Xen
Banned
In 1992 the San Francisco Giants came dangerously close from moving east to the vacant Thunderdome in Tampa Bay, Florida. In an 11th hour move MLB refused permission for the move to proceed and the Giants remained in San Francisco, while Tampa had to go six more years without a team.
Let us for a moment presume that Tampa investors led by Vince Naimoli started to search for another team and did not have to go far, just across the bay from San Francisco where the Athletics played in Oakland. The Oakland A’s are owned locally by Walter Haas, who hears Naimoli out, but declines to sell the team. Sadly however after leaving the meeting Haas is struck by a drunk driver and killed instantly. His estate decides to sell the team and meets with Naimoli who finally is able to bring Major League Baseball to Tampa Bay. A save the A’s rally is held in Oakland, but is poorly attended convincing MLB owners to approve the move. When the 1993 season starts three new cities will become Major League towns, Denver and Miami both of which received expansion teams, and of course Tampa Bay. The Tampa Bay Athletics played their first season in the American League West.
When Major League Baseball realigned in 1994 the A’s move to Tampa effected the realignment in the AL
AL East
Baltimore
Boston
New York
Tampa Bay
Toronto
AL Central
Chicago
Cleveland
Detroit
Kansas City
Milwaukee
AL West
California
Minnesota
Seattle
Texas
With the Athletics departure to Tampa Bay, Oakland city officials began negotiating with Al Davis to return the Raiders, realizing he’d have a stadium all to himself, Davis accepted announcing in January 1993 that the Raiders would return to Oakland for the 1993 season, and leaving the Rams as the sole franchise in Los Angeles.
In 1993 five cities had been announced as finalist for the NFL 1995 expansion draft, Charlotte, NC; St Louis, MO; Baltimore, MD; Memphis, TN; and Jacksonville, FL. Charlotte, St Louis and Baltimore were considered the front runners, with Charlotte receiving the first team on October 26. The NFL planned to announce the sister expansion club on November 30, and was widely anticipated St Louis and Baltimore were in the top running. As expected St Louis won the bid meaning the St Louis Stallions and Carolina Panthers would enter the league in 1995. (Originally Carolina was placed in the AFC Central and St Louis in the NFC West)
Georgia Rosenbloom the owner of the Los Angeles Rams and a St Louis native sold her team to Malcolm Glazer in order to take control of the expansion St Louis Stallions. Glazer announced he would keep the Rams in Los Angeles, though he moved them out of Anaheim Stadium to play in the Rose Bowl in time for the 1995 season. In 1996 voters approved to build Rams Stadium in the Los Angeles suburb of Inglewood, the stadium was expected to open in 1999, until then the Rams would play their home games in the Rose Bowl.
In August 1994, Hugh Culverhouse, the owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers died leaving a bankrupt team behind, his son Malcolm forced investors to sell the team in 1995 with the New York Yankees George Steinbrenner and Baltimore Orioles Peter Angelos emerging as the front runners. Eventually Angelos outbid his baseball rival, and planned to move the team to Baltimore, he however hit a snag. Jack Kent Cooke of the Washington Redskins was also trying to acquire a baseball expansion team to play in Washington only to have Angelos stand in his way; Cooke would not approve the Buccaneers move to Baltimore unless Angelos backed off of the baseball franchise in Washington. Angelos relented, the Buccaneers move to Baltimore was approved, and Washington would get its baseball team.
Peter Angelos received permission from the NFL to change leagues with the Carolina Panthers; the Baltimore Buccaneers would begin play in 1995 in the AFC Central, while the Carolina Panthers would change divisions with the St Louis Stallions in order to exploit their rivalry with the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints.
1995 NFL
NFC East
Arizona Cardinals
Dallas Cowboys
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Redskins
NFC Central
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
St Louis Stallions
NFC West
Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
Los Angeles Rams
New Orleans Saints
San Francisco 49ers
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Indianapolis Colts
Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots
New York Jets
AFC Central
Baltimore Buccaneers
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Houston Oilers
Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs
Oakland Raiders
San Diego Chargers
Seattle Seahawks
In 1995 Football fans were shocked when Art Modell the owner of the Cleveland Browns announced his plans to move his team to Jacksonville, Florida for the 1996 season. Clevelanders reacted violently as expected, and reached its violent height with the shooting death of Art Modell outside of the Jacksonville Hilton by a deranged Cleveland fan. The NFL and city officials from both Cleveland and Jacksonville condemned the shooting and urged calm; it did however have the effect Clevelanders wanted, the Browns would return to Cleveland with new ownership for the 1996 season, while Jacksonville would be granted an expansion team in 1999 providing the Gator Bowl was adequately upgraded.
