10 pro teams that no one would miss

[AZGrizFan]

Start with this:

1) Eliminate hockey. At all levels. About 8 people would be up in arms...the rest don't even know it's an actual game

You've lived in Arizona too long.

If a tree falls in the forest and noone is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

Remember when hockey was "relevant"?


Yeah....me neither.

[89Hen]

If a tree falls in the forest and noone is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

Remember when hockey was "relevant"?


Yeah....me neither.

Kinda like I-AA football, yet here we are.

[SDHornet]

Remember when hockey was "relevant"?


Yeah....me neither.

[AZGrizFan]

If a tree falls in the forest and noone is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

Remember when hockey was "relevant"?


Yeah....me neither.

Kinda like I-AA football, yet here we are.

More people attend a I-AA football game in St. George, Utah than attend a pro hockey game in Phoenix, AZ. Last year, opening night: sold out crowd of 16,000. 2nd night: 8,300.

[Gil Dobie]

Of course they don't remember them, I didn't realize this was about the under 40 crowd, Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Greg Luzinski.

Not sure I follow here... aren't the Phillies looking to get back to their third WS in a row? The only Philly team that needs to rest their laurels on ghosts are the Sixers, and who cares about the NBA?

You brought individual players into the mix. I don't mind the NBA.

[Gil Dobie]

Start with this:

1) Eliminate hockey. At all levels. About 8 people would be up in arms...the rest don't even know it's an actual game.
There are some cities (Portland, Minneapolis, Charlotte, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Jacksonville, Tampa Bay....I'm looking at YOU) that just do NOT support and can not justify the expense of fielding professional sports teams that consistently play in front of 23 empty stadiums.

Need to do some research AZ,
Twins were #6 in MLB with 3.2 million in attendance, I see an AZ way down the list from them
Minnesota Wild had 102% capacity in their arena last season
Minnesota Vikings had 99% capacity in the chitty Metrodome
Timberwolves was the only one that was down the list.

Cross out the Moose Lake, MN, job, if you even attempt to enter Minnesota with a hockey statment like that, the Minnesota National Guard and Wolf Patrol will shoot your plane down.

[JayJ79]

I also wasn't aware that Pittsburgh was having attendance problems for the Steelers and Penguins.
(but yeah, the Pirates suck)

[89Hen]

Not sure I follow here... aren't the Phillies looking to get back to their third WS in a row? The only Philly team that needs to rest their laurels on ghosts are the Sixers, and who cares about the NBA?

You brought individual players into the mix.

Huh? You were the one who brought up Bossy et al.

[89Hen]

Kinda like I-AA football, yet here we are.

More people attend a I-AA football game in St. George, Utah than attend a pro hockey game in Phoenix, AZ. Last year, opening night: sold out crowd of 16,000. 2nd night: 8,300.

Like I said, you've lived in AZ for too long. I can't help it if your state can't support hockey. That's why the people looking to buy the team want to move them. Truth is, they should have never moved them there in the first place.

[AZGrizFan]

More people attend a I-AA football game in St. George, Utah than attend a pro hockey game in Phoenix, AZ. Last year, opening night: sold out crowd of 16,000. 2nd night: 8,300.

Like I said, you've lived in AZ for too long. I can't help it if your state can't support hockey. That's why the people looking to buy the team want to move them. Truth is, they should have never moved them there in the first place.

There's a reason their TV deal is on Versus. Nobody gives a fuck, Hen. At least be man enough to admit that.

Hell, at the VERY least, reduce hockey down to the original six. They're really the only places that give a rats ass about it.

[AZGrizFan]

Start with this:

1) Eliminate hockey. At all levels. About 8 people would be up in arms...the rest don't even know it's an actual game.
There are some cities (Portland, Minneapolis, Charlotte, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Jacksonville, Tampa Bay....I'm looking at YOU) that just do NOT support and can not justify the expense of fielding professional sports teams that consistently play in front of 23 empty stadiums.

