Major Sport Expansion

[dgreco]

Which league(s) should expand, also what cities should they expand into?

NFL

MLB

NHL

NBA

MLS

[dtown]

MLS to Detroit. Weve got everything else, and theres a lot of soccer fans here.

There should be an NHL team in Washinton State or Wisconson.

[Thrillhouse]

I voted MLS. If respect for American soccer ever grows, this is an obvious one. I think the NFL is good where it is right now. Although the lack of good backup quarterbacks show a lack of overall talent depth, the NFL could probably have 40 teams and still not miss a beat. MLB and possibly the NBA could stand to lose two teams. Both leagues are good for the most part but the talent is pretty thin. The NHL could stand to lose about four teams due to a lack of the overall talent.

[egrguy]

I think the MLS has room for expansion where the rest of the major sports have tapped out their available markets, however, I feel that Alabama would be a nice fit for an NFL team. While no main metropolis like a Chicago or Seattle, I feel it would passionately support its NFL team on an equal level as Green Bay. Other then that, I don't see many markets with sustainability other then MLS.

[dgreco]

I voted MLS. If respect for American soccer ever grows, this is an obvious one. I think the NFL is good where it is right now. Although the lack of good backup quarterbacks show a lack of overall talent depth, the NFL could probably have 40 teams and still not miss a beat. MLB and possibly the NBA could stand to lose two teams. Both leagues are good for the most part but the talent is pretty thin. The NHL could stand to lose about four teams due to a lack of the overall talent.

[JimSawhill]

Hmmm...

First I'd like to see the NHL get back to Hartford -- either by moving a team, or expansion (if that was the case... expand to 32 teams -- Hartford and Quebec.). However, I'd like to see the MLS expand by 4 teams -- Hartford (College Soccer and High school soccer are big there), Tampa (as the Rowdies), Portland and Seattle.

JimS

[Inkdaub]

MLS to Seattle and NHL to Portland.

[dtown]

^^ There was an MLS team in Tampa at one time, and it failed and moved.

[egrguy]

the MLS has also failed in Miami as well with the Fusion which was one of the original teams.

[dtown]

Im glad that Toronto got an MLS team. With as close as they are to the US, and as large as they are, they should be included in every major sports league. Maybe even an NFL team, even though they have the CFL, but i think and NFL team would still probobly work really well.

[dgreco]

the MLS has also failed in Miami as well with the Fusion which was one of the original teams.

[AlienCity]

Some more NFL teams are needed out west. Dividing the US into 4 nearly equal geographic areas -- west, central, southeast, and northeast (see map)

you get the following representation for each area:

NE (~28% of US) -- 10 teams:

New England Patriots

New York Jets

New York Giants

Detroit Lions

Cleveland Browns

Buffalo Bills

Indianapolis Colts

Cincinnati Bengals

Pittsburg Steelers

Philadelphia Eagles

SE (~25%) -- 8 teams:

Jacksonville Jaguars

Atlanta Falcons

Tampa Bay Buccaneerss

Miami Dolphins

Tennessee Titans

Carolina Panthers

Washington Redskins

Baltimore Ravens

Central (~24%) -- 8 teams:

Chicago Bears

Minnesota Vikings

Green Bay Packers

Kansas City Chiefs

St. Louis Rams

Dallas Cowboys

Houston Texans

New Orleans Saints

West (23%) -- 6 teams:

Arizona Cardinals

Seattle Seahawks

Oakland Raiders

SanFran 49ers

Denver Broncos

San Diego Chargers

Since there are no real gridiron minor leagues (besides college), I think the league should go to 36-40 teams in the US (the commish Goodell has been looking into international sites).

- From the West: Los Angeles, Portland, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, and Albuquerque are good cities, in that order.

- The southeast: Memphis, Norfolk/tidewater, and Birmingham.

- Northeast: None. Columbus, OH is good, but there are 2 franchises in state along with numerous I-A college programs

- Central: Look into another franchise for Chicago, San Antonio, Omaha, Oklahoma City

[dgreco]

^good list, and thanks for the map. I agree with the expansion, but I think it needs to state continental. Maybe an Alaska team, if we have some teams in Canada, but otherwise I would say just the US... maybe Canada, but that would really hurt the CFL... A nice little merger?

[jayblogger]

MLS needs about 3 more teams.

The NFL should stay at 32 for a long, long time. If they add a 33rd team in LA instead of relocating one, they are shooting themselves in the foot. The other leagues are pretty set where they are for now as well.

[egrguy]

MLS needs about 3 more teams.

The NFL should stay at 32 for a long, long time. If they add a 33rd team in LA instead of relocating one, they are shooting themselves in the foot. The other leagues are pretty set where they are for now as well.

[richyb83]

Having 33 NFL teams would make scheduling next to impossible?? At 32 teams the NFL looks set. If L.A. get's a new franchise it will be really hard to say who leaves??

I think the NBA may get too watered down with any furthur expansion. But Oklahoma City and Kansas City would seem to be good candidates.

[dgreco]

Having 33 NFL teams would make scheduling next to impossible?? At 32 teams the NFL looks set. If L.A. get's a new franchise it will be really hard to say who leaves??

I think the NBA may get too watered down with any furthur expansion. But Oklahoma City and Kansas City would seem to be good candidates.

[dgreco]

looks like the NBA may get a LV franchise now, stern has changed his mind since being there all weekend, all the NBA needs now is an owner to move into town.

ps. tickets for the game first 5 rows are gonig for 35,000 dollars.

[egrguy]

looks like the NBA may get a LV franchise now, stern has changed his mind since being there all weekend, all the NBA needs now is an owner to move into town.

ps. tickets for the game first 5 rows are gonig for 35,000 dollars.

[MadVlad]

I think the hard part in this equation is over, I just don't see it being a problem to attract an owner to have a franchise in Las Vegas. I can't imagine how many packages you can wrap up with this, stay at a casino get 2 tickets to a game one night + a show the other night their in town. I think Vegas will make whatever owner a lot of cash.

[dgreco]

I personally think it would be a great move for a team to move to LV, especially the kings, since the owners are residence of the city, and own the palms.

[cityboi]

Major League Soccer should expand in North Carolina. I think either the Triad or Triangle metros could get a team. The Triad is the only region that has really activly tried to lure an expansion team. Winston-Salem had proposed a downtown major league soccer stadium. Now it looks like that could be part of the "Heart of the Triad" development building a soccer stadium for the majors in between Greensboro and Winston-Salem as part of a professional sports complex.

[dgreco]

Major League Soccer should expand in North Carolina. I think either the Triad or Triangle metros could get a team. The Triad is the only region that has really activly tried to lure an expansion team. Winston-Salem had proposed a downtown major league soccer stadium. Now it looks like that could be part of the "Heart of the Triad" development building a soccer stadium for the majors in between Greensboro and Winston-Salem as part of a professional sports complex.

[eastsider]

^There are many colleges with athletic programs in the Triad region of NC, the largest being Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem. Both Greensboro and Winston-Salem currently have minor-league baseball and both have had minor league hockey teams off and on as well as other various minor league sports.

[cityboi]

Greensboro also has a minor league soccer team called the Carolina Dynamo as well as a minor league arena football league. I certainly would like to see major league soccer come to NC. Its the last major league team up for grabs for the Triad unless you count Arena Football League and Major League Baseball which isnt very likely to come there. Charlotte would be more likely to get Major League Baseball and the Arena Football League.