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Time for Professional Basketball in Louisville?

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ULarder

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Nov 23, 2014
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Thought this might be an interesting topic of reprieve to give us something else to discuss other than the freaking nightmare with the basketball team.

So, my question is: Assuming a franchise were available, why wouldn't professional basketball work in Louisville? The fan base (especially considering the additional draw throughout the state) would be big enough, don't you think? We have the facilities, right? To me, it seems the timing for it is great. Plus, it would give our basketball fans (selfishly, including me) something to get excited about, while distracting from the painful situation with our CBB team.

Just a wishful thought.
 
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I wouldn't be interested. A team would never be successful on the court, as the NBA has the least parity of the professional sports. Constant losing would mean only a good attendance when one of the few superstar teams came to town. Which would eventually lead to the team moving elsewhere when it was losing money.

That all ignores the fact that it would hurt UofL sports from a sponsorship standpoint, which would be the main reason for my disinterest.

Do you really think a Monday night game against Minnesota, Utah, Atlanta, etc. would draw? I don't see it.
 
ULarder said:
Thought this might be an interesting topic of reprieve to give us something else to discuss other than the freaking nightmare with the basketball team.

So, my question is: Assuming a franchise were available, why wouldn't professional basketball work in Louisville? The fan base (especially considering the additional draw throughout the state) would be big enough, don't you think? We have the facilities, right? To me, it seems the timing for it is great. Plus, it would give our basketball fans (selfishly, including me) something to get excited about, while distracting from the painful situation with our CBB team.

Just a wishful thought.
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When it comes to the NBA, fan base is very low on the priority list. They look at Corporate Partners/Sales, Facilities, and TV Market. While the Louisville Market could potentially sustain a team (see OKC), there is a quest on corporate sponsorship/interest.

I just don't see it happening.
 
OneEarWonder said:
When it comes to the NBA, fan base is very low on the priority list. They look at Corporate Partners/Sales, Facilities, and TV Market. While the Louisville Market could potentially sustain a team (see OKC), there is a quest on corporate sponsorship/interest.

I just don't see it happening.
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Thanks. I don't profess to know all the factors that go into the decision of which cities can and cannot sustain an NBA franchise. Just thinking of it superficially, it seems like we have the passion for the game and I thought surely that has to be one of, if not the biggest, factors to begin the discussion.
 
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Now that we are going to have to rebuild UofL basketball we do not need our corporate dollars to fly out of the window toward an NBA franchise. That's why. Pretty damn simple if you ask me. Please explain why yo want to pay extreme dollars to watch a bunch of prima donnas play a game that they do not respect. Only their paychecks. UofL basketball will be rebuilt and it will be much easier without an NBA franchise breathing down their neck.

GO CARDS - BEAT EVERYBODY!!! God Bless America!!!
 
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KozmasAgain said:
Not interested put it in Lexington or better yet you buy the over priced tickets.
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Fair enough. I understand it's not something that interests you. But I am interested, and I think others are too - but I don't know if enough are or if it's even feasible. If it's feasible anywhere, however, it has to be Louisville, not Lexington. Lexington can't support an NBA franchise. Louisville is the jewel city of Kentucky.

Oklahoma City is sustaining a franchise, and I think we would have better fan support. Also, Charlotte seems to be doing fine and not hurting the college teams in North Carolina.
 
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Jurich isn’t even out of town and this starts. I told my daughter on Tuesday night we would start hearing this again.
 
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zipp said:
Young pups and slapd!cks are the only supporters of the NBA in Louisville. And there just aren't enough of you...
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That's just ridiculous. I love UofL, and I'm probably not "young" anymore. I think an NBA team in Louisville would be great. The timing is right for this city to be a big boy now and get a professional team. Would love NHL as well.
 
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ULarder said:
Thought this might be an interesting topic of reprieve to give us something else to discuss other than the freaking nightmare with the basketball team.

So, my question is: Assuming a franchise were available, why wouldn't professional basketball work in Louisville? The fan base (especially considering the additional draw throughout the state) would be big enough, don't you think? We have the facilities, right? To me, it seems the timing for it is great. Plus, it would give our basketball fans (selfishly, including me) something to get excited about, while distracting from the painful situation with our CBB team.

Just a wishful thought.
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NO!

Louisville basketball is going to survive this, they are not going away. I think people are badly under estimating the UL fan base.

The city cannot support an NBA team and the UL basketball team both and there is no way an NBA team can get enough support to survive hear.
 
Guy Gadbois said:
That's just ridiculous. I love UofL, and I'm probably not "young" anymore. I think an NBA team in Louisville would be great. The timing is right for this city to be a big boy now and get a professional team. Would love NHL as well.
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No offense, Guy. I should have said "primarily".

