Hold your horses, Sonics fans

[RebusRankin]

Move the Bobcats or Grizzlies. Leave the Timberwolves as they're my closet time (7.5 hour drive).

[Onslaught]

And Seattle has NOT shown itself deserving of an NBA team?

Seattle deserves a team, just not Sacramento's.

Milwaukee. hehehe

to me, i think the answer is Indiana. They've had young, exciting and competitive teams over the last ten years and that city still is just supporting them.

They had strong support until "world peace" went into the stands and hit a fan. After that it took a long time for Bird to get the fans back. And he did that for the most part. If I lived in Indiana it take me a long time to support that team again after what happened.

Just as it will take a long time for the people of Charlotte to come around with their team after what happened to the Hornets.

[Onslaught]

And for the record, all the city's except Sacramento that people here want to have their teams taken away from have a larger population then Seattle.

#12 Indianapolis
#17 Charlotte
#20 Memphis
#22 Seattle
#35 Sacramento

[CelticConcourse]

And for the record, all the city's except Sacramento that people here want to have their teams taken away from have a larger population then Seattle.

#12 Indianapolis
#17 Charlotte
#20 Memphis
#22 Seattle
#28 Milwaukee
#35 Sacramento

[Onslaught]

And for the record, all the city's except Sacramento that people here want to have their teams taken away from have a larger population then Seattle.

#12 Indianapolis
#17 Charlotte
#20 Memphis
#22 Seattle
#28 Milwaukee
#35 Sacramento

#21 Boston 

[CelticConcourse]

And for the record, all the city's except Sacramento that people here want to have their teams taken away from have a larger population then Seattle.

#12 Indianapolis
#17 Charlotte
#20 Memphis
#22 Seattle
#28 Milwaukee
#35 Sacramento

#21 Boston 

But all keep in mind population is not directly correlated with fan support. Go to Mexico or DRC and look for the hockey or basque-pilota fans...

[StartOrien]

And Seattle has NOT shown itself deserving of an NBA team?

Seattle deserves a team, just not Sacramento's.

Milwaukee. hehehe

to me, i think the answer is Indiana. They've had young, exciting and competitive teams over the last ten years and that city still is just supporting them.

They had strong support until "world peace" went into the stands and hit a fan. After that it took a long time for Bird to get the fans back. And he did that for the most part. If I lived in Indiana it take me a long time to support that team again after what happened.

Just as it will take a long time for the people of Charlotte to come around with their team after what happened to the Hornets.

4. Indiana Pacers
10-year change in attendance: -24.32% (second biggest decline in NBA)
W-L record 10 years: 399-421 (15th worst)
Operating income (2010): -$17 million
Year founded: 1967
Value: $269 million (fourth least valuable in NBA)

The Indiana Pacers have not been in the black since 2005. Including 2010’s $17 million net loss, the team has cumulatively lost $52 million in five years. The team made the playoffs last year, ending a four-year drought, but then lost in five games to the Chicago Bulls. Attendance has declined precipitously since 2001, when the team was two years removed from a six-game loss in the championship to the Los Angeles Lakers. In 2001, the team averaged attendance of 17,888 per home game. In 2009, the team cut ticket prices by 30%, hoping to attract fans, but so far it has had little success. Last year, the Pacers averaged 13,538 people per home game, easily the worst in the league.

   

[Onslaught]

And for the record, all the city's except Sacramento that people here want to have their teams taken away from have a larger population then Seattle.

#12 Indianapolis
#17 Charlotte
#20 Memphis
#22 Seattle
#28 Milwaukee
#35 Sacramento

#21 Boston 

But all keep in mind population is not directly correlated with fan support. Go to Mexico or DRC and look for the hockey or basque-pilota fans...

I don't know, watching game 4 of the Knicks/Celtics game the other day made me mad at my Boston fans. Sounded like more Knicks fans there then Celtics for a playoff home game.

About time to take your team away!

[KGs Knee]

Regardless of whether or not every Celtics game is attended by 100% Celtics fans or whatever an acceptable level is, the organization sold every seat.  They also are one of the most valuable franchises.

Attendance is only one aspect (admittedly a large one) of what makes a team profitable, and therefore successful.

[KGs Knee]

Also, when calculating populations, do the numbers include metro areas?  That could have a major effect on Boston's perceived 'rank'.  Boston proper is not that big, relatively speaking.

[CelticConcourse]

Also, when calculating populations, do the numbers include metro areas?  That could have a major effect on Boston's perceived 'rank'.  Boston proper is not that big, relatively speaking.

Sorry for being super-off-topic but why is there a phone on your post?    To the left of "Re:"

[KGs Knee]

Because I'm posting from my phone currently.  I use the quite slimmed down mobile version of these forums.

I'm guessing I'm one of very few people who does.

[ACF]

And Seattle has NOT shown itself deserving of an NBA team?

Not true, please watch the documentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Dp20ydm1E

[ACF]

The league isn't interested in adding a new team via the expansion route at this current point in time...so somewhere, at some point, a city is going to lose a team in order for Seattle to have basketball again. 

If it won't Sacramento taking the loss, which other city/cities could be a target for Hansen and company?

Charlotte is the first that comes to mind.

Yeah but with all the talk about going back to the Hornets brand, I just don't see that happening.

[Snakehead]

So happy for Sacramento.  Their team did not deserve to be taken.  Hopefully with a new ownership group (not sure it is widely acknowledged how truly terrible the Maloofs were) they can right the team.