Better cities for the Clippers

[Guest The Czech Republic]

Let's say for whatever reason, perhaps the NBA forces it, Sterling sells the Clippers and they depart Los Angeles (or not). If they should go somewhere else, who could use an NBA franchise?

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

What about Kansas City, Missouri?

[Guest The Czech Republic]

Is Kemper Arena any good? If so, hey why not. They had the Kings back in the day.

[Guest WrestlingDeacon]

LA-Can support two teams and the Clippers could stay if they actually build a moderate winner. However, they'll never be able to get out from under the shadow of the Lakers.

 

Anaheim and San Diego-San Diego briefly had the Clippers in the '80's and they had a failed ABA team. I think there's enough teams in California as is and most people in San Diego are either Kings or Lakers fans. Anaheim only gets teams if Disney buys them.

 

Rosemont, IL-Too close to Chicago. Bulls fans are still rabid after all these years.

 

St. Louis, Missouri-A solid sports market, but I'd do a lot of research into the type of fanbase they could hope for.

 

Cincinatti, Ohio-The city is really sour on pro-sports at this time with the crap that has been befalling the Reds and Bengals. A pro team would be playing second fiddle to the Bearcats.

 

Pittsburgh, Pa-Not a basketball town, trust me. Could never in a million years support or want to support a pro basketball team. Other attempts to do so have failed miserably.

 

Somewhere in Alabama or Mississippi-Way too nebulous and the markets are too small. College hoops is strong through most of the south and the interest in a mediocre pro team won't be there.

 

Fargo, ND-Why the hell not? They're an expanding metropolitan area that wants to be taken seriously as a big city. Plus, there's no other game in town near them in pro or college sports. Might as well roll the dice.

 

La Parka-La Parka drives a flatbed truck around the country in a barnstorming tour of the Clippers vs. The Washington Generals. Money in the bank.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

I'm not sure what the problems were with the Kings. But, I did find some info. I found that a Sacramento group brought the team in 1983, which is a sign of doom.

 

As for Kemper Arena. The one problem I have with it is the location, but it is close to downtown. If it isn't the best thing out there (Does the NBA insist on arena extortion like Selig does with stadiums in Baseball?) then the majority of games could be played in KC, with a few in St. Louis (against the Pacers or Bulls), one or two in Fayetteville's Bud Walton Arena (against the Grizzlies?). You never know. But, given the right attitude, a team can succeed.

 

The Clippers in Buffalo and San Diego did wear powder blue, like the Royals here in KC.

 

I would rename the Clippers if they came to Kansas City. Clipper is a sea thing, there are no oceans near Kansas City. Kansas City Cheetahs? Kansas City Comets?

[Guest The Czech Republic]

city review stuff blah blah

and now I respond to your responses:

 

LA: For some reason I don't like the idea of both teams using the same building.

 

Anaheim/SD: If I'm not mistaken, the Clippers played at Arrowhead briefly, so they could go back to Orange County. Maybe put them in Fresno or Bakersfield for a total freaking wildcard.

 

Rosemont: If you could get a relocated Clippers to make a good showing, they could take away a good chunk of Bulls fans from the north side and those great northwest suburbs. North suburban Chicago is a rather affluent market nowadays.

 

St. Louis: Hey, you've got Nelly, he can give them street cred. They better be called "The Spirit of St. Louis" though.

 

Cincy, Pittsburgh, and the Deep South: I agree, no good.

 

Fargo: Possible albeit amusing. Fargodome sounds like a decent venue.

 

Hey, I never thought about Buffalo until now. That could work too.

 

So finally, best places are Anaheim and Rosemont.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

As for Kansas City. The Kemper Arena roof blew off once, but that was in a freak storm.

 

I'd like a new arena, but I don't know where it'd fit.

 

The arena I am impressed with the most is the Phillps Arena in Atlanta. Alot of Basketball arenas are basically the same.

 

One thing I'd like would be some sort of glass ceiling over the court. Although most of the NBA season would be played during cold times.