If you're a U of L fan over 40 years old and want an NBA franchise here without any type of commercial motive, you're a rare bird...
 
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zipp said:
No offense, Guy. I should have said "primarily".

If you're a U of L fan over 40 years old and want an NBA franchise here without any type of commercial motive, you're a rare bird...
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No offense taken, zipp! I'm 37. So close. I would never want any kind of professional team to encroach on my Cards, but I just don't fear that. The city will always support the Cards no matter what. I think we could support an NBA team as well. I'd love to see UL get out of yum! and build on campus for that matter. I think a pro team, any real pro team, in any sport, could only be good for the city. MLB would be tremendous. NHL also great.
 
Guy Gadbois said:
No offense taken, zipp! I'm 37. So close. I would never want any kind of professional team to encroach on my Cards, but I just don't fear that. The city will always support the Cards no matter what. I think we could support an NBA team as well. I'd love to see UL get out of yum! and build on campus for that matter. I think a pro team, any real pro team, in any sport, could only be good for the city. MLB would be tremendous. NHL also great.
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I'd like to believe that. But my inclination is that there's only so much well-heeled money in this town. An NBA/NHL/MLB corporate account or suite is one less available to U of L.

And for the next few years, U of L basketball will especially be vulnerable. This is the WORST time to advance this idea from U of L's perspective...
 
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So many people have such little understanding of professional sports franchises (MLB, NFL, NBA). First, there is no current plan for expansion in the NBA. When and if a team becomes available, Cities have to bid (i.e., spend money) to land a team. Yes, the City pays the owners for the privilege of having a team grace its presence. Those are direct funds out of the City's coffers (incentives and annual payments/rebates, etc. paid by us the local citizens) as well as additional charges (i.e., stadium taxes, additional hotel room taxes and seat fees, etc.). The City gets some indirect return on its investment but it is far disproportionate to what it pays out to get and then try to keep the team. They are almost always net losses and money pits for Cities other than the alleged prestige of having a “major” league franchise. It's almost like hosting the Olympics, smart Cities refuse to bid and say no b/c they understand the financial detriment.

Now that doesn't mean that the NBA is not a possibility. If UofL gets a multi-year death penalty, that would be a prime opening for an NBA team to come in and take over the preferential status of the YUM Center. (On the plus side, it might also result in UofL finally building its own on-campus arena that it always wanted instead of the YUM). So it's not far-fetched if enough corporate support steps up to land a NBA franchise if/when it becomes available but financial history evidences that it is not a good idea.
 
kypecos said:
So many people have such little understanding of professional sports franchises (MLB, NFL, NBA). First, there is no current plan for expansion in the NBA. When and if a team becomes available, Cities have to bid (i.e., spend money) to land a team. Yes, the City pays the owners for the privilege of having a team grace its presence. Those are direct funds out of the City's coffers (incentives and annual payments/rebates, etc. paid by us the local citizens) as well as additional charges (i.e., stadium taxes, additional hotel room taxes and seat fees, etc.). The City gets some indirect return on its investment but it is far disproportionate to what it pays out to get and then try to keep the team. They are almost always net losses and money pits for Cities other than the alleged prestige of having a “major” league franchise. It's almost like hosting the Olympics, smart Cities refuse to bid and say no b/c they understand the financial detriment.

Now that doesn't mean that the NBA is not a possibility. If UofL gets a multi-year death penalty, that would be a prime opening for an NBA team to come in and take over the preferential status of the YUM Center. (On the plus side, it might also result in UofL finally building its own on-campus arena that it always wanted instead of the YUM). So it's not far-fetched if enough corporate support steps up to land a NBA franchise if/when it becomes available but financial history evidences that it is not a good idea.
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Do the cities actually pay for the franchise? You're absolutely right, I have no idea what kind of costs go into bringing a professional sports team to a city. But it seems to me that we already built this huge pro sports arena, and now that arena is going to take a hit, which it probably can't afford to take, in lost revenue due to the fallout from all of this. Concerts aren't going to cut it. Why wouldn't the city want to find a better partner at this point for the arena? And we didn't love the deal from the arena either! Jurich was all about building on campus and getting us out of yum. So this seems like a win for everyone.

I do understand zipp's point in that when it comes down to dumping money into corporate suits, entities like Norton and the like would probably buy into the pros rather than the Cards. There just may not be enough money to go around for everything. However, Louisville seems to be growing. I have predicted Nashville's success will trickle (up) and the country's current fascination with the South and for that matter, bourbon - with that industry soaring right now - could prompt the kind of economic growth and development to make a pro team not only feasible but inevitable!
 
