The Most At-Risk Sports Teams (Tigers, Bills, WNBA, Jaguars, NASCAR, Cubs - bailout or Hail Mary?)

Money Central ^ | 7/18/09 | Minyanville

[Libloather]

The Most At-Risk Sports Teams
By Minyanville

In the U.S., love of sport is fanatical. Our major-league obsessions are so intense we often forget that our favorite teams have a purpose higher than winning games: turning a profit. Pro sports franchises are businesses like any other, and sometimes businesses struggle, limp along or die off.

What will it take to keep the cowbells ringing in Sacramento? Can hockey survive in the desert? Will small-market football teams have to pack their bags?

Minyanville presents sports teams at risk of relocation -- or worse. And with the economy in question, saving them could take more than a Hail Mary.

(Meanwhile, some teams are better off than they seem. Even though the Chicago Cubs are considering a bankruptcy filing, they are not going to disappear and are highly unlikely to move.)

[Libloather]

Here's the list -

Jacksonville Jaguars
The WNBA
New York Islanders
Sacramento Kings
Phoenix Coyotes
Detroit Tigers
NASCAR
Los Angeles Clippers
Buffalo Bills
Texas Rangers

For the record, my V-chip blocks out anything and everything about the WNBA.

[bmwcyle]

Bread and circus is a waste of time while our time is running out for a free country.

[cpprfld]

I think it is about time.

[cripplecreek]

Tigers have held the ALC lead since late May and that can’t hurt.

[wisenheimers_kid]

I hear this recycled speculation from time to time about my beloved Jaguars. A 9-7 record will squelch this speculation.

[Para-Ord.45]

One big one missing:

IRL

[MaPitt]

The Detroit Tigers are one of the original 16 major league baseball teams and they are in contention in their division. The Jax Jags are regarded as a model franchise with a high income stadium, but they have not drafted wisely in recent years. If these teams are in trouble, then none of the other majors is safe.

We really have fallen upon hard times.

[hotshu]

The fact that the IRL isn’t even considered indicates to me that it ranks below the WNBA.

[SoCal Pubbie]

The Clippers? A pro team? Who knew!

[gusopol3]

I’m surprised Florida Marlins don’t make the list

[KevinDavis]

My prediction:
1. The Jacksonville Jaguars: LA Jaguars
2. Buffalo Bills: Toronto Bills.

[KevinDavis]

People do need to have fun you twit..

[Libloather]

My prediction:
1. The Jacksonville Jaguars: LA Jaguars

Funded by whom? Madoff? Cally is WAY broke...

[Dysart]

I look for George W. Bush and Nolan Ryan to soon own the Texas Rangers.

[buccaneer81]

Phoenix Coyotes. Probably in the worst shape of all.

[cripplecreek]

Sports is the best thing about Detroit these days. In the last two years in a row I went to a Tiger game and both times it was a sellout crowd. Something like 3 million fans so far this year.

One thing that helps is the fact that Windsor sends a lot of fans to Detroit sporting events. The Canadians in the area seem to feel a greater loyalty to Detroit teams than to Toronto sports teams.

[KevinDavis]

I figure once an NFL moves into Canada, the CFL is dead..

[RckyRaCoCo]

You gotta admit, Dombrowski/Illitch have made some p*ss poor trades and contract decisions the last couple of years.

1. NY Yankees $201,449,189

2. NY Mets $147,417,987

3. Chicago Cubs $134,809,000

4. Boston $121,745,999

5. Detroit $115,085,145

And their(Tigers)top ten salary players

1. Magglio Ordonez $18,971,596...he's finished

2. Miguel Cabrera $14,383,049...not bad

3. Jeremy Bonderman $12,500,000...head case...he's finished

4 a. Carlos Guillen $10,000,000...he's hurt, he's slow

4 b. Dontrelle Willis $10,000,000...LOL! x 10m

6. Nate Robertson $7,000,000...LOL! x 7m

7. Brandon Inge $6,300,000...1 good season...maybe

8. Placido Polanco $4,600,000...solid, but slowing down

9. Brandon Lyon $4,250,000...UNNNGH!

10. Justin Verlander $3,675,000...we'll see

And what are they paying Shef... to play in New York??? $14,000,000

Seems Dombrowski is trying to drain Illitch like Obama is draining the rest of America.

Almost forgot...

21. Joel Zumaya $735,000...should be the water boy

22. Zach Miner $437,500...should be the asst. water boy

[napscoordinator]

NASCAR has taken a big hit in the past years with ratings. I can’t figure it out except that people are not watching it anymore.

[buccaneer81]

I can’t figure it out except that people are not watching it anymore.

The "Car of Tomorrow" and "The Young Guns," that's why. The only guy left who I care about is Mark Martin. Bring back the days of Sterling Marlin, Dale Sr., Rusty Wallace, Harry Gant, Dick Trickle, Richard Petty, the Allison brothers and DW. These slick kids have no personalities and the cars are a joke.