Where Will Future Pro Sports Teams Spring Up?

By Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief Updated: 15 September 2023

Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief

Blake Roberts is the founder of Betting.US and is currently heading the creative team as Editor in Chief. Born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Blake is a great sports fan, with football and basketball being his favorite. He’s our trusted voice for all betting-related matters.

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Future Pro Sports Teams

• Future Pro Sports Franchises
• Future Pro Teams: An Introduction
• London, United Kingdom
• Mexico City, Mexico
• Portland Oregon
• San Antonio, Texas
• Frequently Asked Questions

As fans, we’re always keen to see how our favorite sports leagues evolve, grow, and adapt to changing times – and future pro sports teams is always an interesting topic. Today, we’re going to investigate the potential expansion of major sports leagues, the possible locations for future pro teams, the international influence on US sports, and the challenges and opportunities that come with these.

Future Pro Sports Franchises

The landscape of professional sports in the US is constantly changing. With the growing popularity of sports and the potential for market expansion, both domestically and internationally, new professional teams are more likely than ever to emerge in the coming years.

These developments are not without challenges, however, including logistical issues, financial considerations, and market saturation. However, they also present exciting opportunities for growth and innovation. Future pro sports teams and future pro sports franchises is an interesting topic, and that’s what we’ll be covering today.

On our site, we cover everything about sports – and whether you’re looking for betting guides or the best sportsbooks with MLS betting markets, we’ve got it all, so make sure to take a look around!

Future Pro Teams: An Introduction

The prospect of new professional teams emerging in the US is an exciting one. After all, this isn’t just about adding more teams to existing leagues, but also about the potential for new sports to gain professional status.

Of course, the primary reason behind new pro teams emerging is simply market demand. As sports continue to grow in popularity, there is an increasing demand for more teams, more games, and more competition – and there are plenty of athletes and wealthy backers who’re willing to get involved.

Another reason why new sports franchises are likely to continue appearing is the ability to expand into new markets. This could be domestic expansion, with teams emerging in cities or regions that do not currently have a professional team in a particular sport, or it could be international expansion, with US leagues establishing teams in other countries.

Generally speaking, future pro sports franchises are great for most. New teams can help to grow the sport, both by increasing the level of competition and by attracting new fans. They can also bring economic benefits, creating jobs and boosting local economies. Of course, existing teams won’t always be happy – but for most, the more pro sports teams, the better!

Now, let’s find out some of the most likely locations where we might see new pro sports teams appearing in the coming years.

London, United Kingdom

Over the years, London went from essentially turning its back on American sports, to welcoming them with open arms. In fact, the UK has one of the biggest NFL fan bases in Europe, and it continues to show an interest in the sport – making it a primary candidate for the expansion of future pro sports franchises.

Thanks to the annual NFL London Games – first held back in 2007 – Brits have had more exposure to football than ever, and despite concerns over how many people would actually want to watch, the games have been sell-out events every time!

Here’s a quick summary of some of the NFL games that have been held in London:

While London may seem like a likely candidate, this isn’t just speculation. In fact, the NFL has publicly announced that it’s looking at establishing a London franchise, with a rather ambitious aim of doing so by 2025. If it were to go ahead, it would not only provide the NFL with a huge revenue market – it would also open the game up to the UK and Europe.

Like most countries in Europe, there’s a lot of stadium choice – and London plays host to some of the most famous and well-known stadiums in the world, like Wembley Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Both venues have previously hosted NFL games – and they also have the necessary infrastructure and capacity to accommodate a pro sports franchise.

While the venture does have its challenges – logistical, legal, and financial – the support from the British government coupled with surprisingly high levels of enthusiasm from fans is likely nudging this potential franchise in the right direction!

Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City presents a great opportunity for the expansion of US sports franchises. The city boasts a population of over 9 million, so it’s a significant market – and the NFL already knows there’s a strong fan base there thanks to previous games held there.

The NFL has been putting on games here from as far back as 2005, and they’re frequently attended by both Mexican and American citizens, given the close proximity to the border. According to the NFL’s most recent survey, the league has built a fanbase of more than 20 million in Mexico – and the resumption of games after the COVID-19 hiatus has reignited the buzz about Mexico City potentially securing its own NFL team.

In fact, it’s not just the NFL that’s looking at potential new pro teams in Mexico City. The NBA has also shown an interest – and since they first started playing games in Mexico, 31 have been held. In fact, the league made a pretty significant move during the 2021-22 season by adding a G League team, the Mexico City Capitanes.

Although Adam Silver – the NBA’s commissioner – has been hesitant to confirm any solid plans, he has hinted at a desire to expand – making the possibility of Mexico City being a future home for an NBA team all the more likely.

Portland, Oregon

Portland, known to locals as the City of Roses, is a very well-known location around the world, and most people from outside of the US would probably assume there’s a bunch of pro sports teams already based there.

Well, the reality is far from it; you have the Timbers in the MLS, and the Trail Blazers in the NBA – but other than that, there’s nothing! No professional NFL team, no NHL – it’s a market just waiting to be tapped into!

However, according to recent reports, this lack of pro sports may be about to change, as the MLB and the NHL have started to eye up potential franchise locations in Portland.

Interestingly, the city boasts a rich history of baseball – despite the fact that they don’t have an MLB team – and in 2017, NFL star Russell Wilson and his wife, Ciara, partnered with local leaders to form the Portland Diamond Project, an initiative aimed at bringing MLB to Portland.

Although MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has expressed an interest in expanding the league, there are issues with stadiums to be addressed first. Still, it’s a step in the right direction, and promising news could be around the corner!

San Antonio, Texas

Home to the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, the seventh largest city in the US is no stranger to the world of professional sports. The Spurs have brought the city considerable fame on the world stage, having clinched the NBA championship five times since 1999.

Interestingly, while the NBA has been a major success in San Antonio, there’s a huge gap with the lack of an MLB or NFL team – something that may well change in the near future.

A recent study revealed that San Antonio, thanks to its large population and the prospect of fierce rivalries with the nearby Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans, is a prime candidate for an NFL expansion team. San Antonio’s expansive land area and vibrant, diverse community also make it a great candidate for an MLB franchise. Whether either league will make the move – well, that remains to be seen!