Another possible candidate NBA team to move to Louisville

[hoosierhateruklover]

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap/



Sounds like the Sonics may be looking to head out of Seattle if they don't get out of Key Arena. I remember J. Bruce Miller in Louisville saying he had been in contact with a few NBA teams about moving. Maybe Seattle was one. Now we can add them to the possible relocation list along with the Magic, Hornets, and Kings. Speaking of the NBA in louisville, whats next? Last I checkedon arenataskforce.com they had submitted a report to the governor on 9/30/05 but there's been no action since. What gives?

[NotFrank]

Hornets go anywhere it will be Ok City. Kings will be the first team in Vegas, IMO due to the Maloof contacts. Magic will stay put when they get a new arena. They have Howard and are showing signs of better attendance. Seattle to Louisville would be a huge longshot as it would really upset the balance of the divisions. IMO, Louisville could not support an NBA team. You can have the Bobcats if you like ;)

[Buddah]

i agree, i just don't think louisville is big enough to support a major sports franchise, but if it happens, great.

[DamonEsquire]

The last time saw this. There was some sort ofpopulation. That densely hinder. Kentucky did meet requirements butthose are subject to change. I, for one; fell basketball. It will survive here but others maybe not.I just wish upon an MLS team. Low money ($10 million for rights and about another $20/80 million in bank for resources) for decent world coverage. The right chemistrycould do wonders.

[BigBlue75]

The only way we'll ever know for sure if the NBA will survive here is if a franchise is moved here and the attempt is made.

Personally, I hope they do. I'll be first in line for season tickets.

[hoosierhateruklover]

BigBlue75 wrote: I'll be first in line for season tickets.



First in line behind me. :cool:

[TRexSmarts]

There is always talk about Louisville or Lexington being the only place that could afford to place a pro team. But in the last 5 or 10 years, the area up here in Northern Kentucky is starting to boom. Why can't a pro team come to this area to settle? A pro team will really set a boom to this area?

TRexSmarts

[BigBlue75]

TRex, I've actually wondered about that myself. That area has proven it can support professional sports with the Bengals and the Reds. I know years ago there was a professional team named the Royals that played in Cincinnati for years. One of the all time great NBA guards, Oscar Robertson, played the first few years of his career there. I don't know if the NBA just got soured on Cincinnati or what.

[TRexSmarts]

I'm not talking on the Ohio side though. I'm talking on the Kentucky side. You have prime real estate up here now. They just built a pro baseball team called "Florence Freedoms". The Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is up here on the Kentucky side. But the money can be here with the fact that you can have people from Ohio and Kentucky.

TRexSmarts

[hoosierhateruklover]

I wish they would have built the Bengal's and Red's stadiums on the river in northern Kentucky so everyone would stop making fun of Kentucky for not having any pro teams. As for the NBA, it will be perfect playing in the bucket in downtown Louisville!!

[MudCat]

TRexSmarts wrote: There is always talk about Louisville or Lexington being the only place that could afford to place a pro team. But in the last 5 or 10 years, the area up here in Northern Kentucky is starting to boom. Why can't a pro team come to this area to settle? A pro team will really set a boom to this area?

TRexSmarts

I could see Cincinnati. Even if the arena were in N. Ky., but Louisville (and especially not Lexington) will notsupport an NBA team long-term.

Back in the day, the Colonels did okay, but that was due to a lot of former UK/UL players on the roster, but they still moved.

You couldn't do that now and field a competitve NBAteam.

And again, I'll make the same point.

Yes, the NBA sounds like a great idea, but remember, you're talking about "X" number of season ticket commitments (plus PSL's and Luxury Box/Loge sales) for over 40 games in a six month period.

Mostly either 2 or 3 nights a week.

The NBA doesn't getmany consistent "walk up" sales.

Forget Katrina. The Hornets were looking to move before that, and it was because in a roughly 18,000 seat arena, they couldn't come closeto filling it.

With $10 tickets.

This was after one year there, with a playoff team.

Let's face it. UofL can't sell out Freedom Hall with a mediocre team, and they only play 15-18 games there, (at the most), over a 4-month time period. (I could be wrong, but I don't think they sell out all their games, anyway.)

What makes anyone think an NBA team (which won't be a good one....good teams don't move) would sell out twice as many games at tickets 2X the cost over a 7-month period is beyond me.

And then there's the whole UofL/arena/"we don't like to share our toys" issue.....

