Why Doesn’t Iowa Have a National Sports Team?

The Oakland Athletics played their last game in Oakland.  They won 3 - 2 over the Texas Rangers.  They're leaving Oakland California and are headed East, but only slightly.  The team has been based in Oakland since 1968 and now they'll call Las Vegas home. When the moving van arrives. What if they missed their exit and kept going?  Maybe they set up a stadium in Iowa.  According to This Is Iowa some of those California residents are already moving here, because of the state's affordability.  They have fans here on the ready.

Why doesn't Iowa have a National Sports Team?

If you think about it why wouldn't Iowa be a great spot for a national team?  Located in the middle of America, lots of people are passing through, surrounded by other populous states and then there are those relocating to Iowa.  If you look at The Iowa Hawkeyes Sports teams, even in lean times the fans support the teams and many games are sell-outs.  If a team was brought into Iowa, do you think they would be treated the same? Also, what sports franchise do you think would work best in Iowa?  You've got a lot to choose from NBA, WNBA, NFL, NHL, or MLB.  If you thought CFL, go to your room right now.  You're grounded, CFL? The Canadian Football League in case you didn't know.  But, how dare you, the CFL. Unless you're with the CFL, then, great organization and wow, they'd do well in Iowa.  Anyway back to the CFL, horrendous.

If there was a successful National Team that came to Iowa it would be a boon for the economy.  Think of all the money that would flow into restaurants and shops, those people would also fill hotel rooms and it would increase the tax revenue.  Case in point, good luck getting a hotel anywhere near Kinnick Stadium when The Hawkeyes are in town playing a football game.

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Hurdles of bringing Iowa a National Sports Team

The biggest hurdle would be market size if we're using radio terms.  Some believe that there are not enough people in the state of Iowa who would support a national team regularly.  Plus there are already big teams right across state lines in Illinois you've Da-Bears and Da-Bulls and don't forget Da-Blackhawks, Wisconsin serving up the cheese heads at Lambeau, Missouri has The Cards and The Blues, and Minnesota with the Vikings, naming just a few.  Let's face it there are many more within driving distance.

Also, to get a national team you need to build an arena that would meet whatever league's standards.  That requires considerable upfront cash to be laid out and that's where the planning comes in.  It looks like an uphill battle.  It does seem that once Iowans accept something as their own, they support it.  Would that be the case with a national sports team? Time will tell.