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Originally Posted by JAYNYC
I get that a team's location is primarily based on the amount of revenue that can be generated in said city, and it follows that teams based in mega media markets are likely to thrive.
But I still wonder whether the NBA, MLB and (now) NFL are really better off by having TWO teams in both NYC and L.A.? Seems as though having the Clippers in, say, Seattle or San Diego (where they one were) would make more sense; having the Nets in, say, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cincinnati or St. Louis would make more sense, etc. Seems like the Portland or Sacramento "Angels" or Indianapolis or Charlotte "Mets" would also make more sense. Same would follow for their respective teams in the NFL.
Two teams in each league in both cities seems unnecessary, IMO.
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You go where you make the most money, heck, you could fit a third team in LA or New York and be better than being the only team in Buffalo or even Denver.
The thing to understand is that while many people who go to pro sporting events are fans, many are just families and professionals looking to going to an event like the circus or a concert. Meanwhile, companies buy crazy amounts of tickets that come at a discount for employees looking for live entertainment. Corporations are the ones buying most of the suites, club seats and expensive seats close to the action.
Over the years, Knicks tickets have been impossible to get at times, so someone in New York who just wanted to take their family to an NBA game without paying outrageous prices if they could even find tickets could take them to a Nets game without having to go all the way to Philadelphia for a game. Same for Lakers/Clippers.
There's also a bias for being in a section of a town or area. The Angels more or less own Orange County, even as they gave them the shaft by trying to call themselves "Los Angeles." Correct me if I'm wrong New Yorkers but people in Queens and Brooklyn tend to root for the Mets more than the Yankees while the Yankees dominate everything else.
People in these big markets also get each league, as New York, Chicago, LA and the Bay Area for long had/have teams in both sides of the NFL and MLB, meaning they could see players and teams from each league every few, if not every season without leaving the metro area.
Finally, there's the media factor. There's plenty of room for crossover, as Mets fans will often watch a World Series with the Yankees. Raiders fans will watch a Super Bowl involving the 49ers. And just because you're a fan for one doesn't mean you can't be a fan for both. This, of course means that there are more sports fans in general in a place like New York, LA or Chicago. Instead of just going to a Yankees game or Mets game, you can go to both.