Need to do some research AZ,
Twins were #6 in MLB with 3.2 million in attendance, I see an AZ way down the list from them
Minnesota Wild had 102% capacity in their arena last season
Minnesota Vikings had 99% capacity in the chitty Metrodome
Timberwolves was the only one that was down the list.

Cross out the Moose Lake, MN, job, if you even attempt to enter Minnesota with a hockey statment like that, the Minnesota National Guard and Wolf Patrol will shoot your plane down.

I admit it. I allowed the pathetic Timberpups to color my view. I hereby retract Minneapolis from the list.

[89Hen]

There's a reason their TV deal is on Versus. Nobody gives a fuck, Hen. At least be man enough to admit that.

Hell, at the VERY least, reduce hockey down to the original six. They're really the only places that give a rats ass about it.

You come close to making a good point, then you blow it. The NHL is by far the least popular amongst the four majors. There's no way to dispute that. But...

Top 10 NHL Attendance
1 Blackhawks 22,247
2 Canadiens 21,273
3 Red Wings 19,865
4 Flyers 19,545
5 Maple Leafs 19,312
6 Flames 19,289
7 Senators 18,949
8 Canucks 18,630
9 Wild 18,568
10 Blues 18,554

Top 10 NBA Attendance
1 Pistons 21,877
2 Bulls 21,197
3 Trail Blazers 20,524
4 Mavericks 20,042
5 Cavaliers 20,010
6 Jazz 19,903
7 NY Knicks 19,287
8 Lakers 18,997
9 Warriors 18,942
10 Raptors 18,773

I'm really not seeing a difference here between the two sports that are played in the same season in the same arenas.

[AZGrizFan]

There's a reason their TV deal is on Versus. Nobody gives a fuck, Hen. At least be man enough to admit that.

Hell, at the VERY least, reduce hockey down to the original six. They're really the only places that give a rats ass about it.

You come close to making a good point, then you blow it. The NHL is by far the least popular amongst the four majors. There's no way to dispute that. But...

Top 10 NHL Attendance
1 Blackhawks 22,247
2 Canadiens 21,273
3 Red Wings 19,865
4 Flyers 19,545
5 Maple Leafs 19,312
6 Flames 19,289
7 Senators 18,949
8 Canucks 18,630
9 Wild 18,568
10 Blues 18,554

Top 10 NBA Attendance
1 Pistons 21,877
2 Bulls 21,197
3 Trail Blazers 20,524
4 Mavericks 20,042
5 Cavaliers 20,010
6 Jazz 19,903
7 NY Knicks 19,287
8 Lakers 18,997
9 Warriors 18,942
10 Raptors 18,773

I'm really not seeing a difference here between the two sports that are played in the same season in the same arenas.

As far as I'm concerned they could both go away.

[89Hen]

As far as I'm concerned they could both go away.

The time between the Super Bowl and March Madness is shrinking... I guess you could get by. Me? I'll keep watching the NHL.

[AZGrizFan]

As far as I'm concerned they could both go away.

The time between the Super Bowl and March Madness is shrinking... I guess you could get by. Me? I'll keep watching the NHL.

ATTENDING NHL games?

Watching NHL games? It's like watching paint dry.

[89Hen]

ATTENDING NHL games?

Watching NHL games? It's like watching paint dry.

No different than MLB or NBA.

MLB playoffs =

NHL playoffs =

NBA playoffs =

[catbob]

NHL playoffs are the best there is in pro sports, period.

And don't be dissing the Blues, they made the playoffs 24 straight years in a row (without winning a cup though ). Yea they have struggled the last few years, but they are on their way back up and are usually top 10 in attendance. Last year they sold out 34 of their 40 home games, despite not making the playoffs.

[UNHWildCats]

It's funny they listed the Earthquakes from MLS since a few years ago they actually folded and then re-emerged after a few years.... so someone obviously missed them :p

[AppStateAlumQC]

Here is the site

http://www.spike.com/blog/top-10-teams-nobody/100806" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thrashers
When Gary Bettman began his 20-year quest to destroy the NHL, one of the key components of his plan was to expand the league into places that could not support a franchise or consistently sustain ice.

