NBA Team Relocating to Vegas?

[ssspence]

Las Vegas Warriors anyone?  I would not be that surprised.

 i wouldn't think they're high up the list. they have a rabid fan base in a larger market...

[Snakehead]

Las Vegas Warriors anyone?  I would not be that surprised.

 i wouldn't think they're high up the list. they have a rabid fan base in a larger market...

Just thinking because of the new purchase and the rumors. But yeah, if we're looking at fan bases I guess New Orleans has to be high up there.

[the_Bird]

I'd bet a good amount of money that it's Shinn and the Hornets.

Pun intended?

I don't understand the NBA's fear of the Vegas connection.  I mean, Antoine Walker found plenty of ways to lose $100M+ while playing in Boston, Dallas, and Miami.  Players already gamble, you aren't going to change that one iota whether guys are suiting up in Las Vegas or not.

There's no extra "risk" associated with having a team in Vegas, it's entirely how the league wants to perceive itself. 

Of course, it's not a slam-dunk that a Vegas team would be successful; people don't go to Vegas to watch basketball games.  The actual metropolitan market is 35th-largest in the country, comparable to Charlotte and smaller than Providence and Columbus, OH.  TV market is 48th (comparable to Albuquerque-Sante Fe).  I've got to think that the small size of the market is at least as big a concern to Stern as is the gambling connection.

http://www.mediainfocenter.org/compare/top50/

[birdwatcher]

Doubt it's the Kings, since the story is about a team being sold, and moved there.  My money would be on New Orleans. 

Ultimately though, I think its very premature.  I am not sure the league would approve of a team moving to vegas, because of the gambling connection.

I think it depends on how well the teams draw in their cities/regions. Atlanta is in a huge market and is doing very poorly, as is Detroit whose fan base has been decimated by the economy and the faltering automotive industry. Charlotte did better than projected from what I read, but is no where near as popular as it's college basketball programs statewide. It's similar to Jacksonville in the NFL, another huge football state whose college teams are more beloved than their pro teams. Why not Vegas though? You don't need to live there to be addicted to gambling and to do stupid things off the court--ask Antoine Walker. There's temptation where ever you go whether it is from clubbing (Pierce), drinking (Vinny Baker), guns (Arenas), drugs (JR Rider), fathering tons of illegitimate children (SHAQ), falling victim to bad business deals (Rumeal Robinson, Antoine Walker)--you name it. If you look for trouble, you'll find it.

[youcanthandlethetruth113]

http://www.detnews.com/article/20100714/SPORTS0102/7140407/1127/sports0102/Report--Investors-have-NBA-team-under-contract-to-play-in-Vegas

It all sounds extremely vague, and far from clearing what must be a myriad of hurdles, but an investment group believes it will succeed in relocating a current NBA franchise to Las Vegas.

The Kings, perhaps?

Sadly I'd say it's gotta be Detroit, New Orleans, or Atlanta.

[JoeyRamone]

I think it might be the Pacers. They've recently had serious money problems. The City of Indianapolis is paying the team a $30 million subsidy, just so they can maintain operations at Conseco Fieldhouse. Apparently, the team can break it's lease with the only contingent being that they immediately repay the subsidy...

[guava_wrench]

http://www.detnews.com/article/20100714/SPORTS0102/7140407/1127/sports0102/Report--Investors-have-NBA-team-under-contract-to-play-in-Vegas

It all sounds extremely vague, and far from clearing what must be a myriad of hurdles, but an investment group believes it will succeed in relocating a current NBA franchise to Las Vegas.

The Kings, perhaps?

Sadly I'd say it's gotta be Detroit, New Orleans, or Atlanta.

Too bad New Orleans didn't just stay in OKC after Katrina. Then we would still have a Seattle team.

[jr_3421]

I think the distraction issue is overrated. I mean can a city be that more distracting than Miami? Shaq said that the 2006 championship team partied so much that he was shocked the won the title. I think the real issue is the ratings. If the NBA was convinced the ratings would be sufficient, then I think they would have no problem shipping a team there. I hope it's the Hornets or Grizzlies just for the fact that  they haven't been in their city as long as the other teams.

[StartOrien]

Las Vegas Warriors anyone?  I would not be that surprised.

I'd be horrified. That's an amazing fan base.

[dooyork]

Tim Donaghy for GM

[Snakehead]

Las Vegas Warriors anyone?  I would not be that surprised.

I'd be horrified. That's an amazing fan base.

Yeah, reading more about the new owners let me retract that.  They seem like smart guys who would leave the team there, I had some impression of them as guys who could move the team.  We'll see if they are smart when they find a way to get rid of Don Nelson.  Guy was once a smart and interesting coach but phones it in now and seems to have no consistent gameplan.  And they are a young team and he has been terrible with young talent.

I guess New Orleans probably seems the most likely at this point.

[the_Bird]

Las Vegas Warriors anyone?  I would not be that surprised.

I'd be horrified. That's an amazing fan base.

So were the fans in Seattle   

Just sayin'

[bobdelt]

Las Vegas is basically an LA suburb. All laker fans right now, but there are sports fans.

They're also a young age group, and a decent sized college in town.

If done right, it will succeed. Convenient to the strip, UNLV, you can make it work. 

Also, the road teams have no chance, they'll be out boozin all night.

[jackson_34]

The Clippers?

LA can only be a Lakers city in the end.

Twolves quite possibly with the roster moves they have made in the last few weeks.