Why are there no NBA teams in Cincinnati, Kansas City, or Pittsburgh?

[LemonEars]

People tend to think of Pittsburgh as a major city like it was in the 1950s. It is no longer a major city. It is now #63 in US city population behind small cities like Stockton, Cal; Raleigh, NC; Mesa, Arizona, Aurora, Col., etc. Pittsburgh can't support any more pro sports teams. It really can't support any pro sports teams at all unless there is a salary cap. The Pirates aren't going to be supported this year. The Pirates should have moved out around 20 years ago when they had the chance. However, they bilked the taxpayers into funding PNC Park. Now PNC Park will be mostly empty this year and soon will support a minor league team if the Pirates skip town.

 

[aferrelli]

I just would like to say that this was an interesting thread for me to read. I was a big NBA Buffalo Braves fan, back in the day, when the franchise existed from 1970-1978. Buffalo had some great players and teams during their short history.

The problem with the Buffalo Braves was Paul Snyder; their greedy owner during those days. Paul Snyder was just in the NBA for the quick buck during those days.

To show you the extent of his greed. The Buffalo Braves franchise sold the best player in the entire league at that time, Bob McAdoo a league leading 34 point per game scorer, to the New York Knicks, for the paltry sum of $500,000. McAdoo was the MVP of the NBA during the 1974-75 season. The Buffalo Braves received no player in return for Bob McAdoo from the NY Knicks; just the $0.5 million dollar compensation. The fans were outraged at this transaction, and the team was sold to John Y. Brown, the owner of the Kentucky Colonels, shortly thereafter.

The Buffalo Braves had some great players during their years in the 70's. Here's a short list, but certainly not exhaustive list of some of their players during their franchise history:

Bob McAdoo
Moses Malone
Tiny Nate Archibald
Randy Smith
Jim McMillian
Tom McMillian
Ernie DiGregorio
Elmore Smith
Adrian Dantley
Billy Knight
Bob Kaufman

 

[PaFootbalGuy]

People tend to think of Pittsburgh as a major city like it was in the 1950s. It is no longer a major city. It is now #63 in US city population behind small cities like Stockton, Cal; Raleigh, NC; Mesa, Arizona, Aurora, Col., etc. Pittsburgh can't support any more pro sports teams. It really can't support any pro sports teams at all unless there is a salary cap. The Pirates aren't going to be supported this year. The Pirates should have moved out around 20 years ago when they had the chance. However, they bilked the taxpayers into funding PNC Park. Now PNC Park will be mostly empty this year and soon will support a minor league team if the Pirates skip town.

Metro area is what matters as the Pittsburgh City limits are pretty small. Out west cities annex the suburban areas inflating the actual city population.

Looks like the Pittsburgh MSA is 28th largest in the country. Still pretty good, but agree not a great market for another pro sports team.