I've said before, if Louisville ever gets an NBA team, I'll go, and I'll be the first one to say I was wrong about the decision to move a team here.

Call me out on it, and I'll admit it.

I just don't see the average "Louisvillian" making that kind of commitment, but a "metro" area like Cincinnati (the 'Nati, SE Indiana, N. Ky.)would make more sense, as you have a larger population to draw on (including Louisville..it's not that long a drive, and that would probably be a boost to the "walk in sales"), and the downtown resources to support the pre- and post-game activities.

I could be wrong, but if an NBA team does in fact move to Louisville, that will be more proof to me that the NBA owners are all insane, and/or happy to own losing businesses.

And if an NBA team were to move here, it won't last more than 2-3 years, at best.

(I might be more positive about the prospect if, and only if, the team wasn't given any public money.........right.........:rolleyes:)

Just my opinion. As I said, I'll be the first to admit I'm wrong if it happens.

I'm not disparaging "your" (not anyone's in particular) wanting to have a team here.

You just have to find 15,000 more people like you, and you'll be on your way.

[Old Blue]

I doubt that Louisville could sustain an NBA team in the long run. Maybe if the Colonels had joined the league instead of folding way back when it might be different, like the Pacers. But they didn't, and things are a lot different now. Although the league is not looking to expand and Louisville may not be a big enough market, I would love to see an NFL team in Louisville. Now with them, you wouldn't need to worry about selling out. It would be a given. Also, in pro sports, the NFL is really the only league that counts. Unless you are in St. Louis or Chicago or some other MLB city, nobody cares about baseball until the playoffs. Nobody cares about hockey ever. And nobody watches the NBA until the conference finals. I only watch it at all then because Tay and the Pistons are usually there. Now the NFL, on the other hand, I don't miss a game!

[BigBlue75]

Old Blue wrote: I doubt that Louisville could sustain an NBA team in the long run. Maybe if the Colonels had joined the league instead of folding way back when it might be different, like the Pacers. We can thank John Y. Brown for that. But they didn't, and things are a lot different now. Although the league is not looking to expand and Louisville may not be a big enough market, I would love to see an NFL team in Louisville. I would, too, but you could make the same small market argument for both the NBA and the NFL. Now with them, you wouldn't need to worry about selling out. It would be a given. Also, in pro sports, the NFL is really the only league that counts. Unless you are in St. Louis or Chicago or some other MLB city, nobody cares about baseball until the playoffs. Nobody cares about hockey ever. Since minor league hockey has tried twice and failed, I doubt seriously if anyone would ever want to bring a full-blown NHL franchise here.And nobody watches the NBA until the conference finals.I don't know that I would go as far as saying that, but the NFL is indeed the more popular of the four major sports.Good points, all.

[Old Blue]

We are probably also too close to Indy and Cincy to get an NFL team. My guess is that if our name ever came up during talks that the Colts and the Bengals ownership would have some major objections. As it stands now, Louisville is a big Colts town, and Lexington and obviously Northern Kentucky are big Bengals markets since they have come back from the dead.

[BrassowFan]

Old Blue wrote: We are probably also too close to Indy and Cincy to get an NFL team. My guess is that if our name ever came up during talks that the Colts and the Bengals ownership would have some major objections. As it stands now, Louisville is a big Colts town, and Lexington and obviously Northern Kentucky are big Bengals markets since they have come back from the dead.

When did Louisville become a big Colts town? I've been gone a year but I've been to a few sports bars in the city this season and I don't see any increase in Colts jerseys. I'm sure that some are jumping on the bandwagon but I think that team loyalty there is quite widespread, often related to the individuals fantasy team.

[hoosierhateruklover]

After reading through much of the book Airball, I can't help but feel that the NBA is right around the corner for Louisville. The market is there, the arena is on it's way, and there are several teams already interested! Asfor N.Ky that wouldn't be bad either but where will the Arena funding come from? Frankfort is gearing all their funds for Louisville and Cincy is already paying for PBS and GAB ( I wish those stadiums were in N.KY so annoying ppl like Hoosiers and other geographically challenged people would stop talking about how Kentucky has no sports teams!). Lexington is too small and will never be considered in the immediate future! That brings us back to Louisville as the one and only shot for the NBA, NHL, and NCAA tournaments and I fear it could be the last with Louisville already exhausting several chances over the past 30 years! Nonetheless, I am still confident the Kentucky Colonels will return and be taking the court in downtown Louisville w/in the next 5-7 years max!