In 1996 Bud Adams attempted to get out of his lease with the city of Houston to move the Oilers to Nashville, the city refused, and Adams reluctantly pressed the issue remembering what had happened to Art Modell. The NFL struck a deal between the city of Houston and Bud Adams, allowing Adams to take over the sister expansion franchise of the Jacksonville team in 1999, while the Oilers remained in Houston. Although Adams was reluctant to accept this, he did not want to end up like Art Modell.
In 1999 the NFL realigned with two new franchises entering the league
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Redskins
NFC North
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
New Orleans Saints
St Louis Stallions
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals
Los Angeles Rams
Seattle Seahawks
San Francisco 49ers
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots
New York Jets
AFC North
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Indianapolis Colts
Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South
Baltimore Buccaneers
Houston Oilers
Jacksonville Jaguars
Tennessee Titans
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs
Oakland Raiders
San Diego Chargers
In 1998 Major League Baseball added two National League Teams (the Brewers remain in the AL) the Arizona Diamond Backs and the Washington Nationals. Nothing changed in the American League but the National League was slightly realigned
NL East
Atlanta
Florida
Montreal
New York
Philadelphia
Washington
NL Central
Chicago
Cincinnati
Houston
Pittsburgh
St Louis
NL West
Arizona
Colorado
Los Angeles
San Diego
San Francisco
In 2002 Jeff Loria, the owner of the Montreal Expos orchestrated an arrangement with MLB for baseball to take ownership of the Expos so he could purchase the Florida Marlins. Commissioner Bud Selig originally planned for the Expos to be contracted, but when his plans failed the Expos were shopped around. Attempts to buy the team were made by interests in Indianapolis, IN; Portland, OR; San Antonio, TX; and Charlotte, NC. African-American businessman, and owner of BET Robert Johnson purchased the Montreal Expos from Major League Baseball in 2003. In 2005 the brand new state of the art Carolina Municipal Stadium was built in Charlotte, and the Montreal Expos became the first baseball team in more than a decade to move taking up the name the Charlotte Bobcats (as named by fans), the team remains in the NL East where it rivals the near-by Atlanta Braves.
The next team to relocate was the NFL New Orleans Saints after Hurricane Katrina had wrecked the city, owner Tom Benson moved the team to San Antonio, TX and renamed it the San Antonio Texans and plays their games in the Alamodome. The name New Orleans Saints, the colors and team history remain behind in New Orleans, and rumors persist that the NFL is considering expanding in the near future to New Orleans (and possibly Toronto), other rumors persist that New Orleans interest groups plan on buying the Buffalo Bills and moving them south.
Let us for a moment presume that Tampa investors led by Vince Naimoli started to search for another team and did not have to go far, just across the bay from San Francisco where the Athletics played in Oakland. The Oakland A’s are owned locally by Walter Haas, who hears Naimoli out, but declines to sell the team. Sadly however after leaving the meeting Haas is struck by a drunk driver and killed instantly. His estate decides to sell the team and meets with Naimoli who finally is able to bring Major League Baseball to Tampa Bay. A save the A’s rally is held in Oakland, but is poorly attended convincing MLB owners to approve the move. When the 1993 season starts three new cities will become Major League towns, Denver and Miami both of which received expansion teams, and of course Tampa Bay. The Tampa Bay Athletics played their first season in the American League West.
When Major League Baseball realigned in 1994 the A’s move to Tampa effected the realignment in the AL
AL East
Baltimore
Boston
New York
Tampa Bay
Toronto
AL Central
Chicago
Cleveland
Detroit
Kansas City
Milwaukee
AL West
California
Minnesota
Seattle
Texas
With the Athletics departure to Tampa Bay, Oakland city officials began negotiating with Al Davis to return the Raiders, realizing he’d have a stadium all to himself, Davis accepted announcing in January 1993 that the Raiders would return to Oakland for the 1993 season, and leaving the Rams as the sole franchise in Los Angeles.
In 1993 five cities had been announced as finalist for the NFL 1995 expansion draft, Charlotte, NC; St Louis, MO; Baltimore, MD; Memphis, TN; and Jacksonville, FL. Charlotte, St Louis and Baltimore were considered the front runners, with Charlotte receiving the first team on October 26. The NFL planned to announce the sister expansion club on November 30, and was widely anticipated St Louis and Baltimore were in the top running. As expected St Louis won the bid meaning the St Louis Stallions and Carolina Panthers would enter the league in 1995. (Originally Carolina was placed in the AFC Central and St Louis in the NFC West)
Georgia Rosenbloom the owner of the Los Angeles Rams and a St Louis native sold her team to Malcolm Glazer in order to take control of the expansion St Louis Stallions. Glazer announced he would keep the Rams in Los Angeles, though he moved them out of Anaheim Stadium to play in the Rose Bowl in time for the 1995 season. In 1996 voters approved to build Rams Stadium in the Los Angeles suburb of Inglewood, the stadium was expected to open in 1999, until then the Rams would play their home games in the Rose Bowl.
