OT: MGM CEO anticipating NBA in Vegas in a few years

[BattleBorn]

I know this is OT but a Mexico City based team will make it's money off TV/Media. It's broadcast territory would be the entire country with a population of 123 million.

In terms of baseball, Toronto is the biggest TV market because they have the whole country aside from a few shared parts they have a market of 35 million to themselves. Big reason why Manfred is big on Montreal. Mexico City, has nearly 4 times that audience.

Swinging this back to the NBA, Rogers and Bell do quite well for themselves having equal share in the country's lone NBA team. I'm certain the big telecons down there will bid well for the Mexico City's 'local rights'.

Bringing this back to the potential NBA in Vegas. I take it there's enough capacity at T Mobile to take on the 40+ dates, depending on the ownership, I would think they would want to control the building. There always seems to be talk of a new arena going up so maybe that will end up happening.

123 million likely ends up being close to Canada when it comes to available income and spending power, which makes it worth it. The team itself is likely middle of the road at best, though.

If the NBA comes to Las Vegas, it's not a huge issue with the arena. They'll fit into T-Mobile or they'll build a new arena in a location more desirable for their corporate goals. You've got to imagine the supreme court decision opens up an avenue for corporate resort/casino ownership if they want it though.

 

[End on a Hinote]

I thought that would have happened years before the NHL

 

[TeddyBare]

I know that, Hutch, and you're correct about that. For them, that's probably a good place for them to call home. But the Maloofs are not part of MGM, they own their own casino down there. Ever heard of the Palms??

They dont own the Palms

 

[cutchemist42]

The race isn't really a race.

There's a lot of issues with Mexico. Currency not being the least of them. Do you realize how much a team would have to charge to get a crowd in Mexico? How much does that bring in revenue-wise in relation to a small market MLB team? How does that pencil out paying players in US Dollars? If you put the team in the obvious market for greatest success, Mexico City (and they won't,) you've got major Denver-plus level issues with the park unless you put the walls back super far.

Mexico is not an opportunity, it's an opportunity with a ton of issues attached for any league.

You don't think they could get enough rich people in a city of 21 million in the area to support the attendance levels of NBA team? Or that the media contract wouldnt be worth anything?

 

[Bjorn Le]

Eh, Mexico City has plenty of wealthy people. There’s probably 2-5 mil people with similar incomes to the US/Canadian middle class/upper middle class in MXC. But the safer and smarter choice is Monterrey (for baseball at least) which is comparable income wise to most major US cities.

A Mexico team has a lot of issues, but a market isn’t one of them. I don’t really see basketball as the first league to dip in but then again I didn’t see the NHL as the first league to dip into Vegas.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

People have forgotten, MGM already operates a pro team in Vegas, the Aces, WHOM they bought off the Spurs

 

[LadyStanley]

And the NBA Summer League is at MGM run event center.

 

[tony d]

I can see Vegas getting a NBA team as well before long. They're getting the Raiders soon as well. Wonder how that affects the Golden Knights.

 

[chizzler]

It'll just dilute an already diluted league even more. Take away the TV deal and probably half the teams are in the red.

 

[HisIceness]

Seattle and Louisville are the two that make sense. Or Kansas City if the Grizzlies get shifted to the Eastern Conference.

 

[gstommylee]

Seattle and Louisville are the two that make sense. Or Kansas City if the Grizzlies get shifted to the Eastern Conference.

problem its convincing the NBA to split the pie again. I feel Seattle and louisville won't cut it. Seattle and Mexico city will. KC has no ownership group or govermental support.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

People have forgotten, MGM already operates a pro team in Vegas, the Aces, WHOM they bought off the Spurs

So?

They want NBA team but that doesn’t mean NBA will give them one.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

So?

They want NBA team but that doesn’t mean NBA will give them one.

SO, YOU BUYING THEM ONE

 

[Jets4Life]

I know this is OT but a Mexico City based team will make it's money off TV/Media. It's broadcast territory would be the entire country with a population of 123 million.

1. This is one of the most ridiculous things I ahve ever heard.
2. Mexico City does not care for hockey, and worse, it is a 3rd World country where there would not be enough people willing to shell out North American prices to see games
3. There is not 123 Million people in the Mexico City market. It's like saying "Anchorage, AK should have an NHL team since there are 350 million people in the USA."
4. How many players would spend considerable time in Mexio, knowing that there is widespread corruptions, dangerous gangs, and kidnappings for ransom. If I was an NHL and valued my life, I would retire and join the KHL if drafted by a team from anywhere within Mexico.

In terms of baseball, Toronto is the biggest TV market because they have the whole country aside from a few shared parts they have a market of 35 million to themselves. Big reason why Manfred is big on Montreal. Mexico City, has nearly 4 times that audience.

Yes, and people care about baseball in Canada, especially places like Southern Ontario. Most people in Mexico have never seen, nor care to see a hockey game. Do you follow the India premier cricket league? There are probably more people in Canada that follow cricket than Mexicans who follow Ice Hockey.

Swinging this back to the NBA, Rogers and Bell do quite well for themselves having equal share in the country's lone NBA team. I'm certain the big telecons down there will bid well for the Mexico City's 'local rights'.

Nobody cares about the NHL in Mexico. No major corporations would bother with it.

Why not put a team in Manila? They have a larger market of people. It would fail too, but at least it's a better choice than Mexico City.

