And now, introducing the starting lineup for your…
To have that electrifying pregame announcement capped off with a new NBA franchise’s name is a dream many fans would like to see one day come true. The youngest of the three core leagues—NBA, MLB, NFL—the NBA’s innovative thinking has steadily increased popularity and revenues, with each team now worth over $1 billion. The athletes, who are as much of the brand as the logo itself, add an element of fan connection that other sports—mainly the NFL, which is hidden behind a face mask, can’t provide.
With this popularity, of course, also comes the topic of expansion. In the past few years, there have been several locations that have gone from whispers to actual headlines. And although NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has stated the NBA isn’t engaging in expanding to 32 teams (or beyond), that doesn’t mean it’s a closed case.
So, understanding that even a one-percent chance is still a chance, let’s take a look at 14 cities that might one day become NBA footholds—franchises the current owners would gladly split the revenue pie with because it’s a slam-dunk option!
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Seattle
Seattle has seemingly wanted an NBA franchise not more than a few days after the SuperSonics packed up and headed to Oklahoma. If there ever were going to be an expansion team—or a transplant, for that matter—Seattle would be a logical choice, too. The Seattle-Tacoma market is in the top 15, and there are proven track records with the Seahawks and Mariners—the MLB franchise that inked a 17- year TV contract worth over a billion, which shows area television deals are attainable and sustainable.
Add in the national stage interest and storylines, which would get more play from Turner and ESPN, with a dash of the city’s wealth (i.e. ticket sales), and it’s almost a no-brainer.
Odds: 6 out of 10
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Kansas City
Look through the NBA history books, and you’ll notice that Kansas City was once home to the now-Sacramento Kings. Look to about two years ago, and you’ll notice that one NBA executive said Kansas City would be a leading candidate—right behind Seattle— if the league expands.
With the success of the Oklahoma City Thunder just some 350 miles down the road, Kansas City could piggyback on the “smaller markets gaining traction in the NBA” campaign. However, the city’s population of just under 500,000 becomes a different story when considering the Kansas City Metro area is over two million. Complement that with the sturdy fan bases of the Chiefs and the Royals—plus, mix in youthful basketball consumers over in Lawrence—and you can see why that exec anonymously spilled the Hot Take beans.
Odds: 6 out of 10
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Las Vegas
Already host to the NHL’s Golden Knights—an incredibly popular attraction, by the way—and soon home to the NFL’s Raiders, Vegas not only has the capability of bringing in an NBA franchise, but it also has a unique, happenstance framework to help make it a lasting success: a continuous flow of willing consumers, looking for a fun ticket.
Basketball isn’t an enigma in Vegas, either. From UNLV’s heyday with Coach Tarkanian to the multiple hosting opportunities with NCAA and the NBA’s summer league, basketball has been an attraction for the city—not overlooking the fact that the NBA is one of the most popular gambling sports, too.
Odds: 5 out of 10
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St. Louis
St. Louis, maybe outside of Seattle and Las Vegas, would arguably be the best fit for an NBA franchise—a revival from the days of the NBA’s Bombers and Hawks. Besides providing relief (and competition) for wary Bulls, Grizzlies or Pacers fans—who are not even remotely close to Chicago, Indy or Memphis—St. Louis already has an arena, and a city eager to regain some of the professional-sports gusto that was lost when the Rams headed west.
Enterprise Center, home of the NHL’s St. Louis Blues, would do well to add another tenant too, while also providing a more popular sports option for local fans. And Richard Chaifetz, the billionaire SLU grad who lent a hand to build his alma mater’s new arena… perhaps he might be the man to help pick up the rest of the check?
Odds: 5 out of 10
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Montreal
Known more for hockey—or giving Johnny Manziel another chance—Montreal has been one of the cities mentioned in past NBA expansion conversations. As Canada’s second-largest city and television market, omitting Montreal would be ignoring a real possibility for growth ($).
Sure, it’s logical to argue that an NBA team in Montreal would be nothing more than another MLB/Expos debacle, but remember, this is basketball, not baseball. And with the hoop popularity growing in Canada—with the championship trophy currently property of Toronto—claiming this possible location to be ” just like Vancouver” is as unfounded as it is off by about a half-decade.
Odds: 4 out of 10
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San Diego
Yes, yes, yes! San Diego doesn’t have the most exceptional track record for keeping professional sports franchises. Besides the NFL’s now-Los Angeles Chargers, the city has been home to two NBA franchises—the San Diego Rockets (hello, Houston) and the San Diego Clippers (because what’s one more thing to give LA).
So then, why even consider another attempt for the SoCal sun-swept city?
It’s still a top 30 media market, with well over one million residents in the city alone—that includes a considerable Chinese-American population (13th in the US). And while the NFL still struggles to connect with different ethnicities of fans, the NBA, led by teams like the Golden State Warriors, has done a decent job, with the fan bases increasing because of it.
Maybe that’s overlooked in the SD-Carlsbad area because so many are busy still staring at an empty NFL stadium.
Odds: 3.5 out of 10
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Columbus (Ohio)
Columbus often gets overlooked when it comes to possible landing spots for a professional team, and it doesn’t make sense. Whether it’s because the city is framed as being an extension of Ohio State University or it’s because the other two cities—Cincinnati and Cleveland—have more professional sports, most assume Ohio’s capital is nothing more than a small blip on the way to somewhere else.
But Columbus is larger than San Francisco, Charlotte, Indianapolis, Detroit, Memphis, Boston, Portland, and even Atlanta. It is a top 40 market, with a young demographic that fits the NBA’s blueprint, plus there is an arena already built—home to the NHL’s Blue Jackets—in a growing, popular section of Columbus (Arena District).
