Expansion team
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An expansion team is a brand new team in a sports league. The term is most commonly used in reference to the North American major professional sports leagues, but is applied to sports leagues worldwide that use a closed franchise system of league membership. The term comes from the expansion of the sport into new areas. This sometimes results in the payment of an expansion fee to the league by the new team, and an expansion draft to populate the new roster.
[edit] Reason for expansion
In North America, expansion takes place in response to population growth and geographic shifts of population, driven by the resulting financial opportunity made possible by such demographic change. For example, Major League Baseball was limited to 16 teams located north and east of St. Louis, Missouri for the first half of the 20th century. During this time, the United States population doubled and expanded to the south and west. Rival interests explored the possibility of forming a rival league in these untapped markets. To forestall this possibility, one of the measures MLB took was to expand by four teams in 1961 and 1962. Over the past four decades, MLB expanded further to its current 30-team membership. In the context of MLB, the term "expansion team" is also used to refer to any of the 14 teams enfranchised in the second half of the 20th century.
When an expansion team begins play, it is generally stocked with less talented free agents and inexperienced staffs. Additionally, prospective owners may face expensive fees to the league as well as high start-up costs such as stadiums and facilities. As a result, most expansion teams are known for their poor play during their first few seasons. This can be exacerbated by the fact that leagues often expand by two or four teams in one season, to eliminate the possibility of a bye-week in the draw from having an odd number of teams. In those cases, expansion teams must compete with their expansion rivals for available talent. Expansion teams are not usually doomed to mediocrity forever, as most leagues have policies which promote parity, such as drafts and salary caps, which gives some expansion teams the opportunity to win championships only a few years after their first season. The Arizona Diamondbacks won the 2001 World Series only three years after the team's 1998 founding, even though Major League Baseball is generally considered the least conducive to parity. Similarly, in the 1996 NFL season, only the second year of the Carolina Panthers' and Jacksonville Jaguars' existences, both teams finished conference runner-up.
Most teams are considered as an expansion team usually in their first season and sometimes in their second season, although, especially for purists, Major League Baseball teams can be considered "expansion teams" indefinitely. A team that moves to another location and/or changes its name is generally not considered an expansion team. They are known as relocated teams. If the name changes they are known as renamed teams. In response to a negative attitude some fans have towards relocated teams, there have recently been instances where relocating clubs change their identity completely; name, colours and mascot, but because the roster is the same, and because the league does not expand as a result, they are not regarded as expansion teams. Teams which have been 'reborn' in this manner include the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL, the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA, the Houston Dynamo in the MLS, and the new Winnipeg Jets in the NHL. (Legally, however, the Ravens are considered an expansion team, due to an agreement with the Cleveland Browns, the current incarnation of which was formed in the manner of an expansion team, but owns the rights to the Ravens' history while the team was in Cleveland and known as the Browns.)
Cities and regions with large populations that lack a team are generally regarded to be the best candidates for new teams. For example, the National Football League (NFL) has recently considered Los Angeles, California to be the best possibility for a brand new NFL team and Toronto, Canada as a second choice. The European Super League in rugby league has added teams from France and Wales to cover a great demographic spread.
