NBA to Kansas City

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AlkaliAxel
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NBA to Kansas City

Post by AlkaliAxel »

The NBA is expanding next summer (2022) according to Yahoo Sports and many other various sources. Since the NHL just expanded recently, and multiple NBA teams have looked at relocating along with league expansion, I think it's time we start really giving this serious discussion.
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AlkaliAxel
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Re: NBA to Kansas City

Post by AlkaliAxel »

Here's what I think is likely to happen according to a long and lengthy research on this:

Summer 2022- the NBA is going to expand two more teams because they need to recoup the financial losses from COVID. Seattle obviously is getting a team, and Las Vegas already has the ownership group lined up and ready to go for the second slot. They will get the two teams.

However...the more interesting/realistic option here is the relocation. Just this past month, an article was written about how the New Orleans Pelicans are in serious danger of moving by the 2023-24 season. 2024 is when their deal expires with the city of New Orleans, and they're having trouble getting a new/upgraded stadium. They're also losing a ton of money, and their owner (who owns the Saints) is essentially having the Saints help keep the Pelicans afloat. Multiple other sources have confirmed this too. The fact they mentioned a date (2024) is why this seems to have real legs. From what I've heard, the owner would be willing to sell Pelicans but not the Saints.

This is all highly contingent on how the team does the next two seasons...which is why they just fired their head coach after ONE year. They know the clock is ticking on success or they'll have to move. If they do flop the next two seasons, their stadium likely doesn't get funded and they'll move

Here's why KC is where they'll go:
1. Most of the cities that don't have a team are way too close to another team for a new team to come there
2. The remaining cities that don't have another team nearby don't have NBA ready venues

KC and Louisville are the only teams with viable venues. The problem for Louisville is it's a venue already in use by the college team.
Nashville can't get a team because it's too close to Memphis which has a team.
San Diego doesn't have a viable venue, and can't get the financing for one.
Austin is way too close to San Antonio which has a team.
St. Louis and Pittsburgh don't have viable NBA venues.
Tampa Bay is too close to Orlando, which has a team.

The only city left that's doesn't have proximity issues AND a viable arena is KC.
Patrick Mahomes could help move the needle as well, showing the force of KC as a sports city.
If the Pelicans move in 2024, I see them coming to KC. I do think they'll be forced to relocate as well.
Last edited by AlkaliAxel on Thu Dec 09, 2021 3:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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StL_Dan
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Re: NBA to Kansas City

Post by StL_Dan »

Please explain why Pitt and StL don’t have viable NBA venues.
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Re: NBA to Kansas City

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StL_Dan wrote: Tue Jul 06, 2021 10:44 pm Please explain why Pitt and StL don’t have viable NBA venues.
They're not as new and well located as T-Mobile Center in KC, however the killer for either Pitt or STL is they're already hosting NHL teams in those same venues in the winter. Markets not big enough for NBA and NHL in those cities in the same season. STL chose NHL, so they're stuck with that. If KC had an NHL team they'd be screwed from ever getting an NBA team in this market too.
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Re: NBA to Kansas City

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Makes sense, and, for for what it’s worth Pitt amd StL aren’t “stuck” with the NHL.
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Re: NBA to Kansas City

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AlkaliAxel wrote: Tue Jul 06, 2021 10:53 pm
StL_Dan wrote: Tue Jul 06, 2021 10:44 pm Please explain why Pitt and StL don’t have viable NBA venues.
They're not as new and well located as T-Mobile Center in KC, however the killer for either Pitt or STL is they're already hosting NHL teams in those same venues in the winter. Markets not big enough for NBA and NHL in those cities in the same season. STL chose NHL, so they're stuck with that. If KC had an NHL team they'd be screwed from ever getting an NBA team in this market too.
PPG Arena in Pittsburgh opened in 2010 - three years after T-Mobile - and only three or so blocks from a subway station. Enterprise in StL isn't as new but right across the street from light rail and a bus transit center.
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Re: NBA to Kansas City

