<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BC:</div><div class="quote_post">There's just as likely a terrorist attack in America as there is in Western europe</div> Not really America is far more likely ,as the U.S is mostly responsible for generating the hatred againest them....as for Britain as an e.g. they are only allied to America so their not hated as much. "Have they ever considered how far the players would have to travel?" ^^Im sure foreign teams will be staying for long periods of time if they enter the league
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BC:</div><div class="quote_post">There's just as likely a terrorist attack in America as there is in Western europe</div> im talking about on the plane going overseas,terrorists have sick minds and this would be in there agenda
Id rather see them develop another Canadian team or possibly in the Keys or somewhere still near America
When was the last time the world was "safe"? There has been a fairly steady diet of strife throughout human history and we can?t shut down because of fear. We have to strive to keep the wonders of humanity alive in the face of some darkness. The only things we can be proud of as a race (human) are things like art, music and sport. Traveling is as safe as it's going to be right now in the states or outside of it. From my experience security has been traditionally tighter outside of the states than in. As far as the only reason for expanding into Europe being money well all I have to say is...NO DUH! It's not a rec league, the NBA is big business. The only reason these guys play ball together is because they get paid for it and they only get paid for it because it's big business. As a result you can be sure that Stern will take any opportunity he sees to grow the league and make money for everyone involved. I think it?s a great idea but needs a lot more refining before any action should be taken. I think that incorporating established clubs along with the addition of some new ones will generate interest. I also think that they can?t start with just one European team. They?re going to have to go for it or hold off. It?s not something that I can see working when done half way.
http://www.nba.com/games/20031010/MEM/recap.html Also it wouldn't take much to make the international teams competitive. The link above shows that FC Barcelona played a tough game against the Grizz almost upsetting this bright young NBA team.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting knicks235:</div><div class="quote_post">im talking about on the plane going overseas,terrorists have sick minds and this would be in there agenda</div> Contrary to what many believe, there will most likely never be another attack on the United States via a passenger airline. The reason is simple, we know what happened on 9-11 and we have taken the necessary percautions to prevent something like this again. The terrorists will attack us via a way that we cant stop and they will do it when we least expect it . If there was a terrorist attack on the US it would probably be at a major port/industry city, like Houston or LA. I also think that the US is more prone to attack than any other nation. This is a whole nother topic in and of itself. Back to the thread, I am against the idea of adding NBA teams in Europe. First off time travel through several timezones will make even the most experienced traveler a little jet lagged if they do this daily/weekly. I can however see a few teams having a mini series over there. For instance, you could have 8-10 teams play a few games over there at same time. They could then go to the different venues over there and it would be easy on travel schedules. Another reason why this might not work is because of money. NBA franchises need revenues and they make money by selling tickets to home games. Having games outside of the US, takes away from that revenue. Until man finds away to limit the effects of jet lag and finds a way to make travel to and from Europe faster, I dont see how it will be impossible to have a couple of NBA teams based in Europe.
NBA, investors explore possible expansion to Europe <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Former Madison Square Garden president Dave Checketts is leading a group of international investors that's working with the NBA to determine whether the league should expand into Europe. Checketts, who served in the Denver Nuggets front office for parts of two seasons, said he has had several meetings with NBA commissioner David Stern, including one Thursday. Stern has said there might be NBA teams based in Europe by the end of the decade.</div> http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nugg...2566352,00.html Personally,I don't see it happening. The cost of international flights alone would make most owners balk. The L is popular in Europe,however,I think the cons outweigh the pros on this. I could see an NBA affiliated League in Europe just not an actual NBA team.