 

Another appealing idea. Make the KC team the best deal in the NBA. Sorta like how the Royals have the lowest ticket prices in sports.

 

As for Buffalo.. no. They couldn't keep a team the first time. Plus every sports team that has ever been in Buffalo has been called Bills, Braves, Buffaloes.

[Guest razazteca]

Send them somewhere to the South, like Birmingham or Dothan or Sheveport. A renaming and uniform contest would get the team some needed hype.

 

Or the NBA could just fold the Clippers and give its spot to whatever CBA team makes the most profit.

[Guest The Czech Republic]

As for Kansas City. The Kemper Arena roof blew off once, but that was in a freak storm.

 

I'd like a new arena, but I don't know where it'd fit.

 

The arena I am impressed with the most is the Phillps Arena in Atlanta. Alot of Basketball arenas are basically the same.

 

One thing I'd like would be some sort of glass ceiling over the court. Although most of the NBA season would be played during cold times.

 

Another appealing idea. Make the KC team the best deal in the NBA. Sorta like how the Royals have the lowest ticket prices in sports.

 

As for Buffalo.. no. They couldn't keep a team the first time. Plus every sports team that has ever been in Buffalo has been called Bills, Braves, Buffaloes.

Once the Hartford Civic Center roof collapsed from too much snow. (Credit: Dumbth, by Steve Allen)

 

Problem with the glass ceiling (ha) is that if there wasn't snow over it, it'd be nighttime anyway, what with the early sunsets all through winter. Though I would like some cool architectural novelty for a team.

 

As for Buffalo: you have the once-great Sabres, named such because the owners expressly wanted a team name not having to do with bison or buffalo.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

If I understand correctly from my Sabres t-shirts that I got for some reason. the Sabres logo involves a buffalo.

 

Buffalo is also a bit close to Toronto.

 

And another team in Rosemont might work, if the Bulls weren't chronically bad now too. You can't put another bad team there and expect success. They'd be in the shadow of the Bulls

[Guest The Czech Republic]

If I understand correctly from my Sabres t-shirts that I got for some reason. the Sabres logo involves a buffalo. (EDIT: I just remembered that the Sabres logo changed like eight years ago. It used to involve swords clashing with a buffalo between them, now it's just a buffalo head. D'oh! It sucks too.)

 

Buffalo is also a bit close to Toronto.

 

And another team in Rosemont might work, if the Bulls weren't chronically bad now too. You can't put another bad team there and expect success. They'd be in the shadow of the Bulls

Yeah, there's a buffalo on there, but the name doesn't involve a buffalo. It's just kinda there. And yes Buffalo is near Toronto. True that.

 

What could make a Rosemont team work is if the new owners were to make a conscious effort to make the team good and win fans over. Sorta be like "We're not going to be like that other team that expects you to like them for what they used to be; we'll make you like us for what we are now" and such.

 

I'm assuming the Islanders followed a plan like this to win Rangers fans when they hit the scene, but I don't know, I wasn't around then.

[Guest Choken One]

Personally...I'd love a Cincy team and the city is SOUR on sports just Owners...we're still die-hard Reds fans as we sell out the new ballpark dispite 8 straight losses and losing our name value players...

 

If we're looking to replace L.A Clippers...San Diego has a Venue and historic connection...

 

Clippers will always be in the Lakers shadows so...Yeah move them...but does California REALLY need 4 Basketball teams? (Lakers, Clips, Kings, Warriors...Am I missing one?)

 

How did FARGO get on the list? Damn Movie...

 

They shouldn't move to a Major Market like Anaheim or St. Louis...

 

Kansas City and Cincy are good markets as far as I am concerned...

 

Ohio really doesn't care about the Pacers or the Cavs (at least my area of Ohio)...We have NO one to cheer for...

 

The thing is...you'd have to alter the divisions around a little...but if Minnesota can be in the West...so can Cincy and K.C...