With the second lowest attendance in the NHL and a fan base that routinely car pools to Fredrik Modin Appreciation Day events in a Toyota Camry, Bettman’s devious plot seems to be working perfectly in the Sun Belt. Once the Panthers, Predators, and Lightning (numbers 25, 22 and 26 in NHL attendance) follow suit, the diminutive commissioner can get back to his day job as a featured extra on Little People, Big World.

Jaguars
The moving trucks have been circling the Jaguar’s parking lot like vultures for seven months. This team already has their left foot in Los Angeles and right one kicking themselves for signing David Garrard to a long term deal. Their departure is basically a done deal at this point. The only question left is who gets to keep their “AFC Championship Participation” banner from 14 years ago.

(Note: The Buffalo Bills could have easily taken this spot, but what else do people in upstate New York have? At least Jacksonville residents have warm weather and three attractive women.)

Marlins
We’re still waiting for the MLB office to confirm that this team hasn’t already disappeared, so until we get the call, they remain on the endangered – not extinct – list.

Raptors
Quick… name one player on the Toronto Raptors.

In all fairness, the Raptors actually have a relatively large fan base – myself included - that supports the team through bad times and slightly worse ones. It just so happens that the NBA Players Association hasn’t jumped on board.

Since forming their franchise in 1995, Toronto has done a tremendous job bringing in talented players like Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, and Chris Bosh. They’ve also done a spectacular job thanking them for their brief services after their abrupt departures. Nearly every player we (yes, the collective “we”) bring in eventually takes off and leaves a shattered mess of Serbian power forwards (and no playoff hope) behind. The fans may miss this team if it went away, but very few players would even notice.

Grizzlies
This team already moved cities once and nobody really noticed. What are the chances things would change if it happened again?

Since switching countries in 2001, the Grizzlies have become one of the least successful franchises in the NBA in both attendance and winning percentage. Their only real contribution to the league was trading Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 for a bag of used sneakers and Ron Artest’s second cousin.

Pirates
Hypothetically speaking, if the Pirates management held a small press conference (that didn’t interfere with a Steelers game) and announced that the team had decided to call it quits, would anybody take it too hard?

I imagine it would be like when your girlfriend’s older brother goes away to college. Sure, you liked the guy and occasionally asked him to hang out when your other friends were busy. But you’re not going to shed a tear, because Ben Roethlisberger and Sidney Crosby are still in the neighborhood and way more fun at parties.

Earthquake
Be honest. You just sat there for three seconds before asking yourself “wait, is this a real team, or is it just something Breitman made up for the article?”

I could have put virtually any MLS team here and wouldn’t have made a difference. Nobody would miss this league if it went away, let alone the teams that play in it.

Bobcats
Michael Jordan's poorly conceived ownership is the only reason this team is allowed to put their website on NBA.com. The Bobcats are the fourth most popular basketball team in their own state and have the majority of their home games broadcasted exclusively on AM radio.

They also rank dead last in “road attendance,” meaning that whenever they travel to a new city, fans would rather see (literally) any other team play.

Clippers

If the California government decided to get out of debt by nationalizing (or whatever the state version is) Los Angeles basketball, would anybody object if they turned the Clippers into the Los Angeles Lakers Part II?”

Think about it for a second.

The Clippers currently rank 20th in league attendance and are near the bottom of nationally televised game appearances. However, if Blake Griffin, Baron Davis, and Eric Gordon played for the “Lakers Part II,” they’d instantly become one of the most popular teams in the NBA.

Coyotes

The Phoenix Coyotes have become a lot like that freshman cheerleader who used to have a pretty good life until her ex-boyfriend posted naked photos of her on Facebook. Sure, she might seem like an appealing person who made one bad decision, but at the end of the day, nobody wants to associate themselves with the “naked chick who had sex with the shop teacher,” and she’ll eventually have to transfer schools because of it.

