urbanSTL

Debaliviere91 wrote:

JaneJacobsGhost wrote:If Dave Steward earnestly tries to bring an NBA team to St Louis, St. Louis will get an NBA team. The NBA would fall over itself for the richest black man in America to be apart of its ownership.

Sure Seattle needs a team, but that didn’t stop the sonics from leaving for a cow town with 40% of the population of Seattle.

Portland isn’t a cow town. Its metro has 2.5M people in it and grew at 12% at the last census. It’s going to be larger than St Louis in the near future.

Oh pardon me. You’re referring to OKC. That is a bit of a cowtown, but with impressive growth rates.


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Debaliviere91 wrote: ↑

Apr 26, 2024

Totally agree you have to bring back the old Spirits branding.

Having a potential owner like Dave Steward, who has deep pockets and would be a minority owner is certainly attractive to the NBA.

I can’t stress enough that we would need a new arena for the reasons listed above and our growth rates as a region are hugely problematic. We aren’t going to steal a team from another city, so we would need significant expansion from the NBA to get a team. We don’t outrank places like Seattle, Vegas, or even KC. Plus there are international options on table.

We won't outrank Seattle, but I think Vegas is being oversold as a market. KC? They may not even hold on to the Chiefs and Royals, I doubt they're looking at basketball currently.

goat314 wrote:

Debaliviere91 wrote: ↑

Apr 26, 2024

Totally agree you have to bring back the old Spirits branding.

Having a potential owner like Dave Steward, who has deep pockets and would be a minority owner is certainly attractive to the NBA.

I can’t stress enough that we would need a new arena for the reasons listed above and our growth rates as a region are hugely problematic. We aren’t going to steal a team from another city, so we would need significant expansion from the NBA to get a team. We don’t outrank places like Seattle, Vegas, or even KC. Plus there are international options on table.

We won't outrank Seattle, but I think Vegas is being oversold as a market. KC? They may not even hold on to the Chiefs and Royals, I doubt they're looking at basketball currently.

I don’t think it’s super likely that KC will get a team either. I’m just explaining how they rank compared to STL. I think it’s Seattle, Vegas, and International locations that are reasonably likely. Everywhere else is not gonna happen without going to like a 40 team league.

I think we definitely outrank KC they hardly even have a big corporate presence let alone they can’t even get an NHL team I mean look at the former coyotes moving to Utah. St.Louis does well with MLB NHL MLS UFL while I’d love an NBA team here we’ll never get one.


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PlatinumBlues wrote:I think we definitely outrank KC they hardly even have a big corporate presence let alone they can’t even get an NHL team I mean look at the former coyotes moving to Utah. St.Louis does well with MLB NHL MLS UFL while I’d love an NBA team here we’ll never get one.


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I don’t disagree with your logic. I’m just reiterating what the NBA has told us. Seattle and Vegas are pretty much locks, next in rankings is international locations. KC and Nashville are next on the list. For KC, specifically, they check all the boxes except they don’t have their billionaire.

Would anybody be opposed if they were the St. Louis Spirits? 

For the record, I think St. Louis or Kansas City getting an NBA team is incredibly unlikely. 

If we have a committed ownership group that puts money where their mouth is, we have a chance. The biggest issue is that the NBA has been trending towards setting up teams in smaller markets where they are the only game in town. IE, Memphis, Sacramento, Portland, Utah, OKC, San Antonio, and Orlando

Debaliviere91 wrote: ↑

Apr 26, 2024

JaneJacobsGhost wrote:If Dave Steward earnestly tries to bring an NBA team to St Louis, St. Louis will get an NBA team. The NBA would fall over itself for the richest black man in America to be apart of its ownership.

Sure Seattle needs a team, but that didn’t stop the sonics from leaving for a cow town with 40% of the population of Seattle.

Portland isn’t a cow town. Its metro has 2.5M people in it and grew at 12% at the last census. It’s going to be larger than St Louis in the near future.

OK. This has nothing to do with what I said, but I’m glad you were able to get that off your chest.

JaneJacobsGhost wrote:

Debaliviere91 wrote: ↑

Apr 26, 2024

JaneJacobsGhost wrote:If Dave Steward earnestly tries to bring an NBA team to St Louis, St. Louis will get an NBA team. The NBA would fall over itself for the richest black man in America to be apart of its ownership.

Sure Seattle needs a team, but that didn’t stop the sonics from leaving for a cow town with 40% of the population of Seattle.

Portland isn’t a cow town. Its metro has 2.5M people in it and grew at 12% at the last census. It’s going to be larger than St Louis in the near future.

OK. This has nothing to do with what I said, but I’m glad you were able to get that off your chest.

Did you not see my follow up 30 seconds later? I’m not getting anything off my chest.

