Expansion team
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An expansion team is a brand new team in a sports league, usually from a city that has not hosted a team in that league before, and formed with the intention of satisfying the demand for a local team from a population in a new area. Sporting leagues also hope that expansion of their competition will grow the popularity of the sport generally. 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.
Reason for expansion [edit]
In North America, expansion often takes place in response to population growth and geographic shifts of population. Such demographic change results in financial opportunities to engage with the new market as consumers of sports demand local teams to support. 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. The Florida Panthers made the Stanley Cup Finals in only their 3rd season in the NHL.
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 Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA, the Houston Dynamo in the MLS, the new Winnipeg Jets in the NHL, and the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL. However, the Ravens are technically considered an expansion team, due to an agreement with the Cleveland Browns, which allowed the history of the pre-1996 Cleveland Browns to remain in that city and be claimed by the post-1999 Browns while the actual team moved to Baltimore to become the Ravens.
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. Toronto, Ontario is its a second choice. San Antonio, Texas has also been considered a possible location for expansion. The European Super League in rugby league has added teams from France and Wales to cover a great demographic spread.
A-League [edit]
2007 [edit]
2009 [edit]
- Gold Coast United (defunct)
- North Queensland Fury (defunct)
2010 [edit]
2012 [edit]
American Football League [edit]
The 1960s AFL began with eight teams, and added two more after it agreed just before the 1966 season to merge with the NFL, a union that was consummated for the 1970 season.
1966 [edit]
1968 [edit]
Arena Football League [edit]
2011 [edit]
Australian Football League [edit]
1908 [edit]
- Richmond
- University (dropped out of competition and folded at the end of 1914)
1925 [edit]
- Hawthorn
- North Melbourne
- Footscray (became Western Bulldogs in 1996)
1987 [edit]
1991 [edit]
1995 [edit]
1997 [edit]
2011 [edit]
2012 [edit]
Australian Rugby League [edit]
1995 [edit]
- Auckland Warriors (now New Zealand Warriors)
- North Queensland Cowboys
- South Queensland Crushers (now defunct)
- Western Reds (now defunct)
Canadian Football League [edit]
1993 [edit]
- 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.
1994 [edit]
- 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 version 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) - Also part of the CFL's failed U.S. experiment.
- Shreveport Pirates (defunct) - Also part of the CFL's failed U.S. experiment.
1995 [edit]
- Birmingham Barracudas (defunct)
- Memphis Mad Dogs (defunct)
2002 [edit]
- Ottawa Renegades (defunct)
2014 [edit]
Indian Premier League [edit]
2011 [edit]
Jim Beam Cup [edit]
2008 [edit]
Kontinental Hockey League [edit]
2009 [edit]
2010 [edit]
2011 [edit]
- Lev Poprad
- This team, based in Slovakia, was purchased after its first KHL season (2011–12) by Czech interests. It was disbanded and replaced by the similarly named Lev Praha.
2012 [edit]
2013 [edit]
- KHL Medveščak (from Zagreb, Croatia)
- Unnamed team from Vladivostok
Major League Baseball [edit]
1961 [edit]
- Los Angeles Angels (now Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim)
- Washington Senators (now Texas Rangers)
1962 [edit]
- Houston Colt .45s (now Houston Astros)
- New York Mets
1969 [edit]
- Kansas City Royals
- Montreal Expos (now Washington Nationals)
- San Diego Padres
- Seattle Pilots (now Milwaukee Brewers)
1977 [edit]
1993 [edit]
- Colorado Rockies
- Florida Marlins (now Miami Marlins)
1998 [edit]
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Tampa Bay Devil Rays (now Tampa Bay Rays)
Major League Lacrosse [edit]
2006 [edit]
2012 [edit]
Major League Soccer [edit]
1998 [edit]
- Chicago Fire
- Miami Fusion (contracted)
2005 [edit]
2006 [edit]
- Houston Dynamo (though they maintained the roster of the San Jose Earthquakes)
2007 [edit]
2008 [edit]
2009 [edit]
2010 [edit]
2011 [edit]
2012 [edit]
National Basketball Association [edit]
1961 [edit]
- Chicago Packers (now Washington Wizards)
1966 [edit]
1967 [edit]
- San Diego Rockets (now Houston Rockets)
- Seattle SuperSonics (now Oklahoma City Thunder)
1968 [edit]
1970 [edit]
1974 [edit]
- New Orleans Jazz (now Utah Jazz)
1976 [edit]
- New York Nets (now Brooklyn Nets), Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs join NBA after merger with American Basketball Association.
1980 [edit]
1988 [edit]
- Miami Heat
- Charlotte Hornets (now New Orleans Pelicans)
1989 [edit]
1995 [edit]
2004 [edit]
National Basketball League Australia [edit]
2007 [edit]
- Singapore Slingers (defunct)
- South Dragons (defunct)
2010 [edit]
National Football League [edit]
1919 [edit]
- Green Bay Packers (did not begin play in the NFL until 1921)
1920 [edit]
- Chicago Cardinals (now Arizona Cardinals)
- Decatur Staleys (now Chicago Bears)
1925 [edit]
1931 [edit]
- Portsmouth Spartans (now Detroit Lions)
1933 [edit]
- Cincinnati Reds (now defunct)
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Pittsburgh Pirates (now Pittsburgh Steelers)
1950 [edit]
- Baltimore Colts (original) (now defunct), Cleveland Browns, and San Francisco 49ers join NFL after merger with All-America Football Conference.
1953 [edit]
1960 [edit]
1961 [edit]
1966 [edit]
1967 [edit]
1970 [edit]
- Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Boston Patriots (now New England Patriots), New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, and Houston Oilers (now Tennessee Titans) join NFL after merger with American Football League.
