Sports cities as awful as Charlotte.

[pantherrice]

Atlanta

[Kakarot]

Hard to think of any. Charlottes definitely one of the worst

[Anybodyhome]

How many generations have those teams had to build a fan base? 4? We are just getting to our first with the kids who are now reaching adulthood.

With due respect, I think that excuse is getting as old as the read option.

The Raiders were put together in 1960 as an AFL team that was nothing until it merged with the NFL in 1966. So they are maybe a late second generation team as I was 10 years old in '66.

Success will build a fan base quicker and without having to wait for generations, simple as that. The generational excuse is used when the franchise sucks. When the franchise exceeds expectations, that success is credited with building the fanbase. Can't have the convenience of excuses for either.

[Ken]

Not sure how Cleveland is an awful sports city. Terrible franchises but the fans, which IMO make a sport city are terrific most times.

[Kakarot]

Some of the same folks who use that generation excuse are the same ones who say the bobcats don't get support because of a poor product on the court, and they've been in existence a shorter time than the panthers. Well, if the Panthers put a better product on the field, the fans will come. As of now, Charlottes a crap sports town. Bandwagon City.

[PhillyB]

atlanta is by far the most disappointing.

[jayflip]

San Diego. The chargers games are blacked out even when they are winning, and as a transplant town (military, people moving here for beach/weather) there are countless opposing fans at every game.

Also, the Padres are turrible.

[Anybodyhome]

San Diego. The chargers games are blacked out even when they are winning, and as a transplant town (military, people moving here for beach/weather) there are countless opposing fans at every game.

Also, the Padres are turrible.

But only recently have they gone that direction. I grew up in San Diego and when the Padres were perennial contenders through much of the 80's you couldn't get a ticket. Same with the Don Coryell/Dan Fouts/Kellen Winslow Chargers when they were also contenders during the same decade. Between baseball and football seasons, San Diego's Jack Murphy Stadium (as it was known then) was rocking Mission Valley all year long.

[thatlookseasy]

atlanta is by far the most disappointing.

This. Ever been to a Hawks playoff game? Even when the Braves were awesome back in the day their crowds were mediocre. I've also heard unconfirmed rumors that they have a hockey team too

[L-TownCat]

With due respect, I think that excuse is getting as old as the read option.

The Raiders were put together in 1960 as an AFL team that was nothing until it merged with the NFL in 1966. So they are maybe a late second generation team as I was 10 years old in '66.

Success will build a fan base quicker and without having to wait for generations, simple as that. The generational excuse is used when the franchise sucks. When the franchise exceeds expectations, that success is credited with building the fanbase. Can't have the convenience of excuses for either.

Sustained success in the NFL is quite possibly the most difficult thing to accomplish in the sports world. The Patriots are a fine example of sustained success but have lost the superbowl the last two times they were in it. That franchise was considered snake bit untill drew bledsoe went down and that gangley kid from Michigan stepped in and changed history. The panthers until this 4 year skid were near the top of the nfc in wins second only to Philadelphia. In 17 years we have had 4 playoff appearances, 3 NFC championship games, 1 nfc championship victory and a super bowl appearance. aside from only making the playoffs 4 times out of 17 years those other accomplishments are pretty good.

I was a fan as soon as Mr Richardson announced Charlotte was getting a team in 93. The fans are here and they are growing in number. I believe a mixture of time and success build the great franchises. Success will come with our new QB. Might as well start being a fan now.

[Anybodyhome]

This. Ever been to a Hawks playoff game? Even when the Braves were awesome back in the day their crowds were mediocre. I've also heard unconfirmed rumors that they have a hockey team too

Atlanta may be on record as one of the few places where they had a perennial contender in the Braves and you could get tickets at the window for any playoff game. Walk-up tickets to an NLCS game... a true indication of just how fugged up a sports town one can be.

[Brooklyn Bully]

How many generations have those teams had to build a fan base? 4? We are just getting to our first with the kids who are now reaching adulthood.

There's no guarantee Charlotte will be anything different after a few generations. There's a lot more that goes into why Charlotte is on the list of duds than just "we're young, give us time". And those reasons will never change.