After the Tim Donaghy scandal in 2006, I doubt David Stern would EVER allow an NBA team to be based anywhere in Nevada. And with the current economic situation, I think the NBA is concentrating more on the financial health of its smaller-market franchises (and that of the WNBA) than worrying about expansoion anytime soon. But I do like your suggested name!
The topless dance squad would be a nice idea too, if Vegas (or Reno) ever did get a team. Perhaps the Raptors could try that up in Toronto! You may be too young to remember the old American Basketball Association (1967-1976) which once had a franchise in the Miami area called simply "The Floridians". They had "ball girls" dressed in very skimpy string bikinis (closest thing to topless ever seen to date). Of course it WAS the late 1960s/early 1970s and that was before the rise of the ultra right-wing "Puritan-esque" corporate prudes, which would likely prohibit any such outfits today. A player from that era has said that the married guys on the teams would always sit well away from those ball girls if the game happened to be televised, but vie for the seats on the bench closest to those gals if it wasn't (as most regular-season ABA contests weren't on TV in that era).
They played at the Santa Fe, when they still had an ice rink. The game was more like an organized fight on ice, but they had cheerleaders of sort. I can't remember the team name, but I remember that those girls were hot, and drew far more fans than the team.
...which stands for the International Hockey League. (I loved that league, I saw games played in Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Cincinnati, Detroit, Phoenix, and Indianapolis. back when I traveled a lot on business.) The Thunder played their games at the Thomas & Mack Center. The IHL folded in 2000, after being in existance since 1947.
That team that played at the old Santa Fe Station ice rink was a "semi-pro" team. That is, the players were paid about $50 a game, and all had day jobs as their primary means of support. Their team name escapes me.
Alaska does have a pro sport team, albeit is a minor leagus hockey team. The Anchorage Aces of the ECHL, play in Las Vegas many times during the season.
Unfortunately it looks like your attempt to purchase VIP membership has failed due to your card being declined. Good news is that we have several other payment options that you could try.
VIP MEMBER
, you are now a VIP member!
We thank you for your purchase!
VIP MEMBER
, Thank you for becoming VIP member!
Membership should be activated shortly. You'll receive notification!