Would Dan Gilbert, the Cleveland Cavaliers owner, be happy? No. Would he write a letter? Probably. Would LeBron make a push for this to happen? He might jump in and be the owner/coach.
Odds: 3 out of 10
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Louisville
How is Louisville never a horse in the Professional Sports Franchise race—especially with the NBA?! The largest city in Kentucky—a state with an excellent history of basketball—Louisville is a top 30 market with a population larger than NBA towns like Minneapolis, Sacramento, Miami, New Orleans, and Cleveland.
The city is a central point, an untapped area that is circled by Indianapolis, Memphis, Atlanta, Charlotte, and even Chicago for professional hoops. And if introducing an NBA squad to Nashville would cause too much of a stir with the Grizzles down in Elvis Town, then perhaps moving a tad north would be the next-best plan?
Odds: 3 out of 10
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Jacksonville
Court-side sightings of Gardner Minshew aside, Jacksonville wouldn’t be the wildest stretch to land an NBA franchise. It has a population in the top 12 of UC cities, with a metro area of around 1.5 million, and the demographic is younger than the US median. It’s located about five hours from Atlanta—and just far enough away from Orlando—that basketball fans don’t have a valid local option, either. Enter Wayne Weaver?
Most likely, no. The attendance to Jaguars games hasn’t been excellent—ranked toward the bottom of the NFL—with talks of relocating to London. The market doesn’t fit the city’s size, ranked outside the top 40. And while Florida is always an attractive possibility—for both the owners and the players they will try to lure there—Jacksonville expects most sporting events where shorts are part of the accepted uniform to also come with a set of clubs.
Odds: 2 out of 10
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Baltimore
Once the proud home of the ABA’s Baltimore Bullets (now the Washington Wizards), which included the great Earl “the Pearl” Monroe, bringing back an NBA franchise to the city would be an interesting choice. Both the Baltimore Ravens (NFL) and Orioles (MLB) call Baltimore home, so the idea of handling a pro franchise isn’t brand-new, but the city’s past issues can’t be ignored either.
The Baltimore Colts left town in the middle of the night, and the tax burden placed on the community to help build both stadiums hasn’t been well received. Camden Yards, the Orioles’ ballpark, will be paid off this year…27 years after it was built. Sure, Baltimore is a top 30 market and would create a fun battle for the D.C.-Maryland areas, but the sound of pennies landing in an empty jar might be enough to keep this dream from ever becoming a reality.
Odds: 2 out of 10
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Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh seems like a no-brainer…when you’re just considering the numbers. It’s a top 25 market, ahead of places like Milwaukee, Memphis, Oklahoma City, and San Antonio. And like Jacksonville, the demographic is getting younger, so much that some consider Pittsburgh a top 10 location for ages 35 and under.
The Steel City is a sports town too, with diehard fans and loyalty that oozes from their Pittsburghese. Even through rough times, the Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins all have maintained enough interest to stay put. These are all things that would be enticing to the NBA. Would it work, though? That might be a question answered with a question: Will there be towels to wave, and more importantly, tailgating opportunities?
Odds: 1.5 out of 10
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Buffalo
Buffalo is a small city—NBA-wise, it’s larger than Salt Lake City, but that’s not saying much. However, the metro area has over one million and could make a case that the draw would come from the fact that Cleveland and Detroit are three and four hours away, respectively.
Don’t forget about the Queen Elizabeth Way rivalry, either! Buffalo is a mere two hours from Toronto, which yes, poses a threat to splitting too much of the area’s NBA fans. But it also provides the “US vs. Canada” marketing jackpot that usually negates such picky statistics.
The fan bases to both professional teams—the NFL’s Bills and the NHL’s Sabres—have been loyal, the former even gaining national attention and a hashtag. And Buffalo seems to have created a collective ethos: if fans are allowed to tailgate, what they’re tailgating for takes a backseat but will be attended with enthusiasm, regardless. Money for an NBA franchise is another story, though.
Odds: 1 out of 10
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Nashville
Most expansion discussions should include Nashville. The ever-growing city has several things that would specifically entice the NBA too, including a geographic location that is central-ish to a lot of basketball-loving areas: Charlotte, Indianapolis, Louisville, and even outside of Atlanta. Nashville has proven the city will support professional sports franchises, with both the Titans and Predators calling the city home. It’s a top 40 market (and again, growing), and don’t ignore the fact that the demographic is young—because the NBA certainly wouldn’t.
Unfortunately, Memphis would go ballistic if the NBA started a new franchise in (or moved them to) Nashville. No more Bud Adams-ing!, they would shout.
Odds: .8 out of 10 (Or: nailing a no-look, half-court hook shot)
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Round Rock
Truth be told, Austin is already splitting at its seams—not to mention, the University is building the brand-new Moody Center for the Longhorns.
But Round Rock? That’s a different story.
What Foxboro is to Boston, Round Rock sits outside of Austin, just about 20 miles down the road. It is home to the Round Rock Express, the triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, and has plenty of space for things like, say, professional sports complexes and all of the commerce that comes with it. Of course, this keeps proximity to Austin, the two-million-plus metro population, and its wealth.
Unfortunately, this also keeps proximity to San Antonio and Houston. Plus, there’s Dallas—where Mark Cuban would exhibit the same deadpan stare (with drool) that Bevo is displaying in the above image…before he presses a button at his desk that opens a trapdoor to the unknown Chasm of Wannabe NBA Owners.
Odds: .3 out of 10
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