NBA in KC: The Ultimate Guide
Contents
- The NBA in Kansas City A History
- The NBA in Kansas City Today
- The pros and cons of an NBA Franchise in Kansas City
- The Economic Impact of an NBA Franchise in Kansas City
- The Potential NBA owners in Kansas City
- The Potential NBA Arena Sites in Kansas City
- The Kansas City Royals and an NBA Franchise
- The Kansas City Chiefs and an NBA Franchise
- How an NBA Franchise in Kansas City Would Impact college basketball in the Region
- What Would an NBA Franchise in Kansas City Mean for the City Itself?
Everything you need to know about the NBA in Kansas City! From the history to the present day, this is the ultimate guide for any fan.
The NBA in Kansas City A History
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the premier Professional Basketball league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1946, the NBA is comprised of 30 teams, 29 in the United States and one in Canada. The league is truly global, with games and programming available in over 200 countries and territories in 47 languages.
Kansas City has a long and rich history with the NBA. professional basketball was first played in Kansas City in 1923, with the Kansas City Blues of the American Basketball League In 1949, the Omaha Rockets moved to Kansas City and became the Kansas City Royals playing in the NBA’s Central Division The Royals were one of the league’s strongest teams in the early 1950s, making the playoffs four times between 1951 and 1955. The team relocated to Cincinnati in 1957.
In 1972, the Kansas City Omaha Kings joined the NBA as an expansion team. The Kings were a strong expansion team, making the playoffs six times in their first 10 years of existence. The team made it to the Conference Finals twice, but never made it to an NBA Finals In 1985, after 13 seasons in Kansas City the Kings relocated to Sacramento.
In 2007, it was announced that the NBA would return to Kansas City with an expansion team, calledthe Kansas City Wizards . The Wizards began play in 2008 and have been one of the league’s most successful expansion teams making the playoffs four times since their inception.
The NBA in Kansas City Today
In 1971, the National Basketball Association (NBA) awarded a franchise to Kansas City Missouri. The new team, the Kansas City Omaha Kings, began play in the 1972-1973 season. In 1975, the Kings moved to Kansas City full-time and played their home games at Kemper Arena. The team struggled in its early years in Kansas City posting a record of only 30-52 in their first season. Despite their struggles, the Kings were able to attract some Top Players including Otis Birdsong, who was named an All-Star three times while playing for the Kings.
In 1985, the Kings drafted center Vlade Divac with the 15th overall pick. Divac would go on to have a successful career with the Kings, becoming one of only three players born outside of the United States to reach 15,000 career points and 10,000 career rebounds. He was also named to the NBA All-Star team in 2001.
After more than two decades of struggling to find success, the Kings finally had a winning season in 1998-1999, posting a record of 43-39. The following year, they made their first trip to the playoffs since 1986. Led by Divac and All-Star point guard Jason Williams the Kings were one of the best teams in the NBA during this time period and were one of few teams to seriously challenge the dominance of the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference
However, despite their success on the court, attendance at Kings games remained low and ownership was unstable. In 2006, it was announced that the team would be relocated to Sacramento after 30 years in Kansas City Although there was significant public outcry against this decision, relocation ultimately proved to be inevitable and basketball fans in Kansas City were left without an NBA team once again.
The pros and cons of an NBA Franchise in Kansas City
The prospect of an NBA Franchise in Kansas City has been a hot topic lately, with many people debating the pros and cons of such a move. Here is a look at some of the key points on both sides of the argument.
Arguments in favor of an NBA team in Kansas City typically center around the city’s size, market potential, and passion for basketball. Kansas City is the 29th largest media market in the United States and its metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million people Moreover, the city has a long history of supporting basketball at all levels, from High School to collegiate to professional.
On the other side of the argument, detractors point to Kansas City’s lack of success in supporting other professional sports teams The city’s only Major League franchise, Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City has struggled to draw fans and generate revenue. And while the city does have a rich basketball tradition, it remains to be seen whether that would translate into support for an NBA team
Ultimately, whether or not an NBA franchise would be successful in Kansas City is impossible to say for sure. However, it is clear that there are strong arguments on both sides of the issue.
