NHL, NBA, NFL expansion and realignment concept

[Youppi!]

After the Pandora's box i opened with my MLB realignment thread, I thought I'd ruffle some more feathers by doing the same with the NHL, NBA, and NFL.

P.S. a couple things to consider first of all to prevent people complaints:

I have Montreal in the NBA. get over it. if you disagree, do it respectfully please.

The geographical division names are not perfect. i had a lot of people bitch about me putting Colorado in the midwest division despite their being in the west. some of these are not avoidable given the geography.

if you do have a problem with my choices, then post your suggestions after this one and please be nice about it. there's no need to get hateful about something like this especially given that it will never happen but is merely wishful thinking. so with that said, enjoy.

NFL

AFC-

East--New York, Buffalo, Miami, New England

North--Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Baltimore

South--Indianapolis, Houston, Tennessee, Jacksonville

West--San Diego, Kansas City, Oakland, Denver

NFC-

East--New York, Dallas, Washington, Philadelphia

North--Chicago, Green Bay, Minnesota, Detroit

South--St. Louis, Carolina, Atlanta, Tampa Bay

West--Los Angeles(New Orleans), San Francisco, Arizona, Seattle

New Orleans, San Diego, or Indianapolis are all possibilities to go to L.A. but New Orleans is the MOST likely based soley on their stadium situation so relax.

NHL

EASTERN CONFERENCE

North--Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Buffalo

East--New York I., New York R., Boston, New Jersey

Central--Pittsburgh, Columbus, Washington, Philadelphia

South--Atlanta, Florida, Tampa Bay, Carolina

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Midwest--St. Louis, Chicago, Nashville, Detroit

North--Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, Seattle(expansion)

Central--Dallas, Minnesota, Colorado, Las Vegas(expansion)

West--Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Jose, Phoenix

i realize i may be breaking up rivalries in the conferences. that would be solved by scheduling to accomodate them.

NBA

EASTERN CONFERENCE

East--Boston, New York, Washington, Philadelphia

North--Montreal(expansion), Toronto, Detroit, Cleveland

Midwest--Indiana, Chicago, Memphis, New Orleans

South--Charlotte, Atlanta, Orlando, Miami

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Midwest--St. Louis(expansion), Denver, Minnesota, Milwaukee

Southwest--Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Phoenix

West--Seattle, Utah, Portland, Las Vegas(New Jersey)

California--Los Angeles, San Diego Clippers, Golden State, Sacramento

I picked the Nets to go to Las Vegas because theyre going to move anyway and New York already has a team and doesnt need another at the expense of a market like Las Vegas. St. Louis is fully capable of supporting an NBA team. I mentioned earlier that I am biased toward Montreal so please no foul comments about that. Orlando could also be moved west if they decide to. in that situation, move the nets in the East and bump the Wiz down to the south. but yeah there you go. if you wish to comment or make a suggestion, please do so. but please be civil about it.

[Gary]

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Midwest North Central West

St. Louis Calgary Dallas Los Angeles

Chicago Vancouver Minnesota Las Vegas(Anaheim or Phoenix)

Nashville Edmonton Colorado San Jose

Detroit Seattle(exp) Milwaukee(exp) Anaheim/Phoenix

Consider Phoenix out of the LV hunt. With the Glendale Arena already in play. You can consider them here for the next couple decades

[Youppi!]

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Midwest              North                Central                West           

St. Louis            Calgary              Dallas                  Los Angeles

Chicago              Vancouver          Minnesota            Las Vegas(Anaheim or Phoenix)

Nashville            Edmonton            Colorado              San Jose

Detroit              Seattle(exp)        Milwaukee(exp)    Anaheim/Phoenix

Consider Phoenix out of the LV hunt. With the Glendale Arena already in play. You can consider them here for the next couple decades

yeah i forgot about that. my bad. i fixed it.

[Dilbert]

Milwaukee wouldnt work. They barely filled the lower bowl for an admirals ducks game 7 in the playoffs, about a whole section was filled with Ducks fans

[Youppi!]

Milwaukee wouldnt work. They barely filled the lower bowl for an admirals ducks game 7 in the playoffs, about a whole section was filled with Ducks fans

fixed that too. i think its finished now.

[lucky]

My respectful comment is that I see no logos. Try the Sports in General forum

[scooter13]

I realize that this is just for discussion and not to be taken seriously. But as a hockey fan, I just can't see the NHL expanding in the near future. If anything, they might need to dump a team or two. Or move them to better markets. And those better markets include Canadian cities.

[IceCap]

NHL

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Central--Dallas, Minnesota, Colorado, Las Vegas(expansion)

my ONLY complaint is the expansion team in las vegas. i would think an expansion team in winnipeg would make more sence.

[Brian in Boston]

If an NBA team were to move to Las Vegas, it would most likely be the Sacramento Kings The team's owners are the Maloof brothers who own the Palms Casino in Las Vegas and are lobbying hard to have the NBA hold its All-Star Game in the city. Further, the Kings are having a tremendously difficult time convincing voters in Sacramento that they need a new arena.

