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Is the NBA in Hartford's future?

MadVlad

By MadVlad
in Greater Hartford

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dgreco City

dgreco

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Aren't the Nets already moving to Brooklyn or Queens? I think we should take the Bobcats, that'll even out things for the Whale (and get Okafor back)

Maybe not the bobcats, but the hornets? The reason I say the nets, is because the arena plans as far as I know haven't been finalized, so location isn't definate, it would be ncie is they were the New York Nets again though.

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MadVlad Town

MadVlad

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Maybe not the bobcats, but the hornets? The reason I say the nets, is because the arena plans as far as I know haven't been finalized, so location isn't definate, it would be ncie is they were the New York Nets again though.

50 Cent lives here, maybe he'll buy into the Nets and him and Jay-Z can move the team here....

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JimSawhill Hamlet

JimSawhill

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50 Cent lives here, maybe he'll buy into the Nets and him and Jay-Z can move the team here....

MadVlad:

I forgot 50Cent bought Mike Tyson's old house - which was Ben Stisi's (of Colonial Property) house - and was one of the largest homes in CT. Of course, Colonial was one reason the Whalers moved -- they owned it!!

JimS

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Lone Ranger Burg

Lone Ranger

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How far do you need to travel from New Orleans or Salt Lake City to be in the sphere of influence of another NBA market?

I see your point, but really, how long has it been since either the Celtics or Knicks was truly relevant? Market size isn't necessarily a static number. I mean, the Celtics might claim Rhode Island as their market, but I'm sorry, Ryan Gomes being a Celt is the only reason most basketball fans here give a damn about the Lil' Green Men.

And if the Celtics ever become contenders again, I'm sure the apathy would lessen. But in the meantime, there's no inspiring professional basketball being played in New York or Boston.

All I'm saying is that, right now, there could be a niche to fill, if somebody wanted to try.

Tycoon mentions Orlando: now there's another metro of fewer than 2m people that supports a basketball team. San Antonio is another, and as a franchise, they've had some success I think. Indianapolis is another success story, a metro of 1.6m, virtually the same size as the Providence metro. In fact, where Providence is the 35th largest metro in the US, Indianapolis is the 34th. And Charlotte is the 36th largest, a metro of 1.5m: of course, they too have a pro basketball team. So does Milwaukee, the 37th largest metro. And I already mentioned New Orleans, the 40th largest metro. And Memphis has a team, the 41st largest metro. And I already mentioned Salt Lake City, the 50th largest metro.

The NBA has clearly identified these secondary markets as places where it can establish itself, and even thrive.

And that's not even accounting for the relative wealth or poverty of these respective areas, another area where Hartford (or more generally, Connecticut) can make a strong case for itself. :whistling:

Not to mention the fact that ESPN is HQ'ed in the Hartford metro. That's instant PR for a new NBA team in Hartford, I assure you. My Tampa Bay friends complain to no end about ESPN and their East Coast bias ...

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drc72 Burg

drc72

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50 Cent lives here, maybe he'll buy into the Nets and him and Jay-Z can move the team here....

As much as I would love to see that I doubt it will happen. I think the Supersonic's are ripe for the picking and Larry G should go after them.

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dgreco City

dgreco

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I see your point, but really, how long has it been since either the Celtics or Knicks was truly relevant? Market size isn't necessarily a static number. I mean, the Celtics might claim Rhode Island as their market, but I'm sorry, Ryan Gomes being a Celt is the only reason most basketball fans here give a damn about the Lil' Green Men.

And if the Celtics ever become contenders again, I'm sure the apathy would lessen. But in the meantime, there's no inspiring professional basketball being played in New York or Boston.

All I'm saying is that, right now, there could be a niche to fill, if somebody wanted to try.

Tycoon mentions Orlando: now there's another metro of fewer than 2m people that supports a basketball team. San Antonio is another, and as a franchise, they've had some success I think. Indianapolis is another success story, a metro of 1.6m, virtually the same size as the Providence metro. In fact, where Providence is the 35th largest metro in the US, Indianapolis is the 34th. And Charlotte is the 36th largest, a metro of 1.5m: of course, they too have a pro basketball team. So does Milwaukee, the 37th largest metro. And I already mentioned New Orleans, the 40th largest metro. And Memphis has a team, the 41st largest metro. And I already mentioned Salt Lake City, the 50th largest metro.

The NBA has clearly identified these secondary markets as places where it can establish itself, and even thrive.

And that's not even accounting for the relative wealth or poverty of these respective areas, another area where Hartford (or more generally, Connecticut) can make a strong case for itself. :whistling:

Not to mention the fact that ESPN is HQ'ed in the Hartford metro. That's instant PR for a new NBA team in Hartford, I assure you. My Tampa Bay friends complain to no end about ESPN and their East Coast bias ...

