# Why are some pro teams named after a state instead of a city? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 9, 2011, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-pro-teams-named-after-a-state-instead-of-a-city/602433 "2011-11-09T21:57:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-pro-teams-named-after-a-state-instead-of-a-city/602433/21 "2011-11-10T01:14:50Z")
> [@](#): > > Let’s not forget the New England Patriots, who represent 6 states. This was negotiated after their original proposal, the South Of Canada Patriots, was rejected. On the other end of the scale, we once had a team named after a fifth of a city, the Brooklyn Dodgers. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Jocko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncle_jocko/32/2932_2.png) [@Uncle\_Jocko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Jocko)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-pro-teams-named-after-a-state-instead-of-a-city/602433/22 "2011-11-10T01:25:04Z")
And then there’s the team that not only played in two different cities, but in two different states - I give you the NBA’s Kansas City-Omaha Kings! Now playing in the somewhat more lucrative Sacramento market … ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-pro-teams-named-after-a-state-instead-of-a-city/602433/23 "2011-11-10T01:29:47Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Looking at the NFL, NBA, MLB, the only exception to that rule has been the New Orleans Hornets. The Hornet started in Charlotte, as the Charlotte Hornets and have been replaced by the Charlotte Bobcats. The Oklahoma City Thunder are also named after a city, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-pro-teams-named-after-a-state-instead-of-a-city/602433/24 "2011-11-10T01:45:34Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > And then there’s the team that not only played in two different cities, but in two different states - I give you the NBA’s Kansas City-Omaha Kings! Now playing in the somewhat more lucrative Sacramento market … …For now… ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-pro-teams-named-after-a-state-instead-of-a-city/602433/25 "2011-11-10T01:54:37Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > On the other end of the scale, we once had a team named after a fifth of a city, the Brooklyn Dodgers. When it was named, it was an entire city, though. The Twin were the first in a major league to use the state designation. Our local newspaper (_Newsday_) hated the idea and referred to them as the Minneapolis Twins for several years before giving up. Though Canadian NHL teams have city names, in the CFL you have the Saskatchewan Rough Riders and the British Columbia Lions (now called the BC Lions). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-pro-teams-named-after-a-state-instead-of-a-city/602433/26 "2011-11-10T03:07:41Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > And then there’s the team that not only played in two different cities, but in two different states - I give you the NBA’s Kansas City-Omaha Kings! Now playing in the somewhat more lucrative Sacramento market … That’s nothing. For the last five years, the Bills have been playing in two different countries. In addition to Orchard Park, New York, they’ve played one regular season home game each year in Toronto, Ontario. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-pro-teams-named-after-a-state-instead-of-a-city/602433/27 "2011-11-10T03:09:56Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > The Oklahoma City Thunder are also named after a city, of course. Thunder Bay, Ontario. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-pro-teams-named-after-a-state-instead-of-a-city/602433/28 "2011-11-10T03:46:29Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > Oklahoma City 1. It’s a city that has no other pro sports team named for it. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-pro-teams-named-after-a-state-instead-of-a-city/602433/29 "2011-11-10T03:53:55Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > Agreed - the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim? That’s beyond absurd. They used to be the California Angels. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-pro-teams-named-after-a-state-instead-of-a-city/602433/30 "2011-11-10T03:57:26Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > Except for Buffalo Braves (1970 now LA Clippers), > Cleveland Cavaliers (1970), New Orleans Jazz (1974), You’re right, I had missed those. > [@](#): > > Dallas Mavericks (1980) > Houston Texans (2002) 1. There’s another team already in the state > [@](#): > > Seattle Seahawks (1976) > Seattle Mariners (1977) 1. They’re in Washington State, which can be mixed up with Washington D.C. > [@](#): > > Portland Trail Blazers (1970) > Charlotte Hornets (1988) > Jacksonville Jaguars (1995) > Memphis Grizzlies (1995) > Baltimore Ravens (1996) > Charlotte Bobcats (2004). 1. It’s a city that has no other pro sports team named for it. > [@](#): > > Miami Heat (1988) > Orlando Magic (1989) The Orlando franchise was already in the works when the Heat were created, so “Florida” was not really an option. > [@](#): > > Also not counted are the two Tampa Bay teams. Correct; in both cases there were already teams in state, so they opted for a body of water. > [@](#): > > I have listed teams in states with a previous team. Why? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-pro-teams-named-after-a-state-instead-of-a-city/602433/31 "2011-11-10T04:01:26Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > They used to be the California Angels. And, then, the Anaheim Angels. (Though, going back to 1961-1964, they started out as the Los Angeles Angels). The current owner of the Angels changed the name to its current absurdity in 2005, in an effort to increase their fan base in Los Angeles. (The name change also led to several years of legal action by the city of Anaheim, which claimed that the name change violated the terms of the Angels’ lease with the city on their stadium.) ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-pro-teams-named-after-a-state-instead-of-a-city/602433/32 "2011-11-10T14:46:24Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > On the other end of the scale, we once had a team named after a fifth of a city, the Brooklyn Dodgers. Chuck already touched on this, but until 1896, “New York City” only meant the island of Manhattan. Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island were not part of “New York City” until then. Which probably explains why, even now, when someone from Brooklyn or Queens takes the subway to Manhattan, he says, “I’m going to the City.” Brooklyn was an independent city, and in population terms, it USED to be one of the largest cities in America. Even now, as you drive from Queens into Brooklyn, you’ll see a sign saying “Welcome to Brooklyn, the 4th largest city in America.” The Brooklyn Dodgers started playing in 1883, before Brooklyn was part of New York City. They saw no reason to change their name after the city was incorporated. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-pro-teams-named-after-a-state-instead-of-a-city/602433/33 "2011-11-10T16:02:54Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > The Twin were the first in a major league to use the state designation. Our local newspaper (_Newsday_) hated the idea and referred to them as the Minneapolis Twins for several years before giving up. And … that’s another reason for us Minnesotans to sneer at East Coast ignorance. The Twins originally played in Bloomington, Minn., a neutral location between – and south of – the Twin Cities. ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-pro-teams-named-after-a-state-instead-of-a-city/602433/34 "2011-11-10T16:03:12Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Just like the naming of the team, it’s a marketing decision. It’s decided by the franchise owners, although maybe the league has some say. There’s no other explaination for absurdity like the Angels being named for two different cities. The Angels had an agreement with the city of Anaheim that, if the city paid for improvements to their stadium, they would keep “Anaheim” in their team name. Years later, in an attempt to appeal to the (much larger) LA market, they changed their name to the LA Angels of Anaheim. The city of Anaheim took the team to court but it was ruled that the city’s name was still in the team name, so the change was legal. So I guess you could say, only one of the cities was added as a marketing decision. ---
**Author:** ![President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/President_Johnny_Gentle)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-pro-teams-named-after-a-state-instead-of-a-city/602433/35 "2011-11-10T16:09:46Z")
I recently commented on the [Twins initiating this trend](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14350750&postcount=50). Because animosity between Minneapolis and St. Paul is virtually non-existent now, it’s hard to visualize the situation from 50 years ago. There was a fair amount of bad blood dating from the founding of the cities in the mid-19th century. The Twin Cities aren’t large enough to have around half the population ignore a team out of pure spite. I would go so far as to say the essential elimination of the inter-city rivalry can be largely attributed to the Twins and Vikings. The Twins lead was followed locally by the Vikings, North Stars, Kicks (NASL), Strikers (also NASL), Timberwolves, and now Wild as well. Many other teams in other leagues have also used the naming pattern. In fact, “Minnesota” is the only regional (as opposed to city) designation used in all four major US sports leagues. ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-pro-teams-named-after-a-state-instead-of-a-city/602433/36 "2011-11-10T16:34:32Z")
> [@Spiff](#): > > And … that’s another reason for us Minnesotans to sneer at East Coast ignorance. It’s probably East Coast pissiness you should be feeling superior to. I’ll warrant that the editors of _Newsday_ knew that Minnesota was a state. It’s not like it’s the _Post_. There are some English football clubs named after neighborhoods (like the Queen’s Park Rangers). What’s the smallest area a major team has been named after? ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-pro-teams-named-after-a-state-instead-of-a-city/602433/37 "2011-11-10T17:09:21Z")
In currently active major leagues, Brooklyn (which I know was it’s own city when the Dodgers were formed) is probably the smallest in area. Well, New York was (at that time, before the 5 boroughs merged into the current city of New York) smaller in area. But the area encompassed by the name “New York” eventually expanded, while the area encompassed by the name “Brooklyn” remained the same small size, while the team continued to use the name. If you count the Negro Leagues, the Homestead Grays were named after a pretty small town just outside the city limits of Pittsburgh. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-pro-teams-named-after-a-state-instead-of-a-city/602433/38 "2011-11-10T17:12:10Z")
> [@Ichbin\_Dubist](#): > > What’s the smallest area a major team has been named after? I think Green Bay is the most popular answer, but I don’t know for a fact that it’s the smallest. This question tends to get complicated when you go beyond the size of the actual cities to account for things like metropolitan areas. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-pro-teams-named-after-a-state-instead-of-a-city/602433/39 "2011-11-10T18:14:23Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I think Green Bay is the most popular answer, but I don’t know for a fact that it’s the smallest. This question tends to get complicated when you go beyond the size of the actual cities to account for things like metropolitan areas. Green Bay is complicated - because Milwaukee is still considered a home market even though they don’t play there anymore. And of couse the fanabase includes the whole state, the U.P., and lots of ex-pats in other states. Brian ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-pro-teams-named-after-a-state-instead-of-a-city/602433/40 "2011-11-10T19:32:09Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > In currently active major leagues, Brooklyn (which I know was it’s own city when the Dodgers were formed) is probably the smallest in area. Well, New York was (at that time, before the 5 boroughs merged into the current city of New York) smaller in area. But the area encompassed by the name “New York” eventually expanded, while the area encompassed by the name “Brooklyn” remained the same small size, while the team continued to use the name. > > If you count the Negro Leagues, the Homestead Grays were named after a pretty small town just outside the city limits of Pittsburgh. In area, maybe- but as noted earlier, even if Brooklyn seceded from New York City, it would NOT be a “small market.” It would have far more people than many cities with major league teams. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-pro-teams-named-after-a-state-instead-of-a-city/602433.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-pro-teams-named-after-a-state-instead-of-a-city/602433.md?page=3)