1976 [edit]
1995 [edit]
1996 [edit]
- 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.
1999 [edit]
- 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. Unlike the Ravens, the Browns were restocked with an expansion draft. See Cleveland Browns relocation controversy for more details on this situation.
2002 [edit]
National Hockey League [edit]
1909 [edit]
- Montreal Canadiens - part of National Hockey Association, which became the National Hockey League
1924 [edit]
- Boston Bruins
- Montreal Maroons (now defunct)
1925 [edit]
- New York Americans (now defunct)
- Pittsburgh Pirates (now defunct)
1926 [edit]
- Chicago Black Hawks
- Detroit Cougars (now Red Wings)
- New York Rangers
1967 [edit]
- Los Angeles Kings
- Minnesota North Stars (now Dallas Stars)
- California Seals (defunct; later the Oakland Seals, California Golden Seals, and Cleveland Barons. The Barons were later merged with the Minnesota North Stars.)
- Although the Seals are defunct, the current San Jose Sharks can be seen as that team's successor. In 1991, the NHL brokered a deal that essentially unwound the Barons–North Stars merger, with the Sharks taking half of the North Stars' roster and both teams participating as equals in an expansion draft.
- Philadelphia Flyers
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- St. Louis Blues
1970 [edit]
1972 [edit]
1974 [edit]
1979 [edit]
- Hartford Whalers (now Carolina Hurricanes), Quebec Nordiques (now Colorado Avalanche), Edmonton Oilers, and original Winnipeg Jets (now Phoenix Coyotes) join NHL after merger with World Hockey Association.
1991 [edit]
1992 [edit]
1993 [edit]
- Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (now Anaheim Ducks)
- Florida Panthers
1998 [edit]
1999 [edit]
2000 [edit]
National Lacrosse League [edit]
1989 [edit]
1992 [edit]
1995 [edit]
1996 [edit]
2000 [edit]
2001 [edit]
2002 [edit]
2005 [edit]
2006 [edit]
2007 [edit]
National Rugby League [edit]
1998 [edit]
2007 [edit]
New South Wales Cup [edit]
2007 [edit]
New South Wales Rugby League [edit]
1910 [edit]
1920 [edit]
1921 [edit]
1935 [edit]
- Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
1947 [edit]
1967 [edit]
1982 [edit]
1988 [edit]
- Brisbane Broncos
- Gold Coast-Tweed Giants (now defunct)
- Newcastle Knights
Northern Territory Football League [edit]
2006 [edit]
Ontario Hockey League [edit]
1991 [edit]
1995 [edit]
Philippine Basketball Association [edit]
1978 [edit]
- Filmanbank Bankers
1979 [edit]
1980 [edit]
- CDCP Shippers
1983 [edit]
- Manhattan
1984 [edit]
- Manila Beer
1985 [edit]
1986 [edit]
1988 [edit]
1990 [edit]
1993 [edit]
1996 [edit]
1999 [edit]
2000 [edit]
2002 [edit]
2006 [edit]
- Welcoat Dragons (from the PBL, note that the promotion and relegation system was not used .)
Pro12 [edit]
2010 [edit]
- Aironi – A team formed specifically for the competition by several existing clubs in Northern Italy, with Viadana the lead side. The team folded when the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) revoked its professional license effective with the end of the 2011–12 Pro12 season; it was replaced by the FIR-operated Zebre.
- Benetton Treviso – Founded in 1932, it competed in Italian domestic leagues before joining what is now known as Pro12.
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League [edit]
2005 [edit]
- Saint John Sea Dogs
- St. John's Fog Devils (became Montreal Junior Hockey Club in 2008 and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in 2011)
Queensland Cup [edit]
2008 [edit]
Super League (Australia) [edit]
1997 [edit]
- Adelaide Rams (now defunct)
- Hunter Mariners (now defunct)
Super League [edit]
1995 [edit]
- Paris Saint-Germain RL (now defunct)
2006 [edit]
- 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.
2009 [edit]
- Celtic Crusaders (later Crusaders Rugby League) – An expansion team only in the sense that they were invited into Super League. The club were established in 2005. After the 2011 season, the club folded due to financial problems; their effective successor club, the North Wales Crusaders, currently compete in Championship 1, two levels below Super League.
- 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.
2012 [edit]
- 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.
Super Rugby [edit]
2006 [edit]
2011 [edit]
United Football League (2009) [edit]
2010 [edit]
2011 [edit]
- Virginia Destroyers (later assumed the defunct Florida Tuskers)
Victorian Football League [edit]
1998 [edit]
2001 [edit]
Vodacom Cup [edit]
2010 [edit]
- Welwitschias (a developmental side for the Namibia national rugby union team).
- This was the second time Namibia participated in the competition; it entered a team from 1999 to 2001. The team withdrew from the competition after the 2011 season due to financial constraints.
- Pampas XV (a developmental side for the Argentina national rugby union team)
VTB United League [edit]
2010 [edit]
West Australian Football League [edit]
1997 [edit]
Western Hockey League [edit]
2003 [edit]
2006 [edit]
Women's National Basketball Association [edit]
1998 [edit]
- Detroit Shock (now the Tulsa Shock)
- Washington Mystics
1999 [edit]
- Orlando Miracle (now the Connecticut Sun)
- Minnesota Lynx
2000 [edit]
- Indiana Fever
- Seattle Storm
- Miami Sol (folded)
- Portland Fire (folded)
2006 [edit]
2008 [edit]
Women's Professional Soccer [edit]
2010 [edit]
- Atlanta Beat (folded along with the league after the 2011 season)
- Philadelphia Independence (folded along with the league)
2011 [edit]
- Western New York Flash (remains in operation; now a member of the National Women's Soccer League)
