Which professional league is the next to expand?

It'll clearly be baseball, Manfred has been pretty open about how much he wants to expand.

It's NBA or MLB, but baseball needs the Rays to have a new home. They cannot expand until ground is broken. NBA is concerned with Seattle, Las Vegas and Mexico City.since they can only control arena revenue in Mexico City as the primary tenant

(09-24-2025 11:22 PM)Renandpat Wrote:  It's NBA or MLB, but baseball needs the Rays to have a new home. They cannot expand until ground is broken. NBA is concerned with Seattle, Las Vegas and Mexico City.since they can only control arena revenue in Mexico City as the primary tenant

Seattle and Vegas are lead-pipe cinches to be the next NBA expansion cities. Book it and print it.

Meanwhile, there's the elephant in the room of the shrinking New Orleans MSA. Given how poor the city and metro is (granted, it's a mix of rich and poor), I'm flat out stunned the Pelicans have lasted as long as they have with another more popular pro team in the market (Saints). Seriously, where is the corporate base and remaining disposable income not going to the Saints for things like suites and expensive seats?

Seattle gets the Sonics again (trust me on that), so perhaps the Pels move to Mexico City? They have to move somewhere, New Orleans' MSA doesn't even have a 1,000,000 people anymore and it is, as it has always been in modern times (yes, even before Katrina, which merely exposed it), highly impoverished.

The NFL should be the next to expand. There is a huge demand for more football. However, I think it will probably be basketball and baseball.

Incidentally, I think we should move college football games between FBS and FCS to the spring, and play 3-4 of them. Great chance to have exhibition games and financially support the lower levels. However, no FCS games in the fall count. They are exhibition games and should be treated that way.

Maybe Kansas City could be a relocation possibility for the Pelicans.

I actually think the NHL gets it done first. There are multiple groups in the greater Atlanta area that are very close to having a complete bid. I would not be surprised if Houston is #34.

MLB probably needs it the most.

I'd go MLB>NHL>NBA>NFL

MLB and the NHL have a lot more cities ready to get in on the bidding to bring teams to their locales. The NBA arguably could use a few teams, but I don't see anyone lining up to score an NBA team. The NFL sits at a good number, and I don't believe they'd actually do international expansion.

(10-01-2025 08:43 PM)PirateTreasureNC Wrote:  The NBA arguably could use a few teams, but I don't see anyone lining up to score an NBA team.

Seattle has been begging for one for a while and has at least one qualified bidder in place, and there are already multiple suitors in Las Vegas.

I think the MLB is next to expand with the NBA right behind. Also, I find the NFL as the least likely to expand, but very well could restart the NFL Europe as a means to continue growing the game.

NHL has expressed they want at least 4 (!) more teams.

MLB sounds like they're finally getting serious about it.

Ironically the NFL despite being the biggest might be the last to expand.

(10-01-2025 09:17 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  

(10-01-2025 08:43 PM)PirateTreasureNC Wrote:  The NBA arguably could use a few teams, but I don't see anyone lining up to score an NBA team.

Seattle has been begging for one for a while and has at least one qualified bidder in place, and there are already multiple suitors in Las Vegas.

I'd like to see the Super Sonics come back.

So Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta, and who to the NHL?

(11-05-2025 05:15 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  So Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta, and who to the NHL?

Everyone's heart says Quebec, but I think San Diego is more likely.

Western Conference
Pacific - Vancouver, Seattle, San Jose, Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Diego*
Mountain - Edmonton, Calgary, Las Vegas, Utah, Colorado, Phoenix*
Central - Winnipeg, Minnesota, Chicago, Saint Louis, Dallas, Houston*

Eastern Conference
Southeast - Florida, Tampa Bay, Nashville, Carolina, Washington, Atlanta*
Atlantic - Detroit, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Boston, Buffalo
Metropolitan - Philadelphia, NY Islanders, NY Rangers, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Columbus

The above alignment works with any Pacific Time Zone team substituted for San Diego (most likely Portland).

(11-05-2025 05:50 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  

(11-05-2025 05:15 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  So Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta, and who to the NHL?

Everyone's heart says Quebec, but I think San Diego is more likely.

Western Conference
Pacific - Vancouver, Seattle, San Jose, Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Diego*
Mountain - Edmonton, Calgary, Las Vegas, Utah, Colorado, Phoenix*
Central - Winnipeg, Minnesota, Chicago, Saint Louis, Dallas, Houston*

Eastern Conference
Southeast - Florida, Tampa Bay, Nashville, Carolina, Washington, Atlanta*
Atlantic - Detroit, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Boston, Buffalo
Metropolitan - Philadelphia, NY Islanders, NY Rangers, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Columbus

The above alignment works with any Pacific Time Zone team substituted for San Diego (most likely Portland).

Seems oddly similar the 1998-2012 set up:

Pacific: no Dallas, expansion teams in SD and Seattle
Mountain (AKA Northwest): no Minnesota, expansion teams in Utah and Las Vegas
Central: C’bus, Detroit, and Nash all move East; Minn & Dallas shifted in, expansion in Hou, relocated Winnipeg team

Southeast: Atlanta’s back, Nashville shifted in from West
Atlantic: basically the old Northeast with Detroit added
Metro: basically the old Atlantic with C’bus added

(11-08-2025 06:00 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(11-05-2025 05:50 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  

(11-05-2025 05:15 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  So Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta, and who to the NHL?

Everyone's heart says Quebec, but I think San Diego is more likely.

