Will the IBL ever expand to the Southeast?

[SignGuyDino]

Right now, unless I'm mistaken, the only "southern" team in the IBL is in western Tennessee. With the WBA being missing in action, there isn't any credible league in the southeast at any level. (Nothing personal, I cannot count the PBL at credible yet and this is NOT a PBL topic.)

The IBL has proven it's a credible league and I imagine they need about 6-8 teams in the southeast to have a division here.

Comments?

[ChumpDumper]

The WBA just put out a press release today. Check their page on this site. Looks like they are running with ten teams so far.

[SignGuyDino]

I want to be open-minded, but with all the problems with the WBA, am I so wrong as to say I'd wait on the IBL to come? They seem to go from somewhat credible to not credible in about a year's time.

[ChumpDumper]

If course you're not wrong to say you'd wait. The IBL seems like the most stable spring league out there. There seems to be four nice regions shaping up for spring ball (west coast and upper midwest in the IBL, southeast in the WBA and Texas/lower midwest in the UBL). If the respective leagues make stability their goal, don't get too expansion crazy and refrain from invading each others territories, they might be able to eventually get together and make something really impressive.

[jjbballfan]

Other then Minor League baseball the Southeast has not worked well with minor league sports.... Florida is full of tourist or retired people that live on fixed income and there isn't much of a middle class in the Southeast which is what makes minor league teams.....

[DazedAndAmused]

Right now, unless I'm mistaken, the only "southern" team in the IBL is in western Tennessee. With the WBA being missing in action, there isn't any credible league in the southeast at any level. (Nothing personal, I cannot count the PBL at credible yet and this is NOT a PBL topic.)

The IBL has proven it's a credible league and I imagine they need about 6-8 teams in the southeast to have a division here.

Comments?
I believe the IBL model could be successful in the Southeast. To make it happen, a small group of investors would need to get together to create their "pod" of 6 teams to achieve self sufficiency during the season, culminating with the teams meeting in tournament play with the other pods. If I were the IBL, I would provide a 2 or 3 for 1 special (league dues that is) to make this happen. SGD, this is not a PBL thread for sure (they don't have any real SE presence to speak of any way), but I think it's apples and oranges. The PBL clearly wants to try to rival the CBA out of the gate (and hopes for no comparison to some of the other leagues), and looks to be trying to do it by financial prowess, at least in the first year. I don't know if they will be successful or not. But, personally, I like the IBL model and think it could work in the SE with the right jumpstart.

[Pounder]

With having to concoct an Oregon/California division last year (given teams north of Eugene were involved, that's not a cozy travel "pod") and promising Edmonton a shot this year, the IBL is kind of warping their original philosophy.

On the one hand, that ought to give some hope to 3-4 owners in the Southeast. On the oh-so-crucial other hand, I think they're messing with their model to their detriment.

[sportsnut2000]

Well hopefully the IBL will get teams in markets where they will have a cluster of 3 to 5 teams.