Post by brewcrew1000 »

I just don't see any buzz for NBA in KC. I would be willing to bet that KC is one of the lowest rated markets for TV ratings for NBA, all of our semi pro basketball ventures that start in KC fail miserably. Only way we get a team is if we have an amazing local ownership group that includes people like Mahomes, Kelce, and someone else with deeper pockets (Dropbox Founder?)
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Re: NBA to Kansas City

Post by maison rustique »

NBA gets my vote here. Having lived in Boston and So. California where the NBA has a strong presence, I have really missed having a home team to cheer for.
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Re: NBA to Kansas City

Post by KC_JAYHAWK »

I could see KC getting an NBA team, but like brewcrew stated, it will take a wealthy owner. I think the NBA franchise fee (or whatever it is called) is $1B+. That's a lot of coin. KC would have an advantage over Pittsburgh and St. Louis since both those cities already have NHL teams and Pitt just isn't growing much in population to be a 4 team city. NFL, NHL and MLB are probably all Pitt needs. St. Louis could use an additional team, but they should focus on the NFL (IMO). St. Louis is a good NFL city, they've just had lousy owners.

Pitt built their arena after the owner visited the Sprint Center shortly after it opened and floated around the idea of relocating to KC if Pitt didn't get a new arena funded. KC was basically used as a pawn to get a new arena in Pitt. Good for them. The penguins belong in Pitt.

Not sure LV is a lock. There are already quite a few NBA teams in the West. KC would draw from Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa, and probably even NW Arkansas. Plus it would be a good rivalry with OKC and Dallas.

But with the T-Mobile Center 12 years old now, it probably needs upgrades as well, like restrooms and locker rooms, probably even a new scoreboard.
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Re: NBA to Kansas City

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brewcrew1000 wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 8:18 am I just don't see any buzz for NBA in KC. I would be willing to bet that KC is one of the lowest rated markets for TV ratings for NBA, all of our semi pro basketball ventures that start in KC fail miserably. Only way we get a team is if we have an amazing local ownership group that includes people like Mahomes, Kelce, and someone else with deeper pockets (Dropbox Founder?)
The NBA wouldn’t be the draw, it would be a sports team DT. This town has never had the ability to go to a restaurant, see the game and go out for drinks after. It would be the young professional team for this city. Once it’s shown to be wildly successful, the other sports teams would be clamoring to move DT as well.
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Re: NBA to Kansas City

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brewcrew1000 wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 8:18 am I just don't see any buzz for NBA in KC. I would be willing to bet that KC is one of the lowest rated markets for TV ratings for NBA, all of our semi pro basketball ventures that start in KC fail miserably. Only way we get a team is if we have an amazing local ownership group that includes people like Mahomes, Kelce, and someone else with deeper pockets (Dropbox Founder?)
Well it's pretty hard to get into the NBA when we're further away from any NBA market than probably any other major city? Which is a great reason for why we should get a team too. And in case you missed the lead post here, the NBA isn't doing too hot in New Orleans which is only slightly bigger than Omaha metro-wise and is somehow also sharing an NFL team there. Pretty sure the KC market and venue would be much more palpable for them.

My whole point here is that when Vegas & Seattle are handed teams next year, if New Orleans decides to move the year after that- there's basically no other logical market to go to other than KC. They're losing alot of money.
Last edited by AlkaliAxel on Wed Jul 07, 2021 10:07 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: NBA to Kansas City

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KC_JAYHAWK wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 8:34 am I could see KC getting an NBA team, but like brewcrew stated, it will take a wealthy owner. I think the NBA franchise fee (or whatever it is called) is $1B+. That's a lot of coin. KC would have an advantage over Pittsburgh and St. Louis since both those cities already have NHL teams and Pitt just isn't growing much in population to be a 4 team city. NFL, NHL and MLB are probably all Pitt needs. St. Louis could use an additional team, but they should focus on the NFL (IMO). St. Louis is a good NFL city, they've just had lousy owners.