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[edit] List of expansion teams in history
[edit] 1900s
[edit] 1908
AFL:
[edit] 1909
[edit] 1910s
[edit] 1910
[edit] 1919
NFL
- [[Green Bay Packers (did not play in the NFL until 1921) (NFL.com)
[edit] 1920s
[edit] 1920
NSWRL
NFL
- Decatur Staleys (now Chicago Bears)
- Chicago Cardinals (now Arizona Cardinals) (NFL.com)
[edit] 1921
NSWRL
[edit] 1924
NHL
- Boston Bruins
- Montreal Maroons (now defunct)
[edit] 1925
NHL
- Pittsburgh Pirates (now defunct)
- New York Americans (now defunct)
AFL:
- Footscray (became Western Bulldogs in 1996)
- Hawthorn
- North Melbourne
NFL:
[edit] 1926
NHL
- Detroit Cougars (now Red Wings)
- Chicago Black Hawks
- New York Rangers
[edit] 1930s
Winnipeg Blue Bombers join the CFL
[edit] 1930
Portsmouth Sparatins (now Detriot Lions)(NFL.com)
[edit] 1931
Boston Braves (now Washington Redskins) (NFL.com)
[edit] 1933
- Cincinnati Reds (now defunct)
- Pittsburgh Pirates (now Steelers)
[edit] 1935
NSWRL
- Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
[edit] 1940s
[edit] 1947
NSWRL
[edit] 1960s
[edit] 1960
NFL:
[edit] 1961
MLB:
- Los Angeles Angels (now Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim)
- Washington Senators (now Texas Rangers)
NBA:
- Chicago Packers (now Washington Wizards)
NFL:
[edit] 1962
MLB:
- Houston Colt .45's (Now Houston Astros)
- New York Mets
[edit] 1966
NBA:
NFL:
[edit] 1967
NBA:
- Houston Rockets (formerly San Diego Rockets)
- Seattle SuperSonics (now Oklahoma City Thunder)
NFL:
NHL:
- Minnesota North Stars (now Dallas Stars)
- Los Angeles Kings
- Oakland Seals (Defunct. As the Cleveland Barons was merged with the Minnesota North Stars)
- Philadelphia Flyers
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- St. Louis Blues
NSWRL
[edit] 1968
NBA:
AFL:
[edit] 1969
MLB:
- Montreal Expos (now Washington Nationals)
- San Diego Padres
- Kansas City Royals
- Seattle Pilots (now Milwaukee Brewers)
[edit] 1970s
[edit] 1970
NBA:
- Buffalo Braves (now Los Angeles Clippers)
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Portland Trail Blazers
NHL:
[edit] 1972
ABA:
NHL:
[edit] 1974
NBA:
- New Orleans Jazz (now Utah Jazz)
NHL:
[edit] 1976
NFL:
[edit] 1977
MLB:
[edit] 1978
PBA:
- Filmanbank Bankers
[edit] 1979
PBA:
NHL:
- New England Whalers (renamed as Hartford Whalers in 1979 and became Carolina Hurricanes in 1997)
- Edmonton Oilers
- Quebec Nordiques (became Colorado Avalanche in 1995)
- Winnipeg Jets (became Phoenix Coyotes in 1996)
[edit] 1980s
[edit] 1980
NBA:
PBA:
- CDCP Shippers
[edit] 1982
NSWRL
AFL
- Sydney Swans (formerly South Melbourne)
[edit] 1983
PBA:
- Manhattan
[edit] 1984
PBA:
- Manila Beer
[edit] 1985
PBA:
[edit] 1986
PBA:
[edit] 1987
AFL:
[edit] 1988
NBA:
- Charlotte Hornets (now New Orleans Hornets)
- Miami Heat
NSWRL:
- Newcastle Knights
- Brisbane Broncos
- Gold Coast-Tweed Giants (now defunct)
PBA:
[edit] 1989
NBA:
NLL:
[edit] 1990s
[edit] 1990
PBA:
[edit] 1991
NHL:
OHL:
AFL:
[edit] 1992
NHL:
NLL:
[edit] 1993
CFL:
- Sacramento Gold Miners (defunct) – The first entry in the league's failed attempt to expand into the U.S. After the 1994 season, the team relocated to San Antonio and played as the San Antonio Texans before folding after the 1995 season.
MLB:
- Colorado Rockies
- Florida Marlins (now Miami Marlins)
{ NHL:
- Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (renamed Anaheim Ducks in 2006)
- Florida Panthers
PBA:
[edit] 1994
CFL:
- Baltimore Stallions (technically defunct)
- The Stallions were the most successful team in the CFL's U.S. experiment., winning the Grey Cup in 1995. However, the impending relocation of the NFL's Cleveland Browns to Baltimore led the team to depart for Montreal, where it became the current incarnation of the Montreal Alouettes. Despite this history, the CFL does not recognize the link between the Stallions and Alouettes, instead treating the Alouettes as a continuation of past CFL teams in Montreal.
- Las Vegas Posse (defunct)
- Shreveport Pirates (defunct)
[edit] 1995
CFL:
- Birmingham Barracudas (defunct)
- Memphis Mad Dogs (defunct)
- These teams were also part of the CFL's failed U.S. experiment.
