[Dusty]

After reading some posts here and doing some research on NFL.com it's imminent that some teams are going to relocate in the NFL. NFL.com lists the most probable teams as the Vikings, Jaguars, Saints (???? ) and Chargers. I read on here that the Bills are a possibility to be moved. Well one of those teams is going to the new stadium going to be built in L.A. that's certain and other cities prompting for teams include Toronto and Vancouver giving the NFL a Canadian presence. Personally I detest relocation because I don't want teams simply moving from a loyal fanbase to a stadium with the more luxury boxes but hey, if it's gonna happen it's gonna happen. Here's what I see happening:

The Los Angeles Vikings in 2011. The owner of the Vikes despite a rabid fanbase in Minnesota seems starstruck by the glitz, glamor and brand new stadium that Los Angeles will give them. It will probably have a mini-mall in it! Puke!

The Toronto Bills. Toronto practically has the Bills franchise in a tractor beam with them playing games up there so Toronto is most definitely like L.A. getting a team and the Bills seem to want to move out of Buffalo technically leaving New York without an NFL team. Imagine that! New York and Los Angeles without an NFL team? Did Buffaloes roam where Toronto is located? I think so. Ok.

The ANYWHERE Jaguars. This is the team that SHOULD be going to LA LA land and I wouldn't complain. The Jags are the lowest revenue team despite them having a competitive product that puts them as contenders for the AFC Championship. The L.A. Jaguars even sounds cool. The Jags are moving, maybe Vancouver? Who knows?

The Saints stay in New Orleans. Wishful thinking? Maybe, but the Saints have a huge fanbase in New Orleans as well as Reggie Bush jerseys are one of the top ones sold to fans. I say New Orleans reaches a deal with the Saints and they stay. The USA has done enough to screw the city of New Orleans enough so lets not take their heroes from them no way no how!

Imagine what this is going to do to the realignment about 13 years ago that the NFL underwent. You'll have Los Angeles in the NFC North! Realign again? If you do that every time a franchise moves (and I think franchises are going to be moving around like free agents in the near future) you'll be realigning every year!! If nothing else the NFL is always bizarre and like all pro-sports self destructive!

[NASCAR Gnome]

Remember when Katrina devastated New Orleans? That year, the Saints played in both Baton Rouge and San Antonio and Tom Benson made some noises about wanting to keep the team in San Antonio instead of returning to New Orleans. I think, regardless of fan following, Benson still wants out of New Orleans...

Sure, L.A. could use another team but frankly, nobody there really cares. Honest. If anyone gave som much as a poop, there'd be way more noise but... it's L.A., dude!!! When the Rams left... <yawn> and Raiders... <huh? Did someone say something about an earthquake? Oh, Al Davis? Is he some famous director or actor?> did the same, you heard all the "outcry" didn't you? Didn't you? What? Tom Cruise is where??? Oh, I'm sorry, were we talking about something? The only people who would love the Jaguars moving to L.A. would be the players because instead of rubbing elbows with the blue-haired geriatric bunch, they might get a glimpse of Cameron Diaz or (if they're really lucky) Brittney Spears! The only reason the Lakers are still in L.A. is Jack Nicholson!

Toronto... Buffalo... who cares? I mean, what's the difference? How can you distinguish colors when everything is covered in SNOW? Ever see the movie "Fargo"? Snow makes everything look all the same no matter where you are! People will still talk about having a playoff game in the frozen northeast in January but no matter how far north (or east) you travel, in order to PLAY in the playoffs, you first have got to MAKE IT, right? So, what's the point here?

All this moving makes for good speculation and pub, but that's about it... for me anyways!

[Lefty Noob]

Tom Benson's been wanting to move the Saints for years. Remember, there was talk about it right after Katrina, but it was silenced when the fans turned out in record numbers to support the team. Now that the situation has died-down a bit in the media and the public eye, it doesn't surprise me in the least that he'd be talking about relocating again. It's just a matter of time.

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by NASCAR Gnome

Sure, L.A. could use another team but frankly, nobody there really cares. Honest. If anyone gave som much as a poop, there'd be way more noise but... it's L.A., dude!!! When the Rams left... <yawn> and Raiders... <huh? Did someone say something about an earthquake? Oh, Al Davis? Is he some famous director or actor?> did the same, you heard all the "outcry" didn't you? Didn't you? What? Tom Cruise is where??? Oh, I'm sorry, were we talking about something?