Pitt built their arena after the owner visited the Sprint Center shortly after it opened and floated around the idea of relocating to KC if Pitt didn't get a new arena funded. KC was basically used as a pawn to get a new arena in Pitt. Good for them. The penguins belong in Pitt.

Not sure LV is a lock. There are already quite a few NBA teams in the West. KC would draw from Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa, and probably even NW Arkansas. Plus it would be a good rivalry with OKC and Dallas.

But with the T-Mobile Center 12 years old now, it probably needs upgrades as well, like restrooms and locker rooms, probably even a new scoreboard.
You don't need a wealthy KC owner for a relocation move. That's only if we wanted an expansion team, which we're not going for really. If New Orleans gets sold in 2023-24, a new owner wouldn't have to be from KC to realize the best option is to relocate here.

And unfortunately, Las Vegas is all but a lock to the second expansion team because they have an extremely wealthy ownership group already line up and a new venue that was just made in 2016. That's fine since our goal is relocation.

Last point- I think T-Mobile did some renovations to the arena when they took over last summer
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Re: NBA to Kansas City

Post by AlkaliAxel »

I don't think people (who perhaps don't follow sports much) realize how close the New Orleans Pelicans are to moving here in the next couple years. After Vegas & Seattle are granted teams next year, there is a very serious chance they relocate due to financial difficulties in its super small market. They're only on the hook through 2023-24 with the city of New Orleans and then they're free.
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Re: NBA to Kansas City

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IMO, I think the NBA would do well here. There are still enough people who remember the nostalgia of the Kings and the NBA when it was here. One of the first pro sports games I attended was a Kings game was around 78. I remember being 5yrs old and since it was winter this was an event inside. That summer I would also get to go to my first Royals game.

Anyway, I think there is enough of an appreciation of basketball in the area, through HS & College, that translates well to fans who enjoy the game. Yes the NBA can be dull at times in the regular season but the playoffs are amazing and since just about every team makes the playoffs in the NBA that would be a good thing for us.

Jared Sutton has been very dialed into this idea and dedicated a lot of time and effort to exploring the real viability of the NBA to KC. I am optimistic it could happen and really think it would supported. KC is a great sports town and I believe our NBA viewership during the playoffs is quite good, especially for a market with no team.
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Re: NBA to Kansas City

Post by dukuboy1 »

Also, the Pelicans have had quite a ride as a franchise. They were the Hornets that moved to New Orleans in like 2000. Had to play 2 seasons in OKC because of the devastation of hurricane Katrina. Had ownership issues from poor management & the unfortunate health issues the NBA bought the team in 2010 and could not find an owner until 2012 when the Saints owner agreed to buy them and they were re-branded the Pelicans.

A lot has gone on in 20yrs since New Orleans got the team, decent play on the court, but hard luck on the financials. It also seems the NBA is really bent on keeping the team there. Maybe not as much anymore in the years after Katrina, but still seemed really interested in that market, which is odd as it is in a heavy football market, NFL and especially college in the heart of the SEC.
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Re: NBA to Kansas City

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The people who think NBA wouldn't cut it here aren't hanging out with many young people. So much hotter than NHL these days. It would be a hot ticket for a while.

My group of friends have talked about getting a half season ticket package if they came in, 20-ish games sounds great to me.

Vegas in a few years might be a disaster, even without the impending water issues. I realize the casinos buying up tickets is fine but they're going to stretch everyone's dollar since they'll compete directly with well established & beloved Golden Knights & that black & silver wreck.
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Re: NBA to Kansas City

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TheSmokinPun wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 1:14 pm The people who think NBA wouldn't cut it here aren't hanging out with many young people. So much hotter than NHL these days. It would be a hot ticket for a while.

My group of friends have talked about getting a half season ticket package if they came in, 20-ish games sounds great to me.