I was going to piggyback off another comment but agree with a lot of the thoughts above

- Seattle & Vegas a lock.   Sorry Vegas has the politics to subsidize anything, sports betting is no longer taboo & has only helped Vegas get pro teams, and an international name recognition & growing international tourist base.   I think it has become a no brainer in pro sports to have that Vegas presence.   Now is it supported in results, dollars?
- KC and St Louis unlikely
- However,  I thinks St Louis is a better fit with ability to pair NHL/NBA team.   Have to agree it really comes to who has the richest ownership group, who has the Billionaire
- I didn't think it was there a few years ago, but I definitely think NBA has reached the billionaire status requirement for new ownership club.  Just as NFL has for years.   

NBA has more than reached a point where you have to be a billionaire to own a club. 

Adam Silver, the NBA commissioner, said back in 2021 that expansion fees for a new NBA club would likely exceed $2.5 billion. That number is surely much higher now. 

Debaliviere91 wrote: ↑

Apr 26, 2024

JaneJacobsGhost wrote:

Debaliviere91 wrote: ↑

Apr 26, 2024

Portland isn’t a cow town. Its metro has 2.5M people in it and grew at 12% at the last census. It’s going to be larger than St Louis in the near future.

OK. This has nothing to do with what I said, but I’m glad you were able to get that off your chest.

Did you not see my follow up 30 seconds later? I’m not getting anything off my chest.

I did not - phones. My bad.

STLEnginerd wrote: ↑

Apr 26, 2024

GoHarvOrGoHome wrote: ↑

Apr 26, 2024

If we have a committed ownership group that puts money where their mouth is, we have a chance. The biggest issue is that the NBA has been trending towards setting up teams in smaller markets where they are the only game in town. IE, Memphis, Sacramento, Portland, Utah, OKC, San Antonio, and Orlando

Other than Memphis and OKC the rest have been NBA franchise cities for 30+ years.  Not exactly the most relevant data points.

Yeah but I don’t think that dismisses the point. For comparison, the MLB is in only 1 small metro area (Milwaukee) and that’s slightly misleading because Madison is so close.

And those aren’t the only small metros the NBA is in. There’s Charlotte (bigger metro now, but tiny when the NBA opened there) and New Orleans.

JaneJacobsGhost wrote: ↑

Apr 26, 2024

KC makes way more sense than STL, imo. They don’t have a major winter sport and it’s Kansas (almost). One of the cradles of basketball culture. For St Louis it comes down entirely to whether we can put together the right ownership group.

They don't have a major winter sport until you leave KC headed west and every other billboard is Kansas Jayhawks Basketball  or if you have a Kansas cousin like myself, its non stop text messages with every March win.   Plus, everyone outside of KC metro area who cares about NBA are probably OKC fans already.  Nor do I think competing with NHL on winter season really matters on terms of fan base, media market, so on.   

But absolutely agree, St. Louis chance is really about having a better ownership group then everyone else at the table.  To me, that is the Billionaire/or family wanting to own a NHL & NBA team.  St. Louis has the arena, court, but just needs how to creatively add more backoffice/training/locker space to accomondate a second tenant.  Certainly have the space next door to incorporate another village for which real estate development now seems to be part of any pro sports mix.  

Sorry I’m not buying the KC kool-aid just because KC doesn’t have a major winter sport doesn’t mean anything it all boils down to cooperate commitment & the financial means & KC has neither even when the Sprint center was brand spanking new they still couldn’t lure neither NHL or NBA while poor population losing St.Louis lost the Rams but yet gained an MLS & UFL franchise’s. If I were the NBA & you were looking to expand into Missouri I would place my bets on St.Louis we already have an established NBA history & I would think people here be very passionate & embrace them like they’ve done the other franchises. Not saying KC isn’t worthy just saying the NBA be foolish to discredit St.Louis like they seem to always do. St.Louis always seems to rise when the doubters doubt heck St.Louis is practically carrying the UFL. St.Louis is an all out every sports town anyways NBA will be in Seattle & Las Vegas likely soon & I wouldn’t surprise to see Nashville in the mix. We here just need to focus on bettering our community & growing before we could ever think about the NBA ever considering St.Louis as viable. We could always have the cooperate commitments & means but if we don’t have the growing population then it’s moot & right now it’s moot.


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dweebe wrote: ↑

Apr 27, 2024

The question is what city steals the Pelicans.

Come home!

dweebe wrote: ↑

Apr 27, 2024

The question is what city steals the Pelicans.

Unfortunately New Orleans, they are getting a renovation or a new stadium soon.  Details should be coming out soon on their study they just completed. 

It's clear St. Louis is not getting an NBA team. Why not try for G League team to get some action going? Current teams, location and arena capacities below. Apologies for formatting and if this subject has been brought up.

Did you know you can get SEASON TICKETS for the Memphis Grizzlies for less than $700? It's almost worth just for the joke. "Yeah, I have Memphis Grizzlies season tickets". Haha. Maybe got to four games and basically give away or sell  a few to recoup some cost.


