Could a NBA team survive in the triangle?

[SCP]

Not sure the current NBA team will survive in Carolina and I'm pretty sure if it doesn't make it in Charlotte it won't get moved a couple hours away to Raleigh.

College basketball fans in the Carolinas are spoiled because the Big 3 programs (Duke, UNC and Wake) have been relatively successful over the past generation, and don't underestimate that generation because it's not a lot of older folks going to watch b-ball these days, it's the younger generations. And that's even more prevalent in the NBA where the average fan's age is lower than MLB, NFL or NHL. In my opinion, not unlike the Carolina Panthers, you put a losing product on the field and nobody will come to watch. One can walk up to any Carolina Panther or Charlotte Bobcats game and buy tickets at less than face value. The same cannot be said for any ACC basketball matchup- because they have a winning reputation.

The Panthers playoff run seasons have been tough tickets to find, but it's not held over. Cam Newton gets drafted and the stadium is pretty jammed up...until the team gets into one of its very predictable losing streaks when the fans disappear. If Wake, UNC and Duke were to all go in the tank and start a string of historical losing seasons and it carried on for any length of time longer than 6-10 years, they'd start losing their fan base as well.

Why must you leave out NC State?

[YoungPanthers89]

Hockey worked, I dont see why basketball wouldn't.

[KendrickPanther]

Why would someone want to watch a doormat team like the Bobcats when they could follow Duke or Carolina...it might sound like a great idea but trust me losing gets old fast.

[pstall]

i have been emailing the Bobcats front office the last few years to switch out more games with the Canes. Do about 5 a year. Have 5 Cats game in the Triangle and 5 Canes games down here.

it's a nice way to target some demo's while keeping your brand intact.

[Proudiddy]

I read an article a a few months back that said they supposedly did a market evaluation and that Raleigh didn't meet the criteria in regards to population and income to support another pro franchise.

I'd love it and I'm sure the area would be rabid for it. It's naturally a basketball hotbed. But, IIRC, the study said something about any potential area has to meet certain requirements in regards to population, income, and the entertainment options already present in the area for it to even be considered in expansion or relocation... And whatever the criteria was, Raleigh was already at "capacity" from what I remember.

I could be totally wrong, but I thought that was what I read. It's part of the reason Charlotte and/or Raleigh hasn't been able to snag a MLB team yet either. You have to have a minimum number of people in an immediate area to support it when taking into account the pro teams already in the area. I'm sure a team in the Raleigh area would attract fans from all over the state, and the locals would be rabid for another pro team in their immediate vicinity, but I just don't think we have the numbers to support it on the local level.

[cbarrier90]

Hockey worked, I dont see why basketball wouldn't.

Because the Bobcats would be out-drawn by UNC and State every night (Duke, too, if they had a gym that could hold 15K.) Their "brand" of basketball is what the Triangle is accustomed to, many to the point of detesting the NBA brand for various reasons. If you think fans get upset now when the Bobcats pass over players in the draft that played college ball in NC, it would be 1000x worse in the Triangle.

Hockey worked because it was a sport in NC that developed loyal followings for decades in the minor leagues in places like Charlotte (Checkers), Greensboro (Generals) and Raleigh (IceCaps) among others and with NC State building a new facility to move out of Reynolds (the ESA was originally built for NCSU Basketball, but modifications were made once the Whalers' move was announced, not the other way around) the timing and interest from the Raleigh community was just right to bring NHL hockey to the state.

It also has alot to do with both franchises themselves: The Hurricanes are the preeminent hockey brand in the state, while the Bobcats had to follow a franchise that developed the same loyal, passionate following in the Hornets but ultimately had it taken away by ownership. Meanwhile, within the Hurricanes' first five seasons in the state they were competing for a championship and ultimately won one later, while the Bobcats are, well, the Bobcats.

