KC mayor Quinton Lucas, US Senators Roy Blunt, Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran, and US Rep Emanuel Cleaver co-signed a letter to the NBA commissioner's office and Raptors ownership making the case for Kansas City to be the temporary home, if needed.
Never thought I’d type this but Kansas City is legit pursuing an NBA team. Here’s the latest, including three irrefutable takeaways: https://t.co/ZrkvFqUE6F
Originally Posted by Chief Roundup:
Do not expect this to work out favorable for KC and then the locals that become fans.
Worked for OKC when the Hornets had to play there. If KC has strong local ratings comparatively to other markets our size then we'd shoot in front of even Seattle for the next expansion/moving team. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BWillie:
We probably would have had a shot had the entire Golden State Warrior team not got hurt in the 2019 NBA Finals. Now Toronto suddenly cares about the team more than they did prior to 2019.
The Raptors have sold out nearly every game for over 6 years now (not just since the championship), are as popular as ever in Canada, and are one of the prime assets of MLSE (the sports media conglomerate that owns the team). They're not going anywhere permanently. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla:
Harden was one of my favorite players when he was in OKC. I can't watch him now.
I don't mind him when he does his awesome step back 3 but his constant flopping while driving to the basket gets old. So yeah I am not a fan either anymore. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower:
Doesn't "our" mayor have better ****ing things to do than to pander on local radio about a one year pro franchise rental?
Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower:
Doesn't "our" mayor have better fucking things to do than to pander on local radio about a one year pro franchise rental?
Not really! The City Council are the true power brokers at City Hall. [Reply]
Originally Posted by tatorhog:
I can't argue with the last part at all. I've only been to one NBA game in my life, and it was an expo game at that. Back when I was in HS and thought I had some game (I mean, I did have some very very light interest from some CC's lol) so when the Lakers and Cavs played at Kemper, Dad took me. We had pretty good seats, 7 or 8 rows off the court.
I can still remember being blown away at how big Vlade Divac was. And he was doing these crazy ass passes under the rim. Cedric Ceballos had a pretty good dunk on our end, but being 17 I still had this halfassed thought that if I worked hard enough I could at least aim for that. The reason? The Cavs had Bob Sura, who was this small-ish white guard with a giant knee brace on. He was clanging threes off the back iron in warm ups and didn't look like anything.
It gave me hope.
Then they put him in, and while on D, he steals the ball and flies down the court like he had a rocket up his ass and threw down the biggest dunk of the night. It was at that exact moment, I knew I had better learn to study harder because athletics were not in my future. lol
There's nothing like seeing an NBA game at floor level to realize that you and your buddies are never going to make it as professional athletes.
The athleticism is astounding and just as Rainman said earlier, I don't think that I'm of the same species as those guys. Their bodies are nothing at all like mine. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower:
Doesn't "our" mayor have better fucking things to do than to pander on local radio about a one year pro franchise rental?
In a "normal" year, the impact to the KC economy would be significant.
IF the Raptors play in KC for the 2021 season and IF there's a great response via TV ratings and/or attendance, KC would shoot to the top of the list, next to Seattle, in terms of an expansion team.
Plus, KC would finally be a 4 sport town again, which would raise its profile nationwide.
Also, I wouldn't be surprised if Mahomes becomes part of that ownership group, too. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud:
In a "normal" year, the impact to the KC economy would be significant.
IF the Raptors play in KC for the 2021 season and IF there's a great response via TV ratings and/or attendance, KC would shoot to the top of the list, next to Seattle, in terms of an expansion team.
Plus, KC would finally be a 4 sport town again, which would raise its profile nationwide.
Also, I wouldn't be surprised if Mahomes becomes part of that ownership group, too.
I had strenuous doubts that Kansas City could support a fourth professional team before the current shitshow.
Without disagreeing with your thesis that the NBA game is much more enjoyable to watch vs the college game, you can't deny that the college basketball as a collective (but namely KU's team) is already the "fourth" professional franchise.. which further assumes you're putting Sporting above KU.
The people here flat out aren't wealthy enough to that many franchises and the downtown core is losing -not gaining- the businesses who are the sources of luxury box receipts.
And it's going to be years, if ever, where typical "asses in the seats" revenue comes close to its heyday considering the (most likely permanent) restrictions on indoor mass gatherings. [Reply]
Originally Posted by KC_Connection:
The Raptors have sold out nearly every game for over 6 years now (not just since the championship), are as popular as ever in Canada, and are one of the prime assets of MLSE (the sports media conglomerate that owns the team). They're not going anywhere permanently.
Oh, I agree. KC has no chance. Not really a chance before 2019, but it's cemented in stone in Toronto for a long long time.
Kansas City should try to poach the Grizz or the Wolves. [Reply]