Forget the long flights, what if the plane had problems over the ocean? A whole team would be killed in one accident... it's possible a team would crash even NOW, but if there's a failure they can still land the plane when over LAND!! If they are over the ocean and need to land, that plane's not gonna make it and bye bye NBA franchise!! It would be horrible to expand if it requires flying over the water. Then there is the problem with 9 hour flights... Euro teams would have an advantage over EVERY team they host... have a 9 hour flight, get 2 hours sleep, wake up practice, that night have the game... they'd be dead!! I say play preseason games over there, but not actual season games. I think the league is thinking too much... let's keep this on this side of the world. They can open an NBA-like league over there all they want... but if the Knicks, Suns, Mavs, Lakers, etc have to fly over there for games, it's going to be the worst thing to happen to sports ever!!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting scorbutic:</div><div class="quote_post">I think the league is thinking too much... let's keep this on this side of the world. </div> I agree, couldn't they find other cities in north america that they could make teams for before they try to spread it to Europe?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting scorbutic:</div><div class="quote_post">Forget the long flights, what if the plane had problems over the ocean? A whole team would be killed in one accident... it's possible a team would crash even NOW, but if there's a failure they can still land the plane when over LAND!! If they are over the ocean and need to land, that plane's not gonna make it and bye bye NBA franchise!! It would be horrible to expand if it requires flying over the water. Then there is the problem with 9 hour flights... Euro teams would have an advantage over EVERY team they host... have a 9 hour flight, get 2 hours sleep, wake up practice, that night have the game... they'd be dead!! I say play preseason games over there, but not actual season games. I think the league is thinking too much... let's keep this on this side of the world. They can open an NBA-like league over there all they want... but if the Knicks, Suns, Mavs, Lakers, etc have to fly over there for games, it's going to be the worst thing to happen to sports ever!!</div> Or maybe a possible terrorist attack, but either way, it's dangerous
I think it?s impossible. We win less than you, and here the stadiums wouldn?t fill, we can?t pay X dollars for a game, and here the basketball isn?t as important as there.
I agree about expanding in this hemisphere before going to either Europe or Asia. It would be more financially feasible to put teams in Mexico City, San Diego, Birmingham, Las Vegas, Austin, Kansas City, St. Louis, Louisville, Southern Virginia, Buffalo, New York City, and a whole slew of other North American cities before overseas expansion becomes real. Even Latin American expansion, like Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Rio, Caracas and San Juan would be more realistic, IMO. Plus, the NBA probably knows this as well. Their efforts at Euro expansion are probably only to cover up a scheme to copy the NFL with their 'NFL Europe', which is basically a minor league. With the influx of European players from the different Euro leagues, the NBA probably wants to tap that market and compete with the leagues already over there.
Ive said it once and Ill say it again... this is a stupid idea. scorbutic summed it up pretty well with his explantion. The dangerous, and the fact that there are places here that want NBA teams. Do the NBA players really want to fly to Europe for a game. Plus Europe has their own damn L. NBA, <u>National</u> Basketball Association. Isnt enough we have a team in Canada?
The flights would just be too long. It seems like a dumbass idea anyway. I would scratch it. The players are more then willing to come over here and ball anyways.
Well being from england, ID LOVE THAT, It much easier for me to get to say spain than los angles, Or texas or whatever, If they brought the NBA to euope the game would expand SOOOO much more, And that way more talent from england say doesnt get wasted cos wed have more scouts and stuff over here, Good idea!!!!!!!!
I don't think the NBA needs to do anymore expanding in the US, let alone in Europe. When you continue to expand, you dilute the talent level further and further. Its already a struggle for half the teams in the NBA to reach 80 points a game the way it is. 30 is a nice, even number. I think the NBA should stick with that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting redscoon:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't think the NBA needs to do anymore expanding in the US, let alone in Europe. When you continue to expand, you dilute the talent level further and further. Its already a struggle for half the teams in the NBA to reach 80 points a game the way it is. 30 is a nice, even number. I think the NBA should stick with that.</div> I second that. If the league wants to have a presence in more cities, they should focus on developing their minor league system so that its actually a real system, and more players get a shot at it. That would also raise the level of NBA play down the road. And the minor league system could have circuits in Europe, Asia, South America, and so on. Then, there would obviously be great players who pass through those circuits to make it to the show. The Charlotte Knights, for example, had Cal Ripken Jr. before he made it big, and Jose Canseco after he made himself big with steroids. Both players were a pleasure to watch, and givea smaller market like Charlotte a stake(however minor) in the big leagues.
