Way to go, Marlins "fans"

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I think New Jersey could support a baseball team as well.

[SouthSideRyan]

A 2nd New England or New York area team would work out just fine. Other than that and maybe Vegas, I really don't know. Portland might do ok, but without a great team, I can't see them drawing over 2M annually.

[NewUserName]

How many of you remember Wrigley pre-1984? There were probably 10 games a year where the attendance was less than 10,000. I remember seeing the Big Red Machine there in the 70s and it was easily just as many Red fans as Cub fans. You could easily walk up and get a $2 bleacher ticket the day of the game. Florida can turn it around. Would take a lot of work though.

[SouthSideRyan]

How many of you remember Wrigley pre-1984? There were probably 10 games a year where the attendance was less than 10,000. I remember seeing the Big Red Machine there in the 70s and it was easily just as many Red fans as Cub fans. You could easily walk up and get a $2 bleacher ticket the day of the game. Florida can turn it around. Would take a lot of work though.

 

Attendance is up across the board in baseball. The Marlins numbers are horrible when compared to the rest of the league, and the braindead douchebag ownership they have there isn't about to help matters.

[OleMissCub]

What about San Antonio? They have a metro-area of 2 million.

 

Although, I'm pretty sure alot of those are lower income people who couldn't afford tickets.

[Guest]

IMO, the best places to put a team would be:

 

Vegas

NJ

Inland Empire

[circlecitycub]

Indianapolis, Portland, and Vegas would be terrific markets for MLB yet Miami still gets a team.

 

Yes, please.

[circlecitycub]

Indianapolis,.

 

Are you kidding? Indy has some of the worst fans in the country. Before Peyton, they begged for fans to go to Colts games. The pacers don't draw. There is no way they could support a MLB team with cincy so close.

 

Las Vegas is the most logical place for a baseball team. They'd sell 2.5 million tickets annually, no doubt.

 

I don't support the notion that Indianapolis has terrible fans (I can name a lot of places that are worse) but I do agree that Indianapolis could not support a MLB team. There aren't enough baseball fans, and the ones that are here are committed to the Cubs, Reds, and Cardinals. Not enough would switch to make it worth it.

 

I wouldn't switch but I would definitely hit every Cubs series. I go to Indians games now and enjoy seeing former and future MLBer's. I would definitely frequent an MLB team to watch other quality MLBer's pass through town.

 

It really may not work in Indy but I think it's definitely more feasible now than ever before.

[VanceJergins]

Indianapolis,.

 

Are you kidding? Indy has some of the worst fans in the country. Before Peyton, they begged for fans to go to Colts games. The pacers don't draw. There is no way they could support a MLB team with cincy so close.

 

Las Vegas is the most logical place for a baseball team. They'd sell 2.5 million tickets annually, no doubt.

 

I don't support the notion that Indianapolis has terrible fans (I can name a lot of places that are worse) but I do agree that Indianapolis could not support a MLB team. There aren't enough baseball fans, and the ones that are here are committed to the Cubs, Reds, and Cardinals. Not enough would switch to make it worth it.

 

I wouldn't switch but I would definitely hit every Cubs series. I go to Indians games now and enjoy seeing former and future MLBer's. I would definitely frequent an MLB team to watch other quality MLBer's pass through town.

 

It really may not work in Indy but I think it's definitely more feasible now than ever before.

 

Same here. I already go to Cincy about once a year, I would definitely make the 40 minute drive to Indy anytime the Cubs were here. And the Indians games I've been to seem to draw pretty well, I think an MLB team would have shot. I don't think Cincy being so close would affect it much because there honestly aren't that many Reds fans here. Far more Cubs/Cards.

 

In response to Irishoshea: Have you seen the Pacers lately? That team is absolute garbage. I wouldn't go to their games if they paid me unless they were playing someone I wanted to see. I don't have any kind of argument, I don't have any numbers saying Indy has good fans, I just wanted to bad-mouth the Pacers.

[Omar]

http://media.miamiherald.com/smedia/2007/09/12/20/50-marlinsnats3.embedded.prod_affiliate.56.jpg

 

Looks worse than attendance at Olympic Stadium.

 

It's too bad Florida Baseball is the way it is. "It's a beautiful day in Florida... Perfect for baseball... TOO BAD ITS INDOORS!... OR IN A FOOTBALL STADIUM!"