Eastern Conference

Birmingham Squadron Birmingham, Alabama South Legacy Arena 17,654 2019[a] T. J. Saint

New Orleans Pelicans
Capital City Go-Go Washington, D.C. East Entertainment and Sports Arena 4,200[31] 2018 Cody Toppert

Washington Wizards
Cleveland Charge Cleveland, Ohio Central Wolstein Center 8,500 2001[c] Mike Gerrity Cleveland Cavaliers

College Park Skyhawks College Park, Georgia East Gateway Center Arena 3,500 2017[a] Steve Gansey Atlanta Hawks[32]

Delaware Blue Coats Wilmington, Delaware East Chase Fieldhouse 2,500 2007[d] Mike Longabardi Philadelphia 76ers

Grand Rapids Gold Grand Rapids, Michigan Central Van Andel Arena 11,500 2006[e] Andre Miller Denver Nuggets

Greensboro Swarm Greensboro, North Carolina South Novant Health Fieldhouse 2,500 2016 Jordan Surenkamp Charlotte Hornets

Indiana Mad Ants[f] Noblesville, Indiana Central Noblesville Event Center 3,400 2007[g] Tom Hankins Indiana Pacers

Long Island Nets Uniondale, New York East Nassau Coliseum 13,500 2016 Mfon Udofia Brooklyn Nets

Maine Celtics Portland, Maine East Portland Exposition Building 3,100 2009 Blaine Mueller Boston Celtics

Motor City Cruise Detroit, Michigan Central Wayne State Fieldhouse 3,000 2003[h] 2006 Jamelle McMillan Detroit Pistons

Osceola Magic Kissimmee, Florida South Silver Spurs Arena 8,000 2008[a] Dylan Murphy Orlando Magic

Raptors 905 Mississauga, Ontario East Paramount Fine Foods Centre 5,000 2015 Eric Khoury Toronto Raptors[21]

Westchester Knicks White Plains, New York East Westchester County Center 5,000 2014 DeSagana Diop New York Knicks

Windy City Bulls Hoffman Estates, Illinois Central Now Arena 10,000 2016 Henry Domercant Chicago Bulls

Wisconsin Herd Oshkosh, Wisconsin Central Oshkosh Arena 3,500 2017 Beno Udrih Milwaukee Bucks

Western Conference

Austin Spurs Cedar Park, Texas South H-E-B Center at Cedar Park 7,200 2001 Will Voigt San Antonio Spurs

Capitanes de Ciudad de México Mexico City, Mexico South Mexico City Arena 22,300 2017 2021 Ramón Díaz Sánchez None

Iowa Wolves Des Moines, Iowa Central Wells Fargo Arena 16,110 2007 Ernest Scott Minnesota Timberwolves

Memphis Hustle Southaven, Mississippi South Landers Center 8,362 2017 Jason March Memphis Grizzlies

Oklahoma City Blue Oklahoma City, Oklahoma West Paycom Center 18,203 2001[j] Kameron Woods Oklahoma City Thunder

Rio Grande Valley Vipers Edinburg, Texas South Bert Ogden Arena 9,000 2007 Kevin Burleson Houston Rockets

Rip City Remix Portland, Oregon West Chiles Center 4,852 2023 Jim Moran Portland Trail Blazers

Salt Lake City Stars West Valley City, Utah West Maverik Center 12,500 1997[k] 2006 Steve Wojciechowski Utah Jazz[33]

San Diego Clippers Oceanside, California West Frontwave Arena 7,500 2017[l] Paul Hewitt Los Angeles Clippers

Santa Cruz Warriors Santa Cruz, California West Kaiser Permanente Arena 2,505 1995[m] 2006 Nick Kerr Golden State Warriors

Sioux Falls Skyforce Sioux Falls, South Dakota Central Sanford Pentagon 3,250 1989[n] 2006 Kasib Powell Miami Heat

South Bay Lakers El Segundo, California West UCLA Health Training Center 750 2006[o] Dane Johnson Los Angeles Lakers

Stockton Kings Stockton, California West Adventist Health Arena 11,193 2008[p] Lindsey Harding Sacramento Kings

Texas Legends Frisco, Texas South Comerica Center 4,500 2006[q] George Galanopoulos Dallas Mavericks

Valley Suns Tempe, Arizona TBD Mullett Arena

dweebe wrote: ↑

Jun 08, 2024

Colin Marc wrote: ↑

Apr 30, 2024

dweebe wrote: ↑

Apr 27, 2024

The question is what city steals the Pelicans.

Unfortunately New Orleans, they are getting a renovation or a new stadium soon.  Details should be coming out soon on their study they just completed. 

Maybe not. They've got issues.

https://www.nola.com/sports/pelicans/sm ... d3aad.html

New Orleans is a poor region, less than half the size of metro St. Louis. I'm surprised they have more than 1 professional team. I think the Saints stay, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the Pelicans relocate. Memphis is another smaller, poor region that can barely support the Grizzlies. Don't be surprised if they threaten to leave if they don't get a new stadium one day too.