NBA:
- Toronto Raptors
- Vancouver Grizzlies (now Memphis Grizzlies)
NFL:
NLL:
OHL:
- Auckland Warriors (now New Zealand Warriors)
- North Queensland Cowboys
- South Queensland Crushers (now defunct)
- Western Reds (now defunct)
- Paris Saint-Germain RL (now defunct)
AFL:
[edit] 1996
NFL:
- Baltimore Ravens - officially a new franchise although it maintained the roster of the Cleveland Browns, whose franchise was suspended until 1999. See Cleveland Browns relocation controversy for more details on this situation.
PBA:
NLL:
AFL:
- Brisbane Lions (Brisbane Bears & Fitzroy Lions merger)
[edit] 1997
- Hunter Mariners (now defunct)
- Adelaide Rams (now defunct)
WAFL:
[edit] 1998
MLB:
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Tampa Bay Devil Rays (now Tampa Bay Rays)
NHL:
MLS:
- Chicago Fire
- Miami Fusion (contracted)
[edit] 1999
NHL:
NFL:
- Cleveland Browns – officially reactivated. As part of the deal which permitted former Browns owner Art Modell to move to Baltimore, the Browns name and colors remained with Cleveland. See Cleveland Browns relocation controversy for more details on this situation.
PBA:
[edit] 2000s
[edit] 2000
NHL:
NLL:
PBA:
NRL:
- Northern Eagles (Joint venture between Manly-Waringah Sea Eagles and North Sydney Bears - now defunct)
- Wests Tigers (Joint venture between Balmain Tigers and Western Suburbs Magpies)
[edit] 2001
NLL:
VFL:
[edit] 2002
CFL:
- Ottawa Renegades (defunct)
NLL:
PBA:
NFL:
[edit] 2003
WHL:
[edit] 2004
NBA:
[edit] 2005
MLS:
NLL:
- St. John's Fog Devils (became Montreal Junior Hockey Club in 2008)
- Saint John Sea Dogs
[edit] 2006
NTFL:
MLS:
- Houston Dynamo (though they maintained the roster of the San Jose Earthquakes)
NLL:
WHL:
- Catalans Dragons — Although Super League used a promotion and relegation system at that time, Les Catalans, as the only French team in the otherwise all-English competition, were assured of a place in the league through 2008. Super League instituted a franchise system effective with the 2009 season, and Les Catalans retained their place in the league.
PBA:
- Welcoat Dragons (from the PBL, note that the promotion and relegation system was not used .)
MLL:
[edit] 2007
NRL:
NBL:
- South Dragons (defunct)
- Singapore Slingers (defunct)
MLS:
NLL:
[edit] 2008
MLS:
WNBA:
[edit] 2009
- Gold Coast United
- North Queensland Fury (defunct)
MLS:
NBL (NBL + Basketball Australia):
- Adelaide 36ers
- Cairns Taipans
- Gold Coast Blaze
- Melbourne Tigers
- New Zealand Breakers
- Perth Wildcats
- Townsville Crocodiles
- Wollongong Hawks
- Celtic Crusaders (now Crusaders Rugby League) – An expansion team only in the sense that they were invited into Super League. The club have existed since 2005.
- Salford City Reds – Also technically not an expansion team; they have existed since 1873, and played in Super League as recently as the 2007 season.
[edit] 2010
A-League:
- Aironi – A team formed specifically for the competition by several existing clubs in Northern Italy, with Viadana the lead side.
- Benetton Treviso – Founded in 1932, it competed in Italian domestic leagues before joining the Magners League.
KHL
MLS:
NBL:
UFL:
- Pampas XV (a developmental side for the Argentina national rugby union team)
- Welwitschias (a developmental side for the Namibia national rugby union team). This is the second time Namibia has participated in the competition; it entered a team from 1999 to 2001.
WPS:
[edit] 2011
AFL:
KHL
MLS:
UFL:
- Virginia Destroyers (later assumed the defunct Florida Tuskers)
WPS:
AFL:
[edit] 2012
AFL:
MLS:
CFL:
Super League:
- Widnes Vikings – An expansion team only in the sense that they have been invited into the now-franchised Super League. The club have existed since 1875, were founding members of what is now the Rugby Football League in 1895, and participated in Super League as recently as 2005.
