So the NFL is considering expansion to Europe, with the audacious idea of transforming the Jacksonville Jaguars into the London Jaguars. Now, while I am strongly against the idea of moving a small fraction of the league to Europe---I am all in favor of expanding the league to previously uncharted territory---within the North America range.
Here are 15 places within the borders of the Americas where professional sports should reach out their hand to. Some are obvious, some are obscure, and I shall admit some are impossibly ridiculous.
#15: NFL in Alabama
For those of you that have not noticed yet, football is huge in Alabama. There is even a college football rivalry within the borders of the state itself. But, this football-invaded state is missing a professional team---having to whether become Atlanta Falcons fans or New Orleans Saints fans. I am sure rooting for a team in Georgia or Louisiana secretly bugs the Alabamians. Giving them their own team however would definitely increase the exposure and popularity of the NFL in the Southeast, especially with fleeting attendance numbers in Miami, Tampa, and Jacksonville.
#14: MLB in the Dakotas
The Dakotas carries not a single major professional team---we are including all the sports besides baseball. But in the case of baseball, who else could the Dakotas possibly turn to besides the Minnesota Twins? The Dakota area is consisting of 1.5 million, and I don't include the potential appeal of Iowa, Nebraska, and Montana. The Great Plains in general is missing a professional baseball team, and pitting one in South Dakota can definitely benefit the league by reaching an area rarely explored by the pro teams.
#13: MLB in Carolina
The Carolinas have the basketball, have the football, and even the hockey. So its rather odd that the North/South Carolina area is lacking a baseball team, especially considering the enjoyable weather, decent sports fanbase, and proximity to major cities. I am sure if you pitched something to Michael Jordan, he would not mind getting a baseball team close to his mildly rising basketball club.
#12: NFL in Oklahoma
Oklahoma has proven that they can definitely support a team as the Oklahoma City Thunder has emerged as one of the favorite teams in the NBA with one of the wildest fanbases around. Oklahoma getting a team can definitely begin a rivalry against the fellow Texas teams Texans and the Cowboys. Better yet, Oklahoma is another state utterly dominated by football, so the transition to rooting for an NFL team would be seamless.
#11: NFL in Los Angeles
Yea....they've been trying. And we all know the advantages here. Move on.
#10: NFL in Mexico City
Name a city that has 22 million people within the metropolitan area, one of the largest stadiums in the world, but no pro team. Well...besides soccer. Mexico City not being considered a pro team when it has access to so many people and is so much closer than London is quite silly. I am sure distance within the Mexican borders causes some of the issues with creating a team there, but don't let the media reputation fool you---this city is passionate about their sports and would love to see the Americans allow the Mexicans to compete in one of their leagues.
#9: MLB in the Mississippi Basin
Alabama is one of the biggest states without a professional team. Mississippi and Louisiana are also decently populated states with no baseball. Building a baseball team to represent the Cajun Area would be delightful news for the South. This area experiences beautiful summer weather usually and with plenty of land to pick from, can provide a beautiful stadium for the locals in the area.
#8: NHL in Alaska
Let's see....the NHL is willing to travel to Edmonton, Vancouver, and other frigid and far-reaching Canadian cities. So why not give Alaska a shot a a hockey team? They have no pro teams, but plenty of ice, and a small population desperate for some sports exposure. Who do the Alaskans root for in the four major sports?
#7: MLB in Hawaii
The weather is fantastic, the Asian-heavy population would probably love to see this done, and the chance to see baseball in Hawaii is just too good to resist. The amazing weather, the youthful culture, and potential ability to conquer the fanbase of the entire Pacific west of California are great ingredients to creating a successful team. While it would definitely be a tough sell to head out West west west to play some baseball, who wouldn't want to partake in that travel? Play ball then lounge at the beach. Sounds fun to me.
#6: MLB in Mexico City
Mexico's biggest sport after soccer, soccer (bears repeating) and potentially boxing is baseball. And throw in the Hispanic population which overall chooses baseball after soccer in a general consensus and you have yourself a team that can represent Mexico, Central America, and potentially the Caribbean (if my other choices never pan out, hint hint). MLB has always been the Hispanic-friendliest league, and going to Mexico would do nothing more than improve the relations.
#5: MLB in San Juan
The Caribbean loves baseball, and in some parts even more than soccer. So why not the professional leagues head a bit overseas to play some baseball? The Puerto Rican Expos was a successful experiment, that for some reason never became a permanent fixture. Pitting a ballclub in the territory would be a major boost to the league that already boasts the best Hispanic population amongst the four major sports. It just makes sense.
#4: NBA in San Juan
.....except, this would make even more sense. Basketball is on the rise in Puerto Rico with a successful basketball squad, more Puerto Ricans in the NBA, and the best way to increase this momentum is to create a basketball team that can represent the Hispanic population and the entire Caribbean. And they would make a great rivalry with the current leading team for the Hispanics--the Miami Heat.
#3: MLB in Santo Domingo
We have teams in the United States and Canada---why not an island in the Caribbean? Why not the Dominican Republic? This country loves baseball in ways you couldn't believe, and the representation in the MLB is phenomenal. Then there's the amazing weather and great culture that would absorb their team easily and quickly.
#2: NFL in Canada
Instead of going overseas for football, why not reach out to the Canadians? They have a freakin' football league for crying out loud. If you can't try to merge the 8 teams, why not try to get some NFL teams up there? Clearly there is a future in football up north with a so-so successful league, so the NFL heading to the confides of Montreal, Toronto, etc. would only make too much sense....
#1: MLS in Mexico (Anywhere)
This is stupid. Why this has not happened yet makes no sense whatsoever. I am done, seriously, done. Don't even have to explain myself.
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