All of that said, don't look for the NBA to be relocating to Las Vegas anytime soon. It is much more likely that a franchise will be calling Kansas City or St. Louis home before Las Vegas. Sacramento (arena woes), Orlando (arena woes) or New Orleans (lack of support) could all be in the market to relocate to one of those cities. Additionally, should Louisville's downtown arena plans become a reality, that city would join the NBA realignment/expansion mix. Despite your desires, Montreal isn't even realistically on the NBA's radar right now.

As for the Nets, despite the appearance on an "eleventh-hour" rival developer on the scene, they're most likely moving to a new arena in Brooklyn planned by their owner Bruce Ratner.

[officeglenn]

I don't know that putting teams in Las Vegas is the be-all-and-end-all solution to economic woes that some make it out to be. I see you've put NHL and NBA teams there, and ESPN had a team there when they did their ESPNHL.

Sin City seems to be more geared to hosting one-off events, like the NBA All-Star Game, rather than actual franchises. Plus they don't have world-class facilities that would be capable of hosting teams for entire seasons (the Thomas & Mack Centre is good enough for college basketball, but not pro; and there's nary an ice rink there that isn't a sideshow attraction at a casino). That could change, I realize, but I still think hockey is a long shot there. It took Phoenix a long time to come around to hockey in their desert climate; it could take even longer in Las Vegas given the short attention span the city seems to have.

Las Vegas is geared to tourists, and if tourists come to see games, that's fine. But pro sports teams need a fan base to build from, and that fan base is usually solidly built on locals. Those are the people that teams would have to work hard to bring out if they set up shop there. There's a lot of money being thrown around in Las Vegas, and no doubt pro sports franchises would love to have a piece of that pie. But they need to market themselves the right way to the right people in order to have longevity, rather than just being a flash in the pan that will move on the next buzzworthy locale in a couple of years.

I think the Nets, if they do move, are more likely to go to Brooklyn, as has been rumoured ever since Jay-Z became part-owner of the team.

Wow... that went long. I didn't know I had that much to say on the subject.

[thegame4219]

Youppi i dont know where you get your infomation from (or it maybe wishful thinking):

NFL: pretty good job with that

NHL: only problem is that it may not be a good investment to go to the NHL (to expand teams) until the new CBA works out but if it works that profits are made then expend to those areas

NBA: St. Louis would be a good expansion, The Nets are moving to Brooklyn if not they will stay in New Jersey so that is a big strike out on that idea, Toronto already has money issues with the conversion rate so here a list of what the NBA would need to go to Canada:

1. A owner that can make the exchange rate (dont want another Vancover/Memphis situation)

2. Proof that the people of Montreal wont treat the team like the Expos.

If Montreal can do that then they may be able to do it but there are US markets that have a much better chance. MONTREAL has a chance of getting a WNBA team

[redsfan39]

NBA: St. Louis would be a good expansion

i can definatley see st louis getting a nba team

[thegame4219]

A perfect shout out to rapper NELLY the team could be called the St. Louis Lunatics

[RamblinGamblinTiger]

I'm from atlanta, so we all would be happy to offer the Hawks to whatever city would like a "NBA" team.... What it will cost you: nothing, heck I'll pay someone if they'll take that team

[TruColor]

I just have to ask: is this xl8r/keith/anichanger?

This thread sure smells like him.

[ShaftDu]

NFL

AFC-

East--New York, Buffalo, Miami, New England

North--Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Baltimore

South--Indianapolis, Houston, Tennessee, Jacksonville

West--San Diego, Kansas City, Oakland, Denver

NFC-

East--New York, Dallas, Washington, Philadelphia

North--Chicago, Green Bay, Minnesota, Detroit

South--St. Louis, Carolina, Atlanta, Tampa Bay

West--Los Angeles(New Orleans), San Francisco, Arizona, Seattle

you know one of the things i heard that some wanted to do was a 'rivalry' game where a team would match up with a team from the other conference every year. And it would make geographic sense. Like for instance these match ups:

Jets Vs. Giants

Miami Vs. TB

Jax Vs. Atl

Houston VS. Dallas

Philly Vs. Steelers

Oakland Vs. SF

but they voted againist it. I thought it would had been cool.

[praeda]

I just have to ask: is this xl8r/keith/anichanger?

This thread sure smells like him.

Hehe, if it is xlr8r/keith/anichanger/all of his other ridiculous personas shouldn't there be the "Move the Packers to Milwaukee and call them the Milwaukee Mustangs?" I've been lurking on these boards in all their forms for what about 5 years and I still can't get over that guy.

[Youppi!]

I'm from atlanta, so we all would be happy to offer the Hawks to whatever city would like a "NBA" team.... What it will cost you: nothing, heck I'll pay someone if they'll take that team

does that mean st. louis can have them back?

[black_gold_capone]

on the NHL note, thank you for not moving Pittsburgh

but also if any US teams move I want them in Canada, based on respect for the game and also revenue

I think Canada likes hockey

[pooter]

NFL

AFC-

North--Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Baltimore

South--Indianapolis, Houston, Tennessee, Jacksonville

Trade Indianapolis for Baltimore

I hate the Ravens. I hated them when they were the Browns too. And I especially hate those ugly-assed uniforms, helmets and especially those numbers. Hideous, just hideous. Oh yeah, I left out Ray Lewis.