[Guest]

IMO, the best places to put a team would be:

 

Vegas

NJ

Inland Empire

 

Agreed. I'd love an NL team in the IE or even Vegas.

[Drew Doughty]

i would love a vegas nl team. i wouldn't have to travel 6 hours to see cubs baseball!

 

just put them in the central for some inexplicable reason and i'd be ecstatic.

[XZero771679666304]

I think a team in Portland would be a great idea.

[Guest]

I think a team in Portland would be a great idea.

 

who moves to the central and who moves to the east?

[XZero771679666304]

I think a team in Portland would be a great idea.

 

who moves to the central and who moves to the east?

 

Colorado to the central and Pittsburgh to the east.

[chuckywang]

I'm in favor of a third New York team. Hey, if it worked in the 50s, it'll work now.

[Fro]

Indy isn't close to the best potential market but they'd outdraw Miami for sure. Intradivision games with the Cubs/Reds/Cards would all draw really well.

 

The Indians (AAA) draw 600k/year as it is.

 

Cincinnati would balk big-time though.

[hardcorecubfan]

The Las Vegas Marlins!

 

OKC Marlins, either place just doesn't sound right for a fish mascot

[CuseCubFan69]

I'm in favor of a third New York team. Hey, if it worked in the 50s, it'll work now.

 

I'm sure jerseycubfan would want one there instead but they'd still called New York of course.

[jersey cubs fan]

The Las Vegas Marlins!

 

Oh how I would love that...I'd be putting my Nevada liscense to use a LOT more often....

 

I don't think any of the four major sports will ever have a team in Vegas. Even if you ban betting on the games they play in, fixing games would still be way too easy.

 

Fixing what games, the ones going on in other cities?

 

The truth is the only reason they wouldn't is perception. The reality is there wouldn't be an actual problem.

 

 

 

The Marlins play in a suburban football stadium. Baseball is an every day sport, there's simply no way you can get people to drive that far out into the boonies on a daily basis. There is a reason Baltimore moved back downtown and Boston, New York and Chicago constantly draw such good crowds. Going from Miami to Pro Player would just blow. It's bad enough on Sunday, without rush hour traffic. I can't imagine why anybody would try it on a weekday.

 

Hudson county NJ could easily support a team. They'd have the corporate support, they're surrounded by mass transit and several roadways, and it's the most densely populated area in America. Put a ballpark on the waterfront (looking across at Manhattan) and it would thrive. On the other hand, if you put it in the Meadowlands, they'd struggle.

[jersey cubs fan]

A 2nd New England or New York area team would work out just fine. Other than that and maybe Vegas, I really don't know. Portland might do ok, but without a great team, I can't see them drawing over 2M annually.

 

I'm not sure a 2nd New England team would work. Where would you put it? Boston itself is actually quite small. The Boston metro area is roughly the same population as Detroit. Philly, Houston, Atlanta and Dallas are all bigger and aren't even the best supporters of their 1 team each.

 

The Red Sox dominate because they have a monopoly on the baseball loyalties of 5 states, most of a 6th and parts of a 7th. There isn't another large enough city in New England to put a team, and Boston can't support another.

[Mephistopheles]

A 2nd New England or New York area team would work out just fine. Other than that and maybe Vegas, I really don't know. Portland might do ok, but without a great team, I can't see them drawing over 2M annually.

 

I'm not sure a 2nd New England team would work. Where would you put it? Boston itself is actually quite small. The Boston metro area is roughly the same population as Detroit. Philly, Houston, Atlanta and Dallas are all bigger and aren't even the best supporters of their 1 team each.

 

The Red Sox dominate because they have a monopoly on the baseball loyalties of 5 states, most of a 6th and parts of a 7th. There isn't another large enough city in New England to put a team, and Boston can't support another.

 

the boston metro area is home to about 4.5 million people. this doesnt include any of RI or Conn who would make the drive to see games. The boston metro area has a larger population than the san fran-oakland metro area. it could support another team, in say hartford or providence. boston has claimed that area so dont expect it to happen.

 

new york could get a third. san antonio/austin, portland or vegas are the most likely destinations.

 

maybe havana in 20 years

[USSoccer]

Portland, OR?

[Mephistopheles]

uh duh

[wolf stansson]

Charlotte, San Antonio, Vegas and Portland could work.