The Economic Impact of an NBA Franchise in Kansas City
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is one of the four major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada. NBA franchises are valuable entities, with the average team worth $1.65 billion as of 2019. A NBA franchise in Kansas City would have a significant economic impact on the city and the region.
An NBA franchise would bring in new revenue to the city through ticket sales concessions, merchandise, and television rights fees. This additional revenue would create jobs and spur economic activity. The presence of an NBA Team would also increase tourism and lead to new investment in Kansas City
An NBA franchise would have a positive impact on the city of Kansas City both economically and socially. The city should do everything it can to attract an NBA team
The Potential NBA owners in Kansas City
potential NBA ownership groups in Kansas City are led by businessmen with strong NBA ties and a desire to bring the league back to the city.
Justin Kaufmann, CEO of JK Sports and Entertainment, is spearheading a group that includes former NBA All-Star Scottie Pippen and David Beckham’s business partner, Simon Fuller. They have been working with city leaders on a plan to build a new arena in downtown Kansas City and are said to be close to finalized deal.
Another potential ownership group is led by Tony Ressler, who heads Ares Management, a private equity firm. Ressler is also a minority owner of the Atlanta Hawks His group includes entertainment executive Peter Guber, who is also a part-owner of the Golden State Warriors and former NBA executive Andy Dolich.
The Potential NBA Arena Sites in Kansas City
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the highest level of professional basketball in the United States and Canada. NBA players are the world’s best paid athletes by average annual salary per player. In 2019-20, they will earn a median salary of $9 million. In addition, the NBA has the highest average annual salary for sports leagues ($7.1 million) and generate the most revenue ($8.8 billion) among professional sports leagues.
Currently, there are 30 NBA teams – 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. Of the 30 teams, 23 are located in cities with populations of more than 1 million people while 7 are located in smaller markets. There has been recent speculation that the NBA would like to expand by two teams in the near future and that Kansas City is on their radar as a potential market.
There are several arena Site possibilities In Kansas City:
– Sprint Center: Opened in 2007 and is currently home to the Missouri Mavericks of the ECHL, Missouri Comets of MASL and Kansas City Roller Warriors of WFTDA. It also hosts concerts, family shows, WWE events and more. It has a maximum capacity of 19,183 for basketball games
– Municipal Auditorium: Originally built in 1936, it was home to the Kansas City Blues of the American Hockey League from 1967 to 1977 and then again from 1986 to 1988 when it was known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Arena. The current tenants are KCQRL’s Firebirds rugby team who have played there since 2014. It has a maximum capacity of 11,387 for basketball games .
– Kemper Arena: Opened in 1974 and is currently undergoing renovations with a planned completion date of fall 2019. It is currently home to KC Roller Warriors and used to be home to the Kansas City Kings until 1985 when they became the Sacramento Kings It also hosted Super Bowl XVII in 1973 and WWE’s Survivor Series pay-per-view event in 1987. The arena has a maximum capacity 21,000 for basketball games .
The Kansas City Royals and an NBA Franchise
In the early 1970s, the NBA was looking to expand into new markets and cities. One of those cities was Kansas City, Missouri. At the time, the city had two professional basketball teams – the Kansas City-Omaha Kings and the Kansas City Scouts. The Royals were also located in Kansas City.
The Royals had been an NBA team since 1968, when they joined the league as an expansion team. They were not very successful on the court, finishing last in their division in each of their first three seasons. However, they were one of the league’s most popular teams, averaging over 11,000 fans per game during their inaugural season.
The Scouts, on the other hand, were not as popular as the Royals. They joined the NBA in 1974 as an expansion team and struggled on the court, finishing last in their division in each of their first two seasons. They did not have much success at the box office either, averaging just over 5,000 fans per game during their inaugural season.