 

[AdmiralsFan24]

Mexico is not a third world country.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

SO, YOU BUYING THEM ONE

NBA may not want a team to move to Vegas neither.

 

[Zenos]

1. This is one of the most ridiculous things I ahve ever heard.
...Nobody cares about the NHL in Mexico. ...They have a larger market of people. It would fail too, but at least it's a better choice than Mexico City.

Dude, your points aren't necessarily wrong, but did you even happen to read anything you responded to?
Literally nobody was suggesting putting an NHL team in Mexico City.

 

[adsfan]

Seattle and Louisville are the two that make sense. Or Kansas City if the Grizzlies get shifted to the Eastern Conference.

Once upon a time, Louisville had the Kentucky Colonels ABA basketball team, from 1967 to 1976. One season they averaged 3200 fans a game. They didn't have a lot of money, even though they were owned by millionaire John Y. Brown for years, and could not compete with the Cardinals in drawing fans.

Louisville already has a pro basketball team. They are called the Cardinals. Free cars, cash under the table and all the strippers that you want. How does an NBA team compete with all that? The NBA players have to pay taxes on their income.

Note: The strippers and cash go back to 2010 as per the article below. The rest goes back to 1980 (or before) based on what I heard when I lived in that region. I heard that it was some alumni and some sports supporters who provided the money before this Graduate Assistant came along.

As per numerous NCAA regulations (which look like an old phone book if you never saw them), athletes are not to get perks unavailable to the general student population. A ride to the airport by a coach is a violation, let alone cash and strippers.

That separate dorm for athletes was illegal when I was in college. I wonder how Louisville (and the University of Kentucky at one time), are getting around that regulation, or if it was repealed. It was UK that built a dorm solely for their mens basketball team that caused the NCAA regulation to be implemented.

Ex-Louisville recruit: 'Like I was in a strip club'

 

[HisIceness]

Louisville fits the mold of what the NBA likes. There's no other major league sports competition. It is also larger now than it was in the ABA days.

Besides if the league is going to expand to Seattle eventually they are going to have to either move a team to the east and allow Kansas City or somewhere else (Mexico City isn't happening and I'm surprised to see it mentioned) or keep the alignment in place and expand into Louisville or their pick of Pittsburgh/Baltimore/Tampa.

Yeah, I think Louisville is the preferred destination.

 

[Price is Wright]

Louisville fits the mold of what the NBA likes. There's no other major league sports competition. It is also larger now than it was in the ABA days.

Besides if the league is going to expand to Seattle eventually they are going to have to either move a team to the east and allow Kansas City or somewhere else (Mexico City isn't happening and I'm surprised to see it mentioned) or keep the alignment in place and expand into Louisville or their pick of Pittsburgh/Baltimore/Tampa.

Yeah, I think Louisville is the preferred destination.

If someone needs to relocate I have a feeling it'll be a Western Conference team, which works for Vegas. Mexican/European expansion is a dream I don't see fulfilled in my lifetime.

Louisville has been working towards trying to lure a team over instead of waiting for expansion, but I think once Seattle is in place for a timetable on being ready, that's when the NBA will open applications with a bias for Louisville and Seattle.

Nobody is really in trouble right now though for a relocation. Half the teams are losing money in business operations but they make up that money in other areas. I don't think anyone is in relocation trouble so if a team does sell, they will likely stay put. But if that changes, Vegas will be ready. Otherwise, I think the NBA definitely wants to return to Seattle, and a Louisville team makes a lot of sense. I just wish they didn't have to play in the... KFC... Yum!... Center.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Louisville fits the mold of what the NBA likes. There's no other major league sports competition. It is also larger now than it was in the ABA days.

Besides if the league is going to expand to Seattle eventually they are going to have to either move a team to the east and allow Kansas City or somewhere else (Mexico City isn't happening and I'm surprised to see it mentioned) or keep the alignment in place and expand into Louisville or their pick of Pittsburgh/Baltimore/Tampa.

Yeah, I think Louisville is the preferred destination.

the only way Louisville gets pro basketball is through the G-League

 

[GindyDraws]

The Maloofs aren't really involved with The Palms anymore. That's a Stations property now.

If there's an NBA team in Las Vegas, they'd play at T-Mobile Arena unless MGM builds another arena for them, and they might. The Aces play at Mandalay Bay Arena because it's smaller than T-Mobile and Mandalay could use some positive national publicity. I'm sure the league will appreciate MGM taking the San Antonio WNBA team during a time of need and it will reflect nicely on the city and MGM as owners when it's time to consider a team for Las Vegas.

Though, to be fair; it is the WNBA. Pretty much every team besides Indiana, Minnesota, and Phoenix play in small venues.

 

[BattleBorn]

The MGM Resorts NBA Summer League (yes, the actual name) is currently happening as well at the Thomas and Mack Center.

MGM is definitely doing what they can to get on the good side of the NBA. I'm personally not a fan, but the more the merrier, I suppose.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

The MGM Resorts NBA Summer League (yes, the actual name) is currently happening as well at the Thomas and Mack Center.

MGM is definitely doing what they can to get on the good side of the NBA. I'm personally not a fan, but the more the merrier, I suppose.

they've had games also in Utah/Sacramento and Cox Center in OKC

 

[HisIceness]

the only way Louisville gets pro basketball is through the G-League

No they are a legit candidate for an expansion franchise if there is an ownership group in place.