[Bj-Monster23]

Because the Bobcats would be out-drawn by UNC and State every night (Duke, too, if they had a gym that could hold 15K.) Their "brand" of basketball is what the Triangle is accustomed to, many to the point of detesting the NBA brand for various reasons. If you think fans get upset now when the Bobcats pass over players in the draft that played college ball in NC, it would be 1000x worse in the Triangle.

Hockey worked because it was a sport in NC that developed loyal followings for decades in the minor leagues in places like Charlotte (Checkers), Greensboro (Generals) and Raleigh (IceCaps) among others and with NC State building a new facility to move out of Reynolds (the ESA was originally built for NCSU Basketball, but modifications were made once the Whalers' move was announced, not the other way around) the timing and interest from the Raleigh community was just right to bring NHL hockey to the state.

It also has alot to do with both franchises themselves: The Hurricanes are the preeminent hockey brand in the state, while the Bobcats had to follow a franchise that developed the same loyal, passionate following in the Hornets but ultimately had it taken away by ownership. Meanwhile, within the Hurricanes' first five seasons in the state they were competing for a championship and ultimately won one later, while the Bobcats are, well, the Bobcats.

When you put it in that way I understand. But think about this, there is a lot of rumblings that the Hurricanes could be on the move. Seattle is building a 430million dollar arena that will accommodate a NBA team and NHL team. If this was to happen It could open up a possibility of putting a NBA team in Raleigh?

[Anybodyhome]

Because, in my opinion, NC State is in the midst of one of those downhill slides I mentioned and is experienncing a significant drop off in te "relevance" factor. Fact of the matter is, they might pull off an upset here and there in the ACC tournament, but their meteoric rise to fame during the Valvano era is now almost 40 years past and those who were students then likely have kids now getting ready for school- hence the generational thing again.

[thatlookseasy]

No need to move from Charlotte to Raleigh- if the bobcats actually started winning, people would be willing to drive make the drive down 40 to see the occasional game.

A Bobcats-Canes swap for a few games a year would be really cool though

[Herbert The Love Bug]

no

[charlotte49er]

They should take the one out of Charlotte and put it in Raleigh. I'm not saying that anything is wrong with Charlotte but a NBA team in Raleigh would be huge for the whole state. It would be better economic wise for the fans if you ask me because I stay northeastern Carolina and the only way I can get to see a Bobcats game is I will have to drive 4hrs or drive to RDU and fly to Charlotte.

If a team Like the Kings was to land in Raleigh i'm pretty confident that the NBA stadium will get built downtown Raleigh.

Charlotte will make it a package deal! Will give you the Bobcats AND Michael Jordan for 6-8 Hurricane games a year!

Take our BBteam, PLEASE! (Old Henny Youngman joke!)

[Floppin]

When you put it in that way I understand. But think about this, there is a lot of rumblings that the Hurricanes could be on the move. Seattle is building a 430million dollar arena that will accommodate a NBA team and NHL team. If this was to happen It could open up a possibility of putting a NBA team in Raleigh?

The Canes are not leaving and wouldn't even be in the top five most likely teams to move. The Canes are one of a handful of profitable "southern" teams. They are established.

[thefuzz]

Because, in my opinion, NC State is in the midst of one of those downhill slides I mentioned and is experienncing a significant drop off in te "relevance" factor. Fact of the matter is, they might pull off an upset here and there in the ACC tournament, but their meteoric rise to fame during the Valvano era is now almost 40 years past and those who were students then likely have kids now getting ready for school- hence the generational thing again.

You do realize that NCSU won 22 games last season, and went to the sweet 16....right.....right?

In a coaches first year.....

Also they have the 4th ranked recruiting class in the country...right....right?

[RedMage138]

Because, in my opinion, NC State is in the midst of one of those downhill slides I mentioned and is experienncing a significant drop off in te "relevance" factor. Fact of the matter is, they might pull off an upset here and there in the ACC tournament, but their meteoric rise to fame during the Valvano era is now almost 40 years past and those who were students then likely have kids now getting ready for school- hence the generational thing again.