In 1976, the NBA awarded a franchise to Kansas City businessman Sam Kobelka. Kobelka originally wanted to name the team the “Kansas City Spirits”, but he eventually relented and named them after his favorite bird – the sparrow. The Spirits would go on to play four seasons in Kansas City before moving to St. Louis in 1980.
Despite being one of the NBA’s most popular teams, the Royals could not make a profit due to poor attendance and high operating costs. In 1975, they were sold to Trans World Airlines (TWA) for $5 million. TWA soon ran into financial difficulties and was forced to sell the team back to Kobelka in 1978 for just $3 million.
Kobelka then turned around and sold the team to Harry Weltman for $6 million dollars – almost twice what he had paid for it just three years earlier. Weltman then moved the team to Cincinnati where they became known as the “Kings”.
The Kansas City Chiefs and an NBA Franchise
The Kansas City Chiefs and an NBA Franchise share much more than just a city. Both are professional sports teams that have a long and rich history, both have rabid fan bases, and both play in world-class stadiums. But there is one very important difference: the Chiefs are a football team and the NBA franchise is a basketball team
This simple fact has led to much consternation among Kansas City fans, many of whom are diehard Chiefs fans who don’t want an NBA Team in their city. But the truth is, an NBA franchise would be good for Kansas City. It would bring in revenue, it would create jobs, and it would give the city another reason to be proud.
So if you’re still on the fence about whether or not Kansas City should get an NBA team consider this your ultimate guide. We’ll take a look at the pros and cons of having an NBA franchise in KC, what it would mean for the city, and whether or not the Chiefs have anything to worry about.
How an NBA Franchise in Kansas City Would Impact college basketball in the Region
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the premier professional basketball league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1946, the NBA is composed of 30 teams, 29 in the U.S. and 1 in Canada. The NBA is a member of the USA Basketball (USAB) governing body, which is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the National Governing Body (NGB) for basketball in the United States
Kansas City is known as a college basketball hotbed, with two Division I programs in Kansas and Missouri. If an NBA franchise were to come to Kansas City, it would have a significant impact on College Basketball in the region. The presence of an NBA team would make Kansas City an even more attractive destination for top high school recruits, as well as for college free agents looking to begin their professional careers. It would also likely lead to more interest in College Basketball from casual fans in the city, as well as increased media coverage of both Kansas and Missouri’s programs.
The impact of an NBA franchise on college basketball in Kansas City would be significant. It would make the city an even more desirable destination for top recruits and it would increase interest and coverage of both Kansas and Missouri’s programs.
What Would an NBA Franchise in Kansas City Mean for the City Itself?
Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the United States and the National Basketball Association (NBA) is its premier professional league. The NBA is currently made up of 30 teams, with 29 located in the U.S. and one in Canada. Although there has been no formal expansion since the Charlotte Hornets rejoined the league in 2004, there has been talk of adding more teams in the future. One city that has been mentioned as a possible expansion site is Kansas City, Missouri.
Kansas City is already home to a professional Basketball team the Kansas City metropolitan area’s very own Kansas Jayhawks who play in the NCAA’s Division I. The city also has a strong history with the sport, having hosted the 1936 Olympic basketball trials as well as several NCAA Final Fours. In addition, there are multiple NBA-level facilities already in place in Kansas City, including the Sprint Center, which opened in 2007 and has a capacity of over 19,000 people.
So what would an NBA franchise in Kansas City mean for the city itself? First and foremost, it would be a major boost to the city’s economy. A study by consulting firm AECOM found that an NBA team would generate $302 million in annual economic impact for Kansas City and create nearly 2,000 new jobs. In addition, it would also bring more tourists to the city and increase tax revenue for local businesses and government agencies.
Of course, not everyone is on board with the idea of bringing an NBA team to Kansas City. Some worry about how such a move would impact existing businesses and whether or not taxpayers should foot part of the bill for a new arena or stadium. Others worry about traffic congestion and noise levels if games are played downtown. Nevertheless, many believe that the positives would far outweigh any negatives and that an NBA franchise would be a major boon for Kansas City’s economy and reputation as a Major League city.