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I guess I don't see the support that others think is there. Is there really a significant amount of people in the Louisville area willing to fork out for a 41 game home season plus I'm assuming some pre-season games at a higher per ticket price than a UofL season? There are constant complaints about UofL's non-conference schedule now, are people really going to buy single game tickets to games against teams outside of the superstar teams, the Eastern Michigan's of the NBA? After the initial shine wears off will people still go? How long will there be interest after the team misses the playoffs for 3-4 straight seasons to start and the fans realize they have zero chance to ever win a championship?

Louisville has struggled mightily to support even minor league teams. Once the fad fades away, you're left with a team drawing 5K/night and sponsors wondering why they wasted their time.
 
The same issues about "Can Nashville support a pro team" were made 20 years ago. the Preds came and showed it was a good thing. Then the Titans came and people weren't sure if fans could fork out the money for two teams.

The Preds are hockey team thriving in the SOUTH and the Titans consistently draw big numbers.

Nashville and Louisville both have city populations of 600k. Memphis has 650k and the Grind-house is packed and always supports the Grizzlies..oh and when Cal was there they packed the house still packed for Memphis and D-Rose.

I'll give you the key fact that will get you guys off the "Can't have pro sports because it will hurt my Cards". Two weeks ago in Nashville, the UT Florida game had higher tv ratings on the CBS in Nashville than the Titans game did. The fan support did not change. Granted they are in two different cities, but the state still loves the Vols.
 
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teamcanada said:
Not true at all. Lots of people my age remember the Colonels and would love to see it come back.
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I recall the Colonels too and followed them. That was a different world. Five dollar tickets and $50K salaries.

Pro sports have changed a little in forty years, and that culture ain't returning to Louisville. The one you're talking about I'm not interested in. Thankfully, we lived in a time that we can fondly look back on...
 
HoptownCat93 said:
The same issues about "Can Nashville support a pro team" were made 20 years ago. the Preds came and showed it was a good thing. Then the Titans came and people weren't sure if fans could fork out the money for two teams.

The Preds are hockey team thriving in the SOUTH and the Titans consistently draw big numbers.

Nashville and Louisville both have city populations of 600k. Memphis has 650k and the Grind-house is packed and always supports the Grizzlies..oh and when Cal was there they packed the house still packed for Memphis and D-Rose.

I'll give you the key fact that will get you guys off the "Can't have pro sports because it will hurt my Cards". Two weeks ago in Nashville, the UT Florida game had higher tv ratings on the CBS in Nashville than the Titans game did. The fan support did not change. Granted they are in two different cities, but the state still loves the Vols.
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I'd favor an NBA franchise in northern KY, closer to Lexington but around a large population. And for those in Louisville who want to support it, within an easy drive...
 
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A lot of you guys are just speaking from a personal stance, stating how you feel, when in reality for the advancement of the city it makes the most sense. yall are out of your minds if you think this city won't support a basketball team. The nba is about to be the biggest sport in the world and being a part of that could bring this city to prominent levels, QUIT BEING AFRAID OF CHANGE
 
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I think Louisville would be better off with a NHL franchise.

Indy already has NBA, Cincy already has MLB, Both Indy and Cincy has NFL.

Louisville could provide the "Golden Triangle" with an NHL team. Columbus and Nashville are far enough away that competitive markets would not overlap.

Also, an NHL team would not be competitive with the UofL, just like the Louisville City FC soccer.

If Kentucky is to get a NBA team, it should be put in Lexington. There is far more interest in that city than Louisville for the NBA.
 
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zipp said:
I'd like to believe that. But my inclination is that there's only so much well-heeled money in this town. An NBA/NHL/MLB corporate account or suite is one less available to U of L.

And for the next few years, U of L basketball will especially be vulnerable. This is the WORST time to advance this idea from U of L's perspective...
Click to expand...

SO I guess the question is, what matters more? The city of Louisville, its taxpayers, and the effects of huge financial flopping Yum Center on the city and local businesses, or U of L sports losing a donor or two?

I truly don't believe it has to be one way or the other and its unfortunate from a tax perspective to lost revenues the city wont get from not having an NBA team here.
 
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zipp said:
I'd favor an NBA franchise in northern KY, closer to Lexington but around a large population. And for those in Louisville who want to support it, within an easy drive...
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I can see why if you're not a pro sports guy, but I'm sure the majority of people in the metro Louisville area would probably disagree. It would be a major plus for the city. Even though I cheer for the college in Lexington, it does not mean I do not like Louisville and family that live there. Anyone who says there would not be large interest in an NBA team in Louisville is living in a different world.

We have two fan bases in this state that fill up 20,000 seat arenas for games against Morehead State. I'd be happy to cheer along with UofL fans and have something that unites everyone.
 
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NBA wouldn't come anyways unless a new contract with the Yum and Louisville was drawn up. I think both fan bases wouldn't mind a team coming in, as long as it was in the others city.
 
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