If you read our MLB Expansion post, then you know there are cities that are prime for sport expansion. Football and the NFL are no different. Adding expansion teams into areas ready for growth is a no brainer… for those cities AND the NFL. It’s time for NFL expansion.
Why add expansion teams? First, talks of expansion teams is big news for a sports organization such as the NFL. Big news equals big money. Secondly, more teams allow the potential for better competition, more divisions, and better playoff brackets. To add to this last point, expansion and more teams would help prevent teams that don’t belong in the playoffs. The 2010 Seattle Seahawks made it into the playoffs with a 7-9 record. Are you kidding me! How can a team make the playoffs with a losing record! Adding more teams means more competition for those playoff spots.
Here are the things we considered for this list. One, there has to be a decent population in the area. NFL stadiums can seat a huge number of fans and no team wants an empty stadium. The city itself doesn’t have to be huge, but the surrounding population has to be able to support the team. Next, it has to be an area that has shown an interest in sports and growing the industry.
So, no more waiting… here are 5 cities that are prime for NFL expansion listed in no particular order:
Salt Lake City, Utah: This city also made our list for possible Major League Baseball expansion, and rightfully so. The metro population in the greater Salt Lake City area is over 1.2 million. With football being arguably America’s new pastime, surpassing baseball in popularity, there aren’t’ many reasons to think football wouldn’t be successful here. There is only one other major sports team, the Jazz, located in the state leaving residents of that state hungry for more sports action. NFL Football can solve that!
Portland, Oregon: The metro population in this area is huge at over 2 million. Residents in this area are forced (ok, probably not forced) to root for the Seattle Seahawks, but deserve an NFL team of their own. Think of the rivalry potential here! Just like Utah, Oregon is home to only an NBA team leaving their residents deprived of competitive professional sports. Enter the NFL!
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Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: It is horrifying that a state so passionate about football doesn’t have an NFL team! And with a metropolitan population of over 1.4 million, I can’t think of many good reasons why the Sooner State shouldn’t be able to support a pro team. Also, with a healthy rivalry with all that is Texas, no self- respecting Oklahomian..Oklahoman..Oklahomite..person from Oklahoma, should have to cheer for the Cowboys or Texans.
Omaha, Nebraska: Ok, forget about population and every other reason why Omaha should get an NFL team. The fact that Peyton Manning yelled “Omaha” for 18 NFL seasons is reason enough to consider Omaha, Nebraska as eligible for an NFL expansion team. But seriously, the Omaha metro area supports a population of nearly 1 million and projected to continue to grow. Mid-westerners love their football and also love their football rivalries. Why not give them more to cheer for?
Little Rock, Arkansas: This is Razorback Country! How can a state so in love with football not have an NFL team? Population isn’t an issue with a metro population of over 750,000 football loving residents.
What other cities can and should support an NFL expansion team? Comment below!
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