Ha! You nailed the people of L.A. to a T!!

[azrael492]

I can see the Bills moving easily. From what I have read, therer are more Canadian fans at games than Buffalo fans. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

I really hope LA doesn't get a team again. how many times do they have to prove they don't deserve a team.

[Seahawker 562]

Originally Posted by azrael492

I can see the Bills moving easily. From what I have read, therer are more Canadian fans at games than Buffalo fans. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

I really hope LA doesn't get a team again. how many times do they have to prove they don't deserve a team.

Come on we deserve another chance. I think the Raiders would be the best team to move to LA, cuz there is already a large fan base here.

[Dusty]

I listen to L.A. radio 97.1 Free Fm with the Adam Carolla show and The Tom Leykis show and Leykis said that sports radio in So Cal is a ghost town. Los Angeles doesn't care about the NFL but whoever moves there gets the glitz and glamor (PUKE!) that Los Angeles brings so don't worry Seahawkers because some franchise is drooling at the prospect of that new stadium they're building and definitely will move there. I predict the LA Vikings in 2011.

[azrael492]

Originally Posted by Seahawker 562

Come on we deserve another chance. I think the Raiders would be the best team to move to LA, cuz there is already a large fan base here.

You already had the Raiders in LA and would not support them. How many teams do they need to show they don't care about the NFL. I think they should put teams in cities that haven't had one before. Alabama or Nebraska would be good choices to me. Look how well they support their college teams. They sell out 100,000 seat stadiums. TV may not like them, but the franchise would be profitable.

[Dusty]

As many teams as L.A. can afford and apparently they can afford a lot with that new stadium. Where there is and opportunity to make some cash, pro-sports will follow no matter the cost or long term effects.

[Bette]

For some reason, LA keeps popping up. We had a thread a year ago about that.
The Vikings want a new stadium bad, but the city wont cooperate with them. So I would think the Vikings owners' heads could be turned very easily by the glitz and glimmer.


By the way Dusty, good research and good thread.

[nflfan123]

Originally Posted by azrael492

I can see the Bills moving easily. From what I have read, therer are more Canadian fans at games than Buffalo fans. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

I really hope LA doesn't get a team again. how many times do they have to prove they don't deserve a team.

From what you read, eh? Do you have a link?

(Good luck finding one)

[Stoney]

Personally I would like the Jacksonville Jaguars go to Birmingham and become the BAMA BULLDAWGS. It would be a nice fit for everyone Alabama has been snubbed by professional football for way too long. The NFL would be better served by moving the Bills to Oklahoma City. The NFL really ought to look at expansion again. I can think of four major US cities that would really support them rather than sending anything to Canada.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Stoney

Personally I would like the Jacksonville Jaguars go to Birmingham and become the BAMA BULLDAWGS. It would be a nice fit for everyone Alabama has been snubbed by professional football for way too long.

Not often you and I see eye to eye on stuff, Stoney, but I agree with you completely. I'd love to see Alabama get an NFL team (though I seriously doubt you'd land the Jags, but who knows?). How much more does a community need to do to prove they'd support a pro sports franchise? Look at Tuscaloosa vs. Los Angeles in terms of fanbase, I'm talking real honest to goodness football fans, and it's a no brainer. Not even close.

[azrael492]

Originally Posted by nflfan123

From what you read, eh? Do you have a link?

(Good luck finding one)

I should have said a large percentage instead of more. I couldn't find the exact article, but I did find something similar.


RealGM Football: Buffalo - A Blueprint For The Toronto Bills Of Buffalo


The article I remember reading said 15000 per game. This article just mentions 15000 fans. I did find the reference in wikipedia, but it isn't that credible since anybody can update it.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by azrael492

I should have said a large percentage instead of more... The article I remember reading said 15000 per game.

To further emphasize the point...

Three Cities, Two Countries, and Passion for One Game - New York Times
"The Bills’ front office says that 10 to 15 percent of the team’s fans at home games come from Canada."

ABC News: Bills Going Canadian, Eh?
"Canada's largest metropolitan center is a 90-mile drive from Buffalo, boasts a large corporate base that can translate into additional marketing revenue, and the team also draws an average of 15,000 Canadian fans to its home games."

Plenty of support in Toronto for the Bills, no question about it. I could see a future move north as a real possibility for the team.