In August 1994, Hugh Culverhouse, the owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers died leaving a bankrupt team behind, his son Malcolm forced investors to sell the team in 1995 with the New York Yankees George Steinbrenner and Baltimore Orioles Peter Angelos emerging as the front runners. Eventually Angelos outbid his baseball rival, and planned to move the team to Baltimore, he however hit a snag. Jack Kent Cooke of the Washington Redskins was also trying to acquire a baseball expansion team to play in Washington only to have Angelos stand in his way; Cooke would not approve the Buccaneers move to Baltimore unless Angelos backed off of the baseball franchise in Washington. Angelos relented, the Buccaneers move to Baltimore was approved, and Washington would get its baseball team.
Peter Angelos received permission from the NFL to change leagues with the Carolina Panthers; the Baltimore Buccaneers would begin play in 1995 in the AFC Central, while the Carolina Panthers would change divisions with the St Louis Stallions in order to exploit their rivalry with the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints.
1995 NFL
NFC East
Arizona Cardinals
Dallas Cowboys
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Redskins
NFC Central
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
St Louis Stallions
NFC West
Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
Los Angeles Rams
New Orleans Saints
San Francisco 49ers
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Indianapolis Colts
Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots
New York Jets
AFC Central
Baltimore Buccaneers
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Houston Oilers
Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs
Oakland Raiders
San Diego Chargers
Seattle Seahawks
In 1995 Football fans were shocked when Art Modell the owner of the Cleveland Browns announced his plans to move his team to Jacksonville, Florida for the 1996 season. Clevelanders reacted violently as expected, and reached its violent height with the shooting death of Art Modell outside of the Jacksonville Hilton by a deranged Cleveland fan. The NFL and city officials from both Cleveland and Jacksonville condemned the shooting and urged calm; it did however have the effect Clevelanders wanted, the Browns would return to Cleveland with new ownership for the 1996 season, while Jacksonville would be granted an expansion team in 1999 providing the Gator Bowl was adequately upgraded.
In 1996 Bud Adams attempted to get out of his lease with the city of Houston to move the Oilers to Nashville, the city refused, and Adams reluctantly pressed the issue remembering what had happened to Art Modell. The NFL struck a deal between the city of Houston and Bud Adams, allowing Adams to take over the sister expansion franchise of the Jacksonville team in 1999, while the Oilers remained in Houston. Although Adams was reluctant to accept this, he did not want to end up like Art Modell.
In 1999 the NFL realigned with two new franchises entering the league
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Redskins
NFC North
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
New Orleans Saints
St Louis Stallions
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals
Los Angeles Rams
Seattle Seahawks
San Francisco 49ers
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots
New York Jets
AFC North
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Indianapolis Colts
Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South
Baltimore Buccaneers
Houston Oilers
Jacksonville Jaguars
Tennessee Titans
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs
Oakland Raiders
San Diego Chargers
In 1998 Major League Baseball added two National League Teams (the Brewers remain in the AL) the Arizona Diamond Backs and the Washington Nationals. Nothing changed in the American League but the National League was slightly realigned
NL East
Atlanta
Florida
Montreal
New York
Philadelphia
Washington
NL Central
Chicago
Cincinnati
Houston
Pittsburgh
St Louis
NL West
Arizona
Colorado
Los Angeles
San Diego
San Francisco
In 2002 Jeff Loria, the owner of the Montreal Expos orchestrated an arrangement with MLB for baseball to take ownership of the Expos so he could purchase the Florida Marlins. Commissioner Bud Selig originally planned for the Expos to be contracted, but when his plans failed the Expos were shopped around. Attempts to buy the team were made by interests in Indianapolis, IN; Portland, OR; San Antonio, TX; and Charlotte, NC. African-American businessman, and owner of BET Robert Johnson purchased the Montreal Expos from Major League Baseball in 2003. In 2005 the brand new state of the art Carolina Municipal Stadium was built in Charlotte, and the Montreal Expos became the first baseball team in more than a decade to move taking up the name the Charlotte Bobcats (as named by fans), the team remains in the NL East where it rivals the near-by Atlanta Braves.
The next team to relocate was the NFL New Orleans Saints after Hurricane Katrina had wrecked the city, owner Tom Benson moved the team to San Antonio, TX and renamed