A’s aren’t moving to Texas. But some food for thought for anyone thinking about San Antonio as Texas’ prime pro sports relocation destination, I might offer that ship has sailed and you’re thinking of the wrong Texas city. I think Austin’s growth and money have made that town the more attractive destination for any pro sports looking to expand/relocate to The Lone Star State. I wouldn’t be surprised if Austin is the next Vegas attracting pro sports franchises over the next decade. Only way I see San Antonio entering any such conversation is as a co-host city with Austin placing any potential stadium between the two markets
Soccer is awesome for Austin, the perfect sport and stadium and financials etc.... The NFL or MLB are not coming to CenTex in our lifetimes. I can think of 5 huge reasons right off the top of my head.
I've noticed it's hard to do research on Google now as they twist your search terms to what they assume you mean. This was a wide topic of discussion around expansion. PS Ouch! Really?
I don't get how NL clubs are more valuable than AL clubs (given the Yankees and Sox), but I havent' thought about it much. You called me/us Bushneck Lackey ********ers so often it started to roll off the back. Sorry if I opened old wounds, wasn't the intention. We are friends again.
Forbes 2021 Value Team Pop/team AL/NL Forbes 21 Value NYY 11,750,000 AL $5,250,000,000 LAD 9,400,000 NL $3,570,000,000 BOS 8,300,000 AL $3,465,000,000 CHC 4,900,000 NL $3,360,000,000 SFG 4,400,000 NL $3,175,000,000 NYM 11,750,000 NL $2,450,000,000 STL 2,900,000 NL $2,245,000,000 PHI 7,200,000 NL $2,050,000,000 LAA 9,400,000 AL $2,025,000,000 WSH 4,900,000 NL $1,925,000,000 ATL 6,600,000 NL $1,875,000,000 HOU 7,200,000 AL $1,870,000,000 TEX 8,000,000 AL $1,785,000,000 CHW 4,900,000 AL $1,685,000,000 TOR 6,500,000 AL $1,675,000,000 SEA 4,800,000 AL $1,630,000,000 SDP 3,000,000 NL $1,500,000,000 BAL 4,900,000 AL $1,430,000,000 MIN 4,000,000 AL $1,325,000,000 ARI 4,500,000 NL $1,320,000,000 COL 3,500,000 NL $1,300,000,000 PIT 2,600,000 NL $1,285,000,000 DET 5,300,000 AL $1,260,000,000 MIL 2,000,000 NL $1,220,000,000 CLE 3,500,000 AL $1,160,000,000 OAK 4,400,000 AL $1,125,000,000 CIN 2,200,000 NL $1,085,000,000 KCR 2,500,000 AL $1,060,000,000 TBR 3,400,000 AL $1,055,000,000 MIA 6,900,000 NL $990,000,000 The difference is in the middle, not the top or bottom teams.
Found this article on DH salaries driving the debate: https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1996-01-18-1996018094-story.html
They would have tons of fans especially if the locate the stadium between Austin and San Antonio. That being said, Austin would never build the stadium for them and San Antonio isn't all that desirable for whatever reason. I know with the NFL there tons of politics from the Cowboys since they have a huge fanbase in both cities. UT would also be pissed off but I'm not sure if that would sway the city .
I can see that being a better plan on paper than in reality. I personally avoid driving south on I 35 whenever possible and would be reluctant to do that for any type of mid week game after work. Austin FC is great for all of the reasons @Buck Turgidson mentioned. However, it was a fight to get Q2 Stadium built on top of a condemned, city-owned former chemical plant. I can't imagine there being any willingness to commit land and resources to another sports stadium.
It would require someone like Red McCombs to do push it through with private financing like COTA in a town outside of Austin. It's the only way it would happen.
I just don't think in 2021 (as opposed to a 1996 article) that when an owner's franchise is valued, any stock is put into whether or not you're paying a DH x million dollars more than you'd pay a utility player or extra pitcher. Overall salary structure for a particular team is generally predictable and teams will historically stick to their budget in a typical year.
“The Business Journals” disagree though they do list MLB as the most unlikely pro sports to come to Austin. But all the other major league sports see Austin as a sexy destination: https://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/news/2015/04/09/market39.html
Certainly it is diminished; back then, the rich weren't handed more money by the taxpayers whenever they had a down day.
You were saying?…… https://www.kxan.com/sports/nfl-in-austin-reports-say-bills-threatening-move-to-central-texas/
Not in any appreciable way. Scarcity (this is why values have exploded), Market Size, Stadium Deals and Fan Base dominate the valuation of teams. If a team wants to save a few million on a DH, it has that option. They don't have to pay one.
