Expansion for 2007-08

[sportsguy12]

So we've got possibly Fort Wayne and definitely Orem (hopefully called Utah).
Anybody heard anything about any other expansion cities?

Let's avoid ABA or CBA mutinies right now. Those teams can decide their own fates.

If Fort Wayne comes on board, maybe Rockford would follow. That would be a perfect marriage for the Bulls.

Down the line, they've got to get some southern cities to get the Florida Flame re-ignited. I don't see a lot of potential in Florida cities.

Maybe Breward, although they were more USBL. Tallahassee? Jacksonville? Pensacola? Tampa Bay? Those have been all minor league cities in the past.

Out west, the Reno area? Maybe, Las Vegas or Oklahoma City if the Hornets return to NO full-time.

[bectond]

The guy that owns Tulsa, Fort Worth Albuquerque and Austin visited Reno, however I'm not sure if he was planning on an expansion team or looking to re-locate one of his existing teams.

I heard Des Moines will be joining next year and a group from Omaha is looking to join. Sarasota has an ownership group in place however the brand new arena that they planned on playing in has stop being built in mid-construction due to the builder going belly-up. I also read that Youngstown, Hoffman Estates, Laredo and Stockton ownership groups have formed and the Knicks and Celtics are planning on buying their own teams.

[sportsguy12]

Originally Posted by bectond

The guy that owns Tulsa, Fort Worth Albuquerque and Austin visited Reno, however I'm not sure if he was planning on an expansion team or looking to re-locate one of his existing teams.

I heard Des Moines will be joining next year and a group from Omaha is looking to join. Sarasota has an ownership group in place however the brand new arena that they planned on playing in has stop being built in mid-construction due to the builder going belly-up. I also read that Youngstown and Stockton ownership groups have formed and the Knicks and Celtics are planning on buying their own teams.

So that would create a league like this ... not ideal with 3 divisions but

Eastern
New York
Boston
Fort Wayne
Youngstown (Mahoning Valley)
Dakota
Sioux Falls

Midwest
Fort Worth
Tulsa
Arkansas
Austin
Idaho
Colorado
Orem (Utah)

Pacific
Stockton
Los Angeles
Anaheim
Bakersfield
Albuquerque

[bectond]

West
L.A. moves to Ontario
Anaheim
Bakersfield
Stockton
Tulsa moves to Reno

Northwest
Idaho
Colorado
Sioux Falls
Bismarck
Orem

Southwest
Austin
Fort Worth
Laredo
Albuquerque
Little Rock

Midwest
Omaha
Des Moines
Hoffman Estates (causes Gary to be turned down again)
Youngstown
Fort Wayne

Southeast
Fort Myers (may come backin 07/0
Duluth Ga
Sarasota (if arena is ever completed)
Biloxi
[open]- bobcats

Northeast
[open]- knicks
[open]- celtics
[open]-nets
[open]-sixers
[open]-Raps

[sportsguy12]

Anybody got any thoughts ...


Eastern Conference
Atlantic
Newark (Nets)
Rochester (Raptors)
New York (Knicks)
Boston (Celtics)
Trenton (76ers)

Central
Fort Wayne (Pacers)
Youngstown (Cavaliers)
Rockford (Bulls)
Grand Rapids (Bucks)
Des Moines, Iowa (Pistons)

Southeast
Baltimore (Bullets)
Florida (Heat)
Gulf Coast (Magic)
Gwinnett (Hawks)
Norfolk (Bobcats)

Western Conference
Southwest
Fort Worth (Mavericks)
Austin (Spurs)
Okla City (Hornets)
Arkansas (Grizzlies)
Tulsa (Rockets)

Northwest
Orem, Utah (Jazz)
Colorado (Nuggets)
Sioux Falls (T-Wolves)
Dakota (Blazers)
Idaho (Sonics)

Pacific
Albuquerque (Suns)
Los Angeles (Lakers)
Anaheim (Clippers)
Bakersfield (Warriors)
Stockton (Kings)

[bectond]

Washington will most likely keep Dakota as an affiliate, baltimore will never support a minor league team. if Washington does get an affiliate in Maryland it would be Upper Marlboro not Baltimore.

[Minor League Man]

Keep in mind the Sonics might move to OKC next season.

With this in mind:

Eastern Conference
Atlantic
Newark (Nets)
Rochester (Raptors)
New York (Knicks)
Boston (Celtics)
Trenton (76ers)

Central
Fort Wayne (Pacers)
Youngstown (Cavaliers)
Rockford (Bulls)
Green Bay (Bucks)
Grand Rapids or Des Moines (Pistons)

Southeast
Norfolk (Bullets)
Florida (Heat)
Sarasota (Magic)
Gwinnett (Hawks)
Greensboro (Bobcats)

Western Conference
Southwest
Fort Worth (Mavericks)
Austin (Spurs)
Lafayette (Hornets)
Arkansas (Grizzlies)
Tulsa or Cypress (Rockets)

Northwest
Orem, Utah (Jazz)
Colorado (Nuggets)
Sioux Falls or Dakota (T-Wolves)
Dakota or Idaho (Blazers)
Idaho or Tulsa (Sonics)

Pacific
Albuquerque (Suns)
Los Angeles (Lakers)
Anaheim (Clippers)
Bakersfield (Warriors)
Stockton (Kings)

[HKF]

Here's another team coming to the D-League.

Along with Fort Wayne, Des Moine, Utah and possibly Reno for next year.

http://www.themonitor.com/SiteProces...&Section=Local

[sportsguy12]

Anybody got any thoughts ...


Eastern Conference
Atlantic
Newark (Nets)
Rochester (Raptors)
New York (Knicks)
Boston (Celtics)
Trenton (76ers)

Central
Fort Wayne (Pacers)
Youngstown (Cavaliers)
Chicago/Hoffman Estates (Bulls)
Grand Rapids (Bucks)
Des Moines, Iowa (Pistons)

Southeast
Biloxi, Miss (Blazers)
Florida (Heat)
Arkansas (Magic)
Gwinnett (Hawks)
Norfolk (Bobcats)

Western Conference
Southwest
Fort Worth (Mavericks)
Austin (Spurs)
Omaha (Grizzlies)
Laredo (Rockets)
Tulsa (Hornets)

Northwest
Orem, Utah (Jazz)
Colorado (Nuggets)
Sioux Falls (T-Wolves)
Dakota (Bullets)
Idaho (Sonics)

Pacific
Albuquerque (Suns)
Los Angeles/Ontario eventually (Lakers)
Anaheim (Clippers)
Bakersfield (Warriors)
Stockton (Kings)

[SignGuyDino]

Rio Valley announced they're in.