[Guest The Czech Republic]

Clippers will always be in the Lakers shadows so...Yeah move them...but does California REALLY need 4 Basketball teams? (Lakers, Clips, Kings, Warriors...Am I missing one?)

 

The thing is...you'd have to alter the divisions around a little...but if Minnesota can be in the West...so can Cincy and K.C...

I don't think California needs five baseball teams, that's for sure.

 

EDIT: I'm getting a freaking headache trying to realign into 6 divisions with the Clippers in Chicago or Cincy.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

Realignment idea

 

#1- Cincy/Chicago

 

East:

 

Boston

New Jersey

New York

Philadelphia

Toronto

 

Midwest:

 

Chicago

Cincy or Chicago

Cleveland

Detroit

Indiana

 

Southeast:

 

Atlanta

Charlotte

Miami

Orlando

Washington

 

Central:

 

Memphis

Minnesota

Milwaukee

New Orleans

San Antonio

 

Mountain:

 

Dallas

Denver

Houston

Phoenix

Utah

 

Pacific:

 

Golden State

Los Angeles

Portland

Sacramento

Seattle

 

----

 

#2- Clippers in KC

 

East:

 

Boston

New Jersey

New York

Philadelphia

Toronto

 

Midwest:

 

Chicago

Cleveland

Detroit

Indiana

Milwaukee

 

Southeast:

 

Atlanta

Charlotte

Miami

Orlando

Washington

 

Central:

 

Kansas City

Memphis

Minnesota

New Orleans

San Antonio

 

Mountain:

 

Dallas

Denver

Houston

Phoenix

Utah

 

Pacific:

 

Golden State

Los Angeles

Portland

Sacramento

Seattle

[Guest The Czech Republic]

Unfortunately K.C. lends itself better than Rosemont. What would the second Chicago team be called though? Since they're right across the street from O'Hare, they could have have some name relating to aviation.

[Guest Eagan469]

Buffalo could support the franchise, so long as we had a financial backer to make the initial purchase

 

[Guest phoenixrising]

Anaheim/SD: If I'm not mistaken, the Clippers played at Arrowhead briefly, so they could go back to Orange County. Maybe put them in Fresno or Bakersfield for a total freaking wildcard.

For a few years in the mid-90's, when the Clippers were at the L.A. Sports Arena, they would play about nine games a year at the Arrowhead Pond. Unlike at the Sports Arena, the Clippers used to sell out the Pond whenever they were there. It was assumed that eventually the Clippers would move to the Pond, while the Lakers and Kings would move into the Staples Center. That was until about midway through the construction of Staples Sterling suddenly decided to move the Clips in with the Lakers and Kings.

[Guest The Czech Republic]

I think Jordan should get an investors group put together and get a team in Rosemont, seriously. "Chicago Pilots" has a ring to it.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

I don't think LA is the problem. The owner has been the problem. That and lots of underachieving players. If the Clippers do resign Brand and Maggette, and give Odom an extension, along with signing Arena's, Sterling at least looks like he wants to win.

[Guest treble charged]

I've always wondered. When the Lakers play 'road' games against the Clippers, do they get to use their own locker room, or are they forced to the visitor's one?

[Guest Vern Gagne]

I think the "road" team in the game uses the road lockerroom. Although they very well, might have seperate lockerrooms.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

Don't even think about Pittsburgh -- they can't even putt butts in the seats for one NBA game, let alone a full season's worth...

[Guest Smark-Raving Mad]

I heard the reason the Clippers didn't move to the Pond was because it was too long a drive for the Donald and his friends. Hell, I wouldn't put it past the guy.

 

Maybe if they move to Anaheim some of that recent Disney magic will rub off on them.

[Guest MarvinisaLunatic]

Baltimore needs a Basketball team, and I think the Baltimore Clippers would sound cool.

 

The Baltimore Arena would suck for Basketball, but Im sure they'd build a new arena if they knew there was a basketball team coming.