Expansion teams in Pittsburgh

[Go 'Lers]

Will there ever be another pro sports franchise to come to the city of Pittsburgh? Let's explore the options and see...

National Basketball Association: Now I know we have talked about this from time to time. Why not. We have a new arena, stable economy, Mark Cuban has lobbied several times to say we can support it. Despite a very good market in Pittsburgh, another team would do more to stretch our dollars thin.

Verdict: Nagonna happen

Reason: A balance of 3 of the 4 major sports leagues in one city of our size is a good balance for right now. Besides, the NBA's only option is to relocate a team rather than expand and we certainly don't want any other cities team, we want a team of our own.

Major League Soccer: here is a sport with rapidly growing popularity (no, really) and an increasing number of youth signing up for leagues. Some think we are moving away from "contact heavy" sports, others see the world most beloved game finally washing up on our shores. Either way, this would be the perfect time to get a team for less than it will be later. After all, Rooney saw the opportunity with football back in the 30's and look how that worked out! It's time to do it again.

Verdict: despite all what I wrote above, it won't happen.

Reason: the team in Columbus already wears black and yellow!

...but in all seriousness, I truly believe a soccer team is the way to go. We already have a great stadium and just use the lower bowl of Heinz Field. The price of a franchise is substantially going to be cheaper now then when the league has grown to 30.

What are your thoughts?

[steelfury02]

some circles felt we would lose the Pirates before we would ever get any other team in town - I'd love to see an NBA team in Pittsburgh, although do enjoy watching the world cup - just can't get into the league on any regular basis

- with Pirates still not really filling the seats despite a little upswing, don't know where a new team would pull ticket sales from - I have zero clue about where most of the income for a team usually comes from - but I'd think that without a rabid interest I agree, prob neither going to happen. I'm sure at first, like opening any new field, there would be a brief explosion of attendance just to check it out, but then fizzle. Just mho :)

[Curtain_of_Steel]

Doubtful Pitt will get a basketball team. Pirates and Penguins have enough problems extracting funds from its fans.

[DoctorCAD]

Soccer???

[Mistah_Q]

Give it 20 years. Pittsburgh is pretty much at the cusp of finally beginning a population recovery... played right the "Cleveburgh corridor" has the potential to become a major world economic zone. Will it happen? Let's wait and see...

[jjpro11]

Originally Posted by Curtain_of_Steel

Doubtful Pitt will get a basketball team. Pirates and Penguins have enough problems extracting funds from its fans.

really? the Penguins aren't having any trouble right now with Crosby, Malkin, Letang and the current core. As long as those guys are still wearing black and gold, it's going to be mighty hard bringing a basketball team in and having to compete with a successful Penguins team with an already established fan base.

the NBA isn't exactly thriving right now in terms of popularity either. i wouldn't even think about it for another 10-15 years if the Penguins are in the dumps again.

[Go 'Lers]

Originally Posted by Curtain_of_Steel

Doubtful Pitt will get a basketball team. Pirates and Penguins have enough problems extracting funds from its fans.

The teams mentioned above are still doing fine with getting ticket revenue (even the Pirates) but I agree that we wont see an NBA team anytime soon for two reasons

1. Our population
2. The media market would be stretched too thin with a new team AS WELL AS college teams

Originally Posted by DoctorCAD

Soccer???

YES, soccer is rising in popularity. I want Pittsburgh to stay ahead of the curb just like Art Rooney did when he brought an NFL team to the city even when people said he was nuts!

[JCPsteelers]

Don't see it. Not enough of a population base to support 4 pro franchises.


That's not to say I wouldn't have loved a NBA team in the Burgh but don't see it happening anytime soon regardless of the new arena. Besides the NBA is finding out that some of the strongest franchises are in towns where they are the only game in town like OKC and Spurs.

[PhantomJB93]

If OKLAHOMA CITY can support a basketball team, we can. People say we won't support it, but we've never been given a chance to. All the teams that folded were in the late 60's, times have changed and they would easily thrive here.

Yinzers can say they hate the NBA all they want, but the truth is if you had a team to root for you'd get into it.

I will never care about a soccer team. I couldn't care less if an MLS franchise made it here.

[OX1947]

I have been noticing how Pittsburgh is becoming a little more mainstream in the sense that they are filming more and more films in Pittsburgh. Steelers are still a blue collar city but I think for it to get back to being a mainstream city in America, they would have to turn it's city into a Chicago style city. More modern culture and current attractions. The Pirates and Pens need a billionaire to buy those teams who doesnt really concern himself with the bottom line. The Steelers are in the NFL, plus the Rooney's are great business men, they are already a billion dollar business. The Pirates and Pens need a Mark Cuban type. One of my dreams is to continue to do well in business and in 20 years, buy the Pens. I might not be accepted into the good ole boy club in baseball, but I would love to own the Pens.