Alabama has been without a professional sports team for too long, and if you count the MAJOR sports leagues, we've been without forever. Is anyone else here of the opinion that Alabama needs a major sports team? Specifically in my opinion, to play in Birmingham (Largest Metro area). Also, what teams do you think should play? Football would be great, as it is currently king in the state. I could see some negative as it would be hard to compete with Alabama and Auburn during football season. I just don't see any city in Birmingham being able to support a 162-game baseball season. The economics and population are just not there. Basketball would be a likely fit as it is popular, but once again, 82 games is a long season for the short attention spanned fans in this state. Football is still king, but Basketball would be the best shot IMO. I don't see hockey being successful at all as all the cities that have had a minor league hockey team have had them move on to other cities or they just fold. (Correct me if I am wrong). For MLS, I just don't think we're there yet support wise for the support. What do you think?
Great points you bring up. I think the University of Alabama and Auburn football teams owe part of their popularity to the lack of professional teams. If professional teams existed, would you have as many diehard college football fans? On the other hand, why not root for the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Hawks, and Atlanta Braves? Is it due to the local culture?
I do not honestly think Alabama could support a major sports team. Alabama is a relatively small state and I believe that the colleges garner most of the attention and profit.
Sadly, I never realized that Alabama didn't have a team. I think that it would be wise for every state to have a team, since it helps generate revenue from taxes, which could greatly help the state, but perhaps it may be a bit too small, and too late to start one in any of the current sports. It would take years for a new team to recruit even decent players, when all the other well established teams already have done so.
Geographically and economically it isn't viable for all states to have one pro sports team. Look at Alaska, low population with high travel costs. Wyoming has a really low population with not enough economy to support it. But, the fact that it is an economics game is the main reason Alabama does not have a team yet.
Alabama is blessed with having two schools in state that bolster some of the best sports programs ever. Not just football, but every sport across the board. There is no reason for a pro league to invest the time and money when college sports are such a huge draw. They would be competing against 100 years of tradition.