[hoosierhateruklover]

UPDATE: A last minute and surprising bill has been enacted in Olympia for state legislature approval that would give the Sonics $200 million for state renovations. Majority owner Howard Schultz has threatened to sell the team or relocate it if the bill fails....Even with the Super Bowl madness going around in Seattle, it looks like the city is down to its last strike with the Sonics. Schultz has already given officials permission to talk with Anaheim, Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, and San Jose... Now is the time for Louisville to step up to the plate!

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/257974_schultz02.html

[BrassowFan]

Regarding the idea that the NBA should look at Northern Kentucky... why would a team want to move to Florence or Covington when it could go to Cincinnati?

I'm sure that Cincinnati & Ohio could provide a better financial package and I think that the teams want to locate in the larger market for hotels and other conveniences that fans look for on game day. Nothing against that area of Kentucky, I think the levee is great but unless it was right on the river and called The Cincinnati Whatevers, there's no way that it would ever go to NKY.

As for whether Louisville can support a team... the real question is whether they can afford not to try. Look around, jobs are leaving the city... fast! Almost all of the companies in Louisville are headquartered out of KY and have taken the important jobs with them and I don't see any moving back. The economy there is dependent on the health of Ford, GE and UPS and truthfully, I think they can only bank on UPS.

[TRexSmarts]

BrassowFan wrote: Regarding the idea that the NBA should look at Northern Kentucky... why would a team want to move to Florence or Covington when it could go to Cincinnati?

I'm sure that Cincinnati & Ohio could provide a better financial package and I think that the teams want to locate in the larger market for hotels and other conveniences that fans look for on game day. Nothing against that area of Kentucky, I think the levee is great but unless it was right on the river and called The Cincinnati Whatevers, there's no way that it would ever go to NKY.

As for whether Louisville can support a team... the real question is whether they can afford not to try. Look around, jobs are leaving the city... fast! Almost all of the companies in Louisville are headquartered out of KY and have taken the important jobs with them and I don't see any moving back. The economy there is dependent on the health of Ford, GE and UPS and truthfully, I think they can only bank on UPS.

Actually, I kind of disagree. I have lived here in NKY since 1995 and I must say this area has grown leap and bound over the years and it's only going to continue to grown as well. This would be perfect area for a pro team overall. Just like this area supporting Cincinnati Bengals and the Reds, I feel that the Cincinnati area will support a Kentucky pro team as well.

TRexSmarts

[BrassowFan]

TRexSmarts wrote: BrassowFan wrote: Regarding the idea that the NBA should look at Northern Kentucky... why would a team want to move to Florence or Covington when it could go to Cincinnati?

I'm sure that Cincinnati & Ohio could provide a better financial package and I think that the teams want to locate in the larger market for hotels and other conveniences that fans look for on game day. Nothing against that area of Kentucky, I think the levee is great but unless it was right on the river and called The Cincinnati Whatevers, there's no way that it would ever go to NKY.

As for whether Louisville can support a team... the real question is whether they can afford not to try. Look around, jobs are leaving the city... fast! Almost all of the companies in Louisville are headquartered out of KY and have taken the important jobs with them and I don't see any moving back. The economy there is dependent on the health of Ford, GE and UPS and truthfully, I think they can only bank on UPS.

Actually, I kind of disagree. I have lived here in NKY since 1995 and I must say this area has grown leap and bound over the years and it's only going to continue to grown as well. This would be perfect area for a pro team overall. Just like this area supporting Cincinnati Bengals and the Reds, I feel that the Cincinnati area will support a Kentucky pro team as well.

TRexSmarts

I never said that the Cincinnati area wouldn't support a pro team, just that a pro team would prefer to be in Cincinnati than Florence, Covington or anywhere else in that area south of the Ohio. If it were located in that area it would be called "Cincinnati", not "Kentucky" just as you see with the airport. That's great if tax revenue is your only purpose but an NBA team is as much about PR as it is actual dollars and cents.

It's nothing against those areas in Northern Kentucky, I think they're great, but the NBA would prefer to be associated with the largest city possible for various reasons, largely that people around the country don't have to ask where that is. If it were in Covington and someone asked, the answer would be "across the river from Cincinnati" as the airport is described.

Louisville is the largest tax base for the state, it's where they would get the most bang for the buck as not only would the revenue remain in house but all of the PR would be focused on KY, as it should be. I don't live there anymore however if I did and still had a vote, there's no way that I would support an arena for the purpose of an NBA team anywhere else.