Vegas in a few years might be a disaster, even without the impending water issues. I realize the casinos buying up tickets is fine but they're going to stretch everyone's dollar since they'll compete directly with well established & beloved Golden Knights & that black & silver wreck.
The two dumbest boomer takes on the NBA to KC that I hear are:

1. "Well we tried it before in the early 80's and I didn't work!"
...ok, that was 40 years ago. Times have changed in KC now, alot. Every friend and peer of mine (young 20's) all are dying to get NBA here, and half of them have told me they'd be willing to give up the Royals to get an NBA team here. That's how badly people want this. This isn't the 80's anymore. Most people in their young 20's are watching random NBA teams over the Royals on a nightly basis. Just saying.

2. "The NBA wouldn't work here because it has to compete with KU!!"
...is even dumber than the first boomer take up here. I just genuinely can't imagine a KU basketball fan saying "since I already watch KU, I refuse to watch the NBA". Ever thought that maybe the reason people are so attached to college basketball around here is because we do NOT have a pro team to watch? Only a fraction of people in KC even went to KU, and college basketball is waning these days compared to NBA anyway. As someone who is a pretty big KU fan and in their young 20's, I can 100% assure you that no KU fan is going to be swayed away from NBA because of KU. College is nowhere near as exciting.

Thankfully I don't think any NBA exec or even anyone in this thread really espouses these things
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Re: NBA to Kansas City

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TheSmokinPun wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 1:14 pm The people who think NBA wouldn't cut it here aren't hanging out with many young people. So much hotter than NHL these days. It would be a hot ticket for a while.

My group of friends have talked about getting a half season ticket package if they came in, 20-ish games sounds great to me.

Vegas in a few years might be a disaster, even without the impending water issues. I realize the casinos buying up tickets is fine but they're going to stretch everyone's dollar since they'll compete directly with well established & beloved Golden Knights & that black & silver wreck.
Oh I get it. I'm not a big fan of the NBA since KC doesn't have a team, but if we did, I would probably watch them and go to their games. I don't watch random games. But my nephews who are all in their teens love the NBA and watch games all the time, so I think it is a generational thing. I am in my 40's, but I would fully embrace an NBA team. Just like the Chiefs or Royals, I really only follow them, I don't watch NFL games all day Sunday, like I know many people do. I don't think I've watched a single NBA game this year and wasn't even aware the championship series was starting up...lol.
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Re: NBA to Kansas City

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beautyfromashes wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 8:56 am
brewcrew1000 wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 8:18 am I just don't see any buzz for NBA in KC. I would be willing to bet that KC is one of the lowest rated markets for TV ratings for NBA, all of our semi pro basketball ventures that start in KC fail miserably. Only way we get a team is if we have an amazing local ownership group that includes people like Mahomes, Kelce, and someone else with deeper pockets (Dropbox Founder?)
The NBA wouldn’t be the draw, it would be a sports team DT. This town has never had the ability to go to a restaurant, see the game and go out for drinks after. It would be the young professional team for this city. Once it’s shown to be wildly successful, the other sports teams would be clamoring to move DT as well.
I love the way you think.
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Re: NBA to Kansas City

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TheSmokinPun wrote: Wed Jul 07, 2021 1:14 pm The people who think NBA wouldn't cut it here aren't hanging out with many young people. So much hotter than NHL these days. It would be a hot ticket for a while.

My group of friends have talked about getting a half season ticket package if they came in, 20-ish games sounds great to me.

Vegas in a few years might be a disaster, even without the impending water issues. I realize the casinos buying up tickets is fine but they're going to stretch everyone's dollar since they'll compete directly with well established & beloved Golden Knights & that black & silver wreck.
NHL hockey is immensely popular and continues to grow interest in the younger, as well as, up-and-coming crowd. Look at what is happening in Vegas, Seattle, Tampa and Denver. All are, or will soon be, staple franchises with unbelievably strong fan bases that spend a lot of money to attend games, enjoy the game day experience locally and buy up licensed merch.

The NHL is stronger than ever while it seems the NBA is inflated with itself.

Look at me - talking like a hockey sick radical. Lol
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