Now, if you replace “naked photos” with “building an arena in the middle of nowhere” and “transfer schools” with “relocate back to Winnipeg,” you’ve essentially got the Phoenix Coyotes' current situation. By all accounts, they’re a talented franchise with a lot of positive things going for it. If only they hadn’t made that one critical mistake, they would have been in the running for prom queen.

I agree with a lot of those. The Jaguars are gonna be gone, their attendance is terrible - without MJD one could only imagine how many people would show up. The Raptors and Grizzlies would also be on my list to see go. I'm torn on the Bobcats as a Charlotte native. I loved the Hornets and grew up going to the games with my father and it really was a special time for the city. The Bobcats have made several mistakes since their inception as many here feel that the team was forced on them. However, since Jordan purchased the team I personally can see a big difference in not only attendance but in the quality of product the Bobcats are putting out on the floor. They have been terrible up until last season, and on top of that they were boring as hell to watch. I went to the Bobcats first home playoff game against the Magic and the arena really was electric. If Jordan is dedicated to winning and bringing in some stars for the fans, the future will be bright for the Bobs. Also, with MJ buying the team I think a lot of Bobcats fans feel a sense of loyalty now that they got from previous owner Bob Johnson (who was a terrible fit for this city). I for one thought the team would just pack up and leave like the Hornets did but Jordan is a hero here and I really feel that the city will grow to support this franchise.

[ToTheLeft]

The teams I root for, pretty much.

To be fair, I think the Rays should just be moved, not contracted. Whether the move is across the bay, to Orlando, or to Portland, Oregon, I don't care. That system is very well stocked with talent, and getting rid of it would be a mess and a shame.

The Lightning and Bucs? Get rid of em. Sure you're getting rid of a Cup winner and a SB winner, but who cares? The Bucs are TERRIBLY run, and to be honest it would be nice to be able to find a new team to root for with no remorse for ditching my hometown team. And the Lightning aren't a whole lot better off.

The Magic are fine, but I doubt anyone would really miss them if they were gone.

[clenz]

The Magic are opening up a brand new arena this year.

They've been good enough the last couple seasons that it is getting harder and harder to justify moving them.

[ToTheLeft]

The Magic are opening up a brand new arena this year.

They've been good enough the last couple seasons that it is getting harder and harder to justify moving them.

I agree that they're doing really well. I just don't think people would miss them. They get 1/4 the coverage of KOBE KOBE KOBE LEBRON LEBRON LEBRON SHAQ SHAQ SHAQ CELTICS CELTICS KNICKS SUCK Magic LEBRON LEBRON LEBRON LEBRON DWADE CARMELLO

[Gil Dobie]

The time between the Super Bowl and March Madness is shrinking... I guess you could get by. Me? I'll keep watching the NHL.

ATTENDING NHL games?

Watching NHL games? It's like watching paint dry.

Hey, the NHL and NBA are great to watch. Something to do in the baseball off-season after college football.

[89Hen]

And don't be dissing the Blues, they made the playoffs 24 straight years in a row (without winning a cup though ). Yea they have struggled the last few years, but they are on their way back up and are usually top 10 in attendance. Last year they sold out 34 of their 40 home games, despite not making the playoffs.

If you're not from StL and tried to quickly name all the teams in the NHL, they're one of the ones you'd be last to mention.

[bandl]

And don't be dissing the Blues, they made the playoffs 24 straight years in a row (without winning a cup though ). Yea they have struggled the last few years, but they are on their way back up and are usually top 10 in attendance. Last year they sold out 34 of their 40 home games, despite not making the playoffs.

If you're not from StL and tried to quickly name all the teams in the NHL, they're one of the ones you'd be last to mention.

They'd be 1 of the first 10 or so I'd mention and I've only been to STL once in my life. The teams I would skip over are probably the Nashville ???????, Phoenix Coyotes, TB Lightning and Atlanta ???????.