Stern predicts NBA European teams within 20 years

[BC867]

David Stern predicts that there will be NBA teams in cities such as London, Paris and Rome within twenty years and that NBA teams will travel between continents for games, although not for just one game. Nevertheless, that is a lot of traveling. Even if trans-continental air travel becomes somewhat less tedious.

I wonder how Western teams' players would feel about adding five hours to the current three hour trip just to play on the East Coast.

Just as there is an NFC and an AFC within the NFL, I wonder if the NBA should group the North American teams into the ABC (American Basketball Conference) and the EBC (European Basketball Conference), with the EBC having at least 16 teams. They would have twenty years to prepare.

Then there would truly be a World Series of Basketball with the winner of each conference meeting in a best-of-7-game-series.

The other side of the coin is that the NBA millionaires would have free visits and lodging in the major cities of western Europe. Whereas you and I have to pay to see the Champs Elysees, which I haven't seen in over forty years and had to pay for myself.

What are your thoughts, guys?

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-b...nba-teams-europe-20-years-160341699--nba.html

 

[Errntknght]

I'm not much of a prognosticator of world wide trends but I have my doubts that Europe can support basketball at the level of 82 game seasons with 28 game playoffs plus 48 minute games. The NBA will have a devil of a time cutting that back significantly because it would cut into player salaries - once unions get involved you find yourselves locked into outdated formulas. I think its more likely the whole house of cards will tumble than the players union will accept a major cutback to save it. Unions have never shied away from killing an industry to maintain their cut of the action. Enlightened self interest - whats that?

 

[elindholm]

I think the real meaning of Stern's comments was, "Hey, wait a minute everyone, I'm still the commissioner! Listen to me! Guys? Come on, it's the commissioner here! Guys?"

 

[Mainstreet]

If there could be a European conference where the winner only plays U.S. teams in the playoffs, I can see it as doable.

 

[Griffin]

Nevertheless, that is a lot of traveling. Even if trans-continental air travel becomes somewhat less tedious.

I wonder how Western teams' players would feel about adding five hours to the current three hour trip just to play on the East Coast.

I don't think travel will be the biggest issue. They already travel to Europe for training camps and preseason games. To me, it's not the length of flight that matters but rather the comfort level, and with their charter planes they will have plenty of comfort. I don't see that being a problem if it's only several times a season.

I do like the idea of European expansion, but will all teams be able to compete for the same players? This won't work if American players won't want to relocate to play in Europe. But European clubs would have an advantage in that they will all be in major European markets.

 

[slinslin]

Travelling from the east coast to europe is not much different than going from New York to Los Angeles.

Only obstacle is that they need 5-6 franchises quickly and have to create a smart logistic schedule so teams will go on european road trips, eastern conference road trips and western conference road trips.

Not sure the support for the NBA is there in europe though. Football(soccer) is way way more popular. I doubt the NBA can draw any of the audience away and most big cities in europe have 1 or more big soccer teams already.

Basketball is most popular in eastern europe but I doubt they want to start franchises in Serbia or Croatia.

It might work though if they had 1 team in London, Paris and Berlin. Those teams would have huge markets obviously and could dwarf New York teams or Los Angeles based teams. Maybe add one in Madrid and Rome. Germany could probably support 2, one more in Frankfurt or Munich.

 

[hcsilla]

It might work though if they had 1 team in London, Paris and Berlin.

Especially now that Hertha is in Bundesliga 2.

 

[Sonec]

London who, they're not existing in european basketball top competitions. On international level, England is not that bad, but still NBA team? hehe, who will play there, us players?

 

[slinslin]

London who, they're not existing in european basketball top competitions. On international level, England is not that bad, but still NBA team? hehe, who will play there, us players?

Of course, who plays for the Raptors? Canadians?

I think most NBA players would rather play for a London based team than Milwaukee, Minnesota, Cleveland etc etc

 

[Gaddabout]

Of course, who plays for the Raptors? Canadians?

I think most NBA players would rather play for a London based team than Milwaukee, Minnesota, Cleveland etc etc

I'm betting the players' union would balk without a cost-of-living adjustment. Probably a big one.

 

[elindholm]

I'm betting the players' union would balk without a cost-of-living adjustment. Probably a big one.

Taxes would be a nightmare, but just general day-to-day stuff shouldn't be a big deal. We already have the full cost-of-living range covered with U.S. cities.

 

[Sonec]

Of course, who plays for the Raptors? Canadians?

I think most NBA players would rather play for a London based team than Milwaukee, Minnesota, Cleveland etc etc

Italians...hehe, no you're right, I give you that slin. Anyway, I don't like this idea at all. I know it's not our decision to make, but NBA should stay as it is. Heck I don't even like the teams moving/selling franchises and such. It takes away something original from it, that's my opinion. But at the end of the it's all about money and all that..

 

[95pro]

not happening, the logistics of it is just too much