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per game. If the D-League can boost that to 3,000 then I think it would be a go. I agree the Hoffman Estates is not a good site, but if they have an ownership group ... all the more power to them. I think Rockford and the Bulls would be a better match.
I see this league becoming a collection of "taxisquads" instead.
....
The basketball landscape is changing in the inner cities of America the graduation rate is about 35%. That means 65% of the kids in the ghetto don't finish high school. However, many of these players will continue to play AAU ball and dream of having NBA careers. Kids will have to decide if they want to take the GED then attend a prep school or Junior College before going the NCAA route or entering a NBDL 18 and under draft. If the pay increases why do you believe that these kids would pick the GED route? There are also top 100 high school seniors that won't have the grades to attend major colleges and big men that believe going to college will decrease their market value due to the fact that the college game is not suited for bigs. What is the advantage of going to college if your a big man? Why not get to the kids before the college coaches mess them up? The NCAA restricts the amount of time a player can work on his game. Why should'nt talented players play in a league that is geared towards developing talent? If the D-League is only 30 teams compared to the NCAA (over 350 teams) the D-League will only have to bring in 60 of the best 18 and younger players each year for 1 to 3 years of training and playing with former NCAA players that went undrafted and NBA players in their 1st or 2nd year. If the top high school bigs decide to play in the d-league in the future for an NBA team instead of playing in college why would people stay away? Example.. If Oden had decided to play in the NBDL this year, do you believe that he would'nt have been a draw? If so why, the d-league will continue to grow and expand it's influence. And not as a taxi squad league either. As a developmental league. USA basketball needs to improve upon how americans develop as players (We are behind europe in how we teach the game and develop our players) and the NCAA is not really going to change it's ways. Regardless of what you think change is coming and the D-League will be the vehicle.
I feel the same way about Fort Wayne, Indiana. Indiana U./Purdue U. Fort Wayne has expanded its program since the demise of the Fury. Where are all the dollars going to come from to support another team in this town? I also don't see the NBADL becoming huge in the future. I just don't see the fan support. I see this league becoming a collection of "taxisquads" instead.
...and for all the people who seem to think Rockford is in line for a fall/winter hoops team. Forget it! Rockford wants AHL hockey. This town gave-up on basketball years ago. The only reason the Lightning lasted as long as they did is because of the charity of the Timpe family. Judy Timpe and her late father should be placed in the CBA hall of fame for their efforts.
...and Hoffman Estates (Sears Centre)? I have a sister and brother-in-law near there. They are typical urban professionals like the many typical urban professionals in the area and wouldn't be caught DEAD at a minor league hoops game. They would pre-arrange to have their carcasses dragged out of the building rather than be caught lifeless at a NBADL game. Besides, the traffic from Chicago is brutal for people with simplier tastes. Too brutal for the average fan.
You can not compare IPFW with a minor league basketball team..FW loves minor league sports which is why the Komets survived, the Freedom had great numbers attend games and the Fury had so much success(until the league was bought out and destroyed.)
People don't give a rats about IPFW. Its a completely different ballgame.
Akron SHOULD have the Cleveland D-League team. You would think LeBron's hometown would, huh?
The D-League has it half-right now, they have pulled their AAA-level league out of A-level markets. But they are still playing in arenas where their attendance doesn't justify.
I'm sorry, I'd rather they play large high schools or small college gyms until they draw attendance that justifies the arenas. I'd rather be in a crowd of 2,000 in a smaller gym than 2,000 in a 16,500 seat venue. Believe me, I've been in 2,000 crowds for high school games that were more exciting crowd wise than the 2,000 that occassionaly were at Altitude games. It's all psychology.
Ultimately, they should buy out the rest of the CBA, and after getting a team for each NBA team, develop a AA and A level over about 20 years (like baseball) only play a short schedule to build up to the D-League and NBA. They could buy out other leagues to do this.
Their biggest plus: At least you don't worry about the NBA paying the bills.
The consulting bill is in the mail.
Last edited by SignGuyDino; 01-30-2007 at 10:44 PM.
The D-League has it half-right now, they have pulled their AAA-level league out of A-level markets. But they are still playing in arenas where their attendance doesn't justify.
I'm sorry, I'd rather they play large high schools or small college gyms until they draw attendance that justifies the arenas. I'd rather be in a crowd of 2,000 in a smaller gym than 2,000 in a 16,500 seat venue. Believe me, I've been in 2,000 crowds for high school games that were more exciting crowd wise than the 2,000 that occassionaly were at Altitude games. It's all psychology.
Please forgive me... and, usually, I'm good at not repeating myself and letting things slide, but for some reason I feel compelled to reset this.
Beer. Makes. Profit. (THE profit, if 67% of the testimony I've heard on the subject is correct)
I'd literally consider erecting an aluminum-lined shack that could fit 2,500 seats (even bleachers) and had the proper concessions. Crap, I ought to just do that (doubt that the loan would be approved)... but basketball, while being my second favorite sport, wouldn't be my first or second sport in which to start a business.
I wonder if the NBA will try and keep the Raptors' affiliate Canadian? I realize if Rochester jumps from the ABA to the NBDL that proximity wise it would make the most sense for them to either affiliate with the Knicks, Nets or Raptors. But, I wonder if the NBA will try and tap into the Raptors being Canadian and place a team somewhere in Canada.
I figure the Quebec City Kebekwa from the ABA could jump and become the Raptors affiliate. However, if they were going for a purely new expansion team, where in Canada would be best? Unless a rash of Northeastern teams emerge, I would think somewhere in Western Canada would make the most travel sense. I doubt the NBA would put a team in Vancouver again, so that would leave Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon and perhaps Winnipeg as the best choices. As much as I am a big supporter of my Saskatoon, I would say the best choice would be Calgary. They are close enough to the Dakotas that they're not going to put a strain on travel. They are also close to Idaho, so that would work. Plus they are much closer to California than say Quebec City is to Fort Worth.
The basketball landscape is changing in the inner cities of America the graduation rate is about 35%. That means 65% of the kids in the ghetto don't finish high school. However, many of these players will continue to play AAU ball and dream of having NBA careers. Kids will have to decide if they want to take the GED then attend a prep school or Junior College before going the NCAA route or entering a NBDL 18 and under draft. If the pay increases why do you believe that these kids would pick the GED route? There are also top 100 high school seniors that won't have the grades to attend major colleges and big men that believe going to college will decrease their market value due to the fact that the college game is not suited for bigs. What is the advantage of going to college if your a big man? Why not get to the kids before the college coaches mess them up? The NCAA restricts the amount of time a player can work on his game. Why should'nt talented players play in a league that is geared towards developing talent? If the D-League is only 30 teams compared to the NCAA (over 350 teams) the D-League will only have to bring in 60 of the best 18 and younger players each year for 1 to 3 years of training and playing with former NCAA players that went undrafted and NBA players in their 1st or 2nd year. If the top high school bigs decide to play in the d-league in the future for an NBA team instead of playing in college why would people stay away? Example.. If Oden had decided to play in the NBDL this year, do you believe that he would'nt have been a draw? If so why, the d-league will continue to grow and expand it's influence. And not as a taxi squad league either. As a developmental league. USA basketball needs to improve upon how americans develop as players (We are behind europe in how we teach the game and develop our players) and the NCAA is not really going to change it's ways. Regardless of what you think change is coming and the D-League will be the vehicle.
This is the single most intelligent thing I have read in awhile and is the absolute proof in the pudding to the future success of minor league basketball IMHO
The UHL Chicago team averages about 2,200
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