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Saturday, November 14, 2015

Will one of the Big Five Sports have a team in the Middle East Africa or Antarctica first?

I wouldn't wager on it.
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Thursday, November 12, 2015

Expansion of the NHL and NFL to Europe. *And NFL to LA. *Chicago D-League. NEWS

NHL to Europe?

I'd like to see an all-Europe team representing Europa.  Call them the Europa Armada.  That sound good?
Not saying that they should be a team comprised of all Europeans and Swedes.  The typical mercenary roster fits the bill, as the NHL is not to be the olympics.
theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/travel-economic-issues-surface-at-nhl-nfl-european-expansion-panel/article27184108/
And in the spirit of my one-team for multiple places, let the squad skate around Helsinki, London, Moscow and Prague.  Or some such.



Will the Chargers and/or Rams move to the LA area? 
Some say that a vote for 2016 NFL for the city of angels would have to come by late Winter in order to happen:

idahostatesman.com/news/business/national-business/article44259939.html



Chicago is getting a D-League team for its suburbs.
si.com/nba/2015/11/11/chicago-bulls-d-league-team-hoffman-estates-sears-centre 


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Saturday, November 7, 2015

Omaha! Omaha! Broncos Country



QB Manning calls this audible.  It's eastward.  How much thought did he put into the name?  Nebraska, sandwiched in between Vikings and Broncos turf and wafting the wind of the Chiefs.

One day, far far away, when the number of Division I college football programs 'exponentiates, places like OKC, Little Rock, Omaha, Topeka and El Paso will have NFL franchises, heavens above permitting.

Look at the map.  I'm sure a person of sound mind living in Omaha knows there are those ahead in the line for franchises, name your sport.  Las Vegas and Louisville are bound to bring their states into the major leagues of something.  Austin will beckon something in the heart of Texas.  They deserve hockey more than Houston.  Brand it Texas and they'll definitely draw Houston fandom anyway.  I believe Omaha will call on the NHL for its first.  Boise will do something eventually.  Hopefully the likes of Omaha or the Dakotas will land something cool like hockey before Cleveland and Milwaukee saturate further.  Those untapped markets deserve it more so than even my love, Cincinnati.  My mind and my heart over my heart.


What do you see in the map?  In my blog, I see a way for SLC, Boise, Austin and Omaha to get in on part of the action.  It becomes more feasible when you talk about all but the footballs, because the footballs are a weekly venue.  In a way, the weekly draw for the smaller market is more suitable for the draw.  But more games, spread out, spreads the love, and likely fills more seats because of less opportunities, essentially being less days to pass up for a fan to attend a hockey, basketball or baseball game.  The money made by regional sports networks and their territories clouds the issues even further.  But essentially I'm talking about regional teams combining for power.

If an expansion team came into the NHL for the heart of America, imagine Austin and Omaha tag teaming for the Midland Cattledrive or Cattlemen.  Imagine a brand.

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Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Small Market Baseball Wins the World Series Championship!!!

Congrats Kansas City.
....formerly home of the NBA's Kansas City-Omaha (& St. Louis) Kings



Look at this list of market sizes:



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