Western Conference
Pacific - Vancouver, Seattle, San Jose, Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Diego*
Mountain - Edmonton, Calgary, Las Vegas, Utah, Colorado, Phoenix*
Central - Winnipeg, Minnesota, Chicago, Saint Louis, Dallas, Houston*

Eastern Conference
Southeast - Florida, Tampa Bay, Nashville, Carolina, Washington, Atlanta*
Atlantic - Detroit, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Boston, Buffalo
Metropolitan - Philadelphia, NY Islanders, NY Rangers, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Columbus

The above alignment works with any Pacific Time Zone team substituted for San Diego (most likely Portland).

Seems oddly similar the 1998-2012 set up:

Pacific: no Dallas, expansion teams in SD and Seattle
Mountain (AKA Northwest): no Minnesota, expansion teams in Utah and Las Vegas
Central: C’bus, Detroit, and Nash all move East; Minn & Dallas shifted in, expansion in Hou, relocated Winnipeg team

Southeast: Atlanta’s back, Nashville shifted in from West
Atlantic: basically the old Northeast with Detroit added
Metro: basically the old Atlantic with C’bus added

Here's a 40-team NHL.

Expansion: Arizona (Phoenix) Coyotes, Atlanta Phoenix, California (San Diego) Seals, Houston Aeros, Kansas City Scouts, Milwaukee Admirals, Portland Rosebuds, Quebec Nordiques.

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic: Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers
Metropolitan: Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins
Northeast: Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Quebec Nordiques, Toronto Maple Leafs
Southeast: Atlanta Phoenix, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central: Kansas City Scouts, Milwaukee Admirals, Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, Winnipeg Jets
Northwest: Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Portland Rosebuds, Seattle Kraken, Vancouver Canucks
Pacific: Anaheim Ducks, California Seals, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Vegas Golden Knights
Southwest: Arizona Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Houston Aeros, Utah Mammoth

NBA to hold vote on expansion next week,.targeting 2028-29 season:


https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4822...teams-2028

(03-16-2026 05:02 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  NBA to hold vote on expansion next week,.targeting 2028-29 season:


https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4822...teams-2028

I think expanding by 2 makes the most sense. The NFL and NHL worked with 31 for a temporary spurt but its wonky. Here's my 32-team NBA alignment:

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards
Metropolitan: Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Pacific: Golden State Warriors, Las Vegas Stars*, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics
Southwest: Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz

* Stars was an old ABA team name based in Anaheim then Los Angeles then Salt Lake City.

This alignment sort of aligns with the NHL. 32 = 2 x 2 x 8 with the Florida teams pairing with Midwestern-ish teams.

(03-17-2026 12:12 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(03-16-2026 05:02 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  NBA to hold vote on expansion next week,.targeting 2028-29 season:


https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4822...teams-2028

I think expanding by 2 makes the most sense. The NFL and NHL worked with 31 for a temporary spurt but its wonky. Here's my 32-team NBA alignment:

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards
Metropolitan: Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Pacific: Golden State Warriors, Las Vegas Stars*, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics
Southwest: Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz

* Stars was an old ABA team name based in Anaheim then Los Angeles then Salt Lake City.

This alignment sort of aligns with the NHL. 32 = 2 x 2 x 8 with the Florida teams pairing with Midwestern-ish teams.

yes, Minnesota is the logical one to move East. Memphis and NO are the only other options, but keeping them together is better.

What if they went to NFL style 4-team Divisions? The NBA is in 5-team divisions now, and play each other more.

Western Conference:
(Division names subject to change)
Southwest: LA Clippers, LA Lakers, LV Resort Fees, Phoenix Suns
Northwest: GS Warriors, Sac Kings, Portland Trailblazers, Seattle Sonics
Rocky Mts: Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, OKC Thunder, Dallas Mavericks
Gulf Coast: San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies


Eastern Conference
Southeast: Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat
Northeast: Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets
Mid-Atlantic: Philadelphia 76'ers, Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavs
NFC North: Minnesota T-wolves, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons

(03-17-2026 01:54 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(03-17-2026 12:12 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(03-16-2026 05:02 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  NBA to hold vote on expansion next week,.targeting 2028-29 season:


https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4822...teams-2028

I think expanding by 2 makes the most sense. The NFL and NHL worked with 31 for a temporary spurt but its wonky. Here's my 32-team NBA alignment:

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards
Metropolitan: Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Pacific: Golden State Warriors, Las Vegas Stars*, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics
Southwest: Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz

* Stars was an old ABA team name based in Anaheim then Los Angeles then Salt Lake City.

This alignment sort of aligns with the NHL. 32 = 2 x 2 x 8 with the Florida teams pairing with Midwestern-ish teams.

yes, Minnesota is the logical one to move East. Memphis and NO are the only other options, but keeping them together is better.

What if they went to NFL style 4-team Divisions? The NBA is in 5-team divisions now, and play each other more.

Western Conference:
(Division names subject to change)
Southwest: LA Clippers, LA Lakers, LV Resort Fees, Phoenix Suns
Northwest: GS Warriors, Sac Kings, Portland Trailblazers, Seattle Sonics
Rocky Mts: Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, OKC Thunder, Dallas Mavericks
Gulf Coast: San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies


Eastern Conference
Southeast: Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat
Northeast: Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets
Mid-Atlantic: Philadelphia 76'ers, Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavs
NFC North: Minnesota T-wolves, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons

4-team divisions would open up the calendar and allows for wonkier alignments because you're going to play others more often. Your alignment is probably as good as it could get. I might flip Toronto with Philadelphia but that would be it. Even then, I'm not sold a change to your alignment would be better.

One other possibility is to scrap the two-conference alignment for 4 conferences designated by body of water. Have the playoffs be straight qualification regardless of region. This mixes it up a little bit.

ATLANTIC CONFERENCE: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards

GULF CONFERENCE: Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs

LAKES CONFERENCE: Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz

PACIFIC CONFERENCE: Golden State Warriors, Las Vegas Stars, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics