Quote:
Originally Posted by Alabadrock
You're right Muskavon, I don't know how I forgot about the Saints. But, honestly, I don't get the feeling that many Alabamians really feel an allegiance to to any NFL teams. That's not to say that there aren't any, I just don't get the FEELING, that there is.
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Yep. That's been a great bonus for a lot of college teams in the South...and is a part of several factors (population shift being another), for why the SEC, for example, is as powerful as it is. There isn't a big tradition of pro sports distraction. And that may never be overcome even in the "newer" pro markets like Nashville, Charlotte and Jacksonville ("markets" being the wider areas required for pro success).
I'll admit here that I have been a UF Gator since '79 at the risk of being booed even more than usual around here.
The reason I point that out is that Tampa bringing in the Bucs in '76 was first a threat to UF's ability to dominate central Florida's attention, then came the Jaguars in the '90's. So far the fear hasn't been bourn out. The fear is becoming Miami. Despite the success....the fan support, alumni support, city support....any way you slice it...it never existed outside frontrunning fans when it is obvious they are great. Good year = 60,000 fans in stadium. Average year = 28,000 fans in stadium. Bad year = 12,000...oh hell, USA will beat them in attendance that year.
My total point? Ultimately you have to question wether pro sports really "enhances" the lifestyle of your city, area, or state. I'd suggest that we should get beyond the desire for pro sports as a term for "arrival" as a city...and just look to see if it really enhances quality of life. My thought in the South is that it really doesn't. We already have top-of-the-line sports of all types to follow. It is just collegiate level. I'm not sure it ultimately helps B'ham (or wherever) to be pros. It may take a while for transplants coming to Bama, Florida, etc, to get the passion for college teams in places like Auburn, Tuscaloosa, Gainesville, Tallahassee, Athens, Oxford, Baton Rouge, Starkville, etc....but it does start to grow. Their kids will be crazed fans. A pro team robs them of a chance to grasp this culture.
One thing I love about Pensacola is, being a Navy town, it has thousands of new blood every year coming in and out each year + tens of thousands from all over who eventually settled here. If you go to a place like Seville Quarter on a Saturday in the fall, you will meet people with college allegiences across the country. If we had a pro team (obviously impossible), I imagine it wouldn't be as fun as everyone from afar would bring their reasons for dislike and the talk would be centered on that. This is a very unique place for college football fans. Gators probably outnumber the rest by a bit in good or bad times. But their are obviously piles of Seminoles, AU Tigers, Bammers, LSU Tigers, Canes, etc, etc in the local area. USA, UAB, FAMU, Tulane, Troy, UGA, MSU and Ole Miss grads. Then there are the Nebraska groups, Ohio State groups, ND groups, PSU groups....it is awesome.
I don't see why I'd want a pro team to help my area. To be seen as "sophisticated" by other jerks in big cities? If so, Maybe you need a pro sports team. But if you can get past that need for acceptance from jerk offs...they can have their Detroit Lions or NBA Oklahoma City Whatevers...I don't need them. I'd like my city to grow without ever wasting a dime on that desire. It's like wanting the highest end Mercedes when you are perfectly happy in your ok Nissan (or whatever). Sure, you can eff up your budget for the rest of your life and walk the streets when you turn 65 and go ahead and get that Mercedes. But really? What ultimately is it going to do for you besides covering your desperate need for self-respect?
B'ham, Mobile, BRouge, Pensa, etc....I don't care how big they get....hard to justify pro teams imo.