The reason so many smaller metros have successful teams is because of the sport, most arenas hold 15,000 on average, where a football team holds 65,000... Indy is a good example of how to have a football team, but I think it is very possible for hartford to support an NHL/NBA team with no problems. They could probably support both.

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MadVlad Town

MadVlad

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The reason so many smaller metros have successful teams is because of the sport, most arenas hold 15,000 on average, where a football team holds 65,000... Indy is a good example of how to have a football team, but I think it is very possible for hartford to support an NHL/NBA team with no problems. They could probably support both.

I think most markets that have arenas with professional teams have a capacity much larger than 15k. The Civic Center seats over 15k currently. I'd estimate the average capacity for all these newer arenas that house pro teams would be high 17k, low 18k....

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robm324 Whistle-Stop

robm324

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Football works well in small markets because they are only selling to 8 dates, and besides that, the revenue sharing that exists in the NFL blows away any other sports. NFL teams split gate receipts 60/40 with the away team. These are the reasons that there is still a successful franchise in Green Bay, WI.

Plus there is more TV money floating around in the NFL than in any other sport. The NFL would have worked in Hartford with flying colors.

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Lone Ranger Burg

Lone Ranger

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My one & only question about the NBA in Hartford would be its impact on other notable basketball operations in the state, namely the UConn men's and women's basketball teams and the Sun. Of course the Sun are off in the eastern half of the state and joined at the hip to a mega-casino and thus enjoy a share of the tourist traffic generated by said casino, and the UConn teams have a built-in fanbase at Storrs, but would the presence of a men's pro team in Hartford directly cut into the profits of these other organizations? That I'm not sure about. I'd like to hear a few opinions about it. :whistling:

But as far as the numbers go, for all intents & purposes Hartford has a CSA of some 3,000,000 people. On the face of things, there's not a reason in the world Hartford couldn't support a franchise in the NBA.

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dgreco City

dgreco

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CT gave him really good deal as well, but he used us as bargaing chip. This is why I will never be a Patriots fan EVER!!!!

He did the same to providence, he used both CT and RI as bargaining chips, and got what he wanted out of MA. Have to respect his business ability?

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drc72 Burg

drc72

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He did the same to providence, he used both CT and RI as bargaining chips, and got what he wanted out of MA. Have to respect his business ability?

Not a very ethical man. Screw the PATS!!!! I go for any team that plays against them, and that goes for the Hurricanes as well.

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HartfordTycoon Town

HartfordTycoon

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My one & only question about the NBA in Hartford would be its impact on other notable basketball operations in the state, namely the UConn men's and women's basketball teams and the Sun. Of course the Sun are off in the eastern half of the state and joined at the hip to a mega-casino and thus enjoy a share of the tourist traffic generated by said casino, and the UConn teams have a built-in fanbase at Storrs, but would the presence of a men's pro team in Hartford directly cut into the profits of these other organizations? That I'm not sure about. I'd like to hear a few opinions about it. :whistling:

But as far as the numbers go, for all intents & purposes Hartford has a CSA of some 3,000,000 people. On the face of things, there's not a reason in the world Hartford couldn't support a franchise in the NBA.

I think it may cut into it somewhat, however I also know for a fact that there are many sports fans who long for more options in the area and will try their darndest to support any big time teams (I say big time because traditionally we don't support minor leauge sports) we have playing. Be it NBA, NHL, UConn Hoops or Uconn Football. Also, a study that was posted on here a while back said we were the 3rd most attractive market for a major league team expansion based on disposable income available in the market. So that's a pretty strong indicator that we can make it work.

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MadVlad Town

MadVlad

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I think it would have little impact. The only UConn games that aren't sold out are the ones against foes like Coppin State. I tried to go to a St. John's game a year or 2 ago and I couldn't find a ticket. It wasn't that I wanted to specifically go to a UCOnn game, but I had relatives upo from Jersey and we were looking for something to do. A night NBA game would have done just as well, and since I didn't get into the UConn game anyways, it would have been a bonus....

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JimSawhill Hamlet

JimSawhill

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Football works well in small markets because they are only selling to 8 dates, and besides that, the revenue sharing that exists in the NFL blows away any other sports. NFL teams split gate receipts 60/40 with the away team. These are the reasons that there is still a successful franchise in Green Bay, WI.

Plus there is more TV money floating around in the NFL than in any other sport. The NFL would have worked in Hartford with flying colors.

Robm:

The other reason why Green Bay is still in the league -- the city owns the team!! No Greedy owner to screw Green Bay over. :)

JimS

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MadVlad Town

MadVlad

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http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories...15/daily31.html

looks like no supersonics for CT. leaves you with bobcats, hornets, and nets? Looks like NHL is the best chance now...

Why would a team not build near downtown? I know Bellevue is an up and coming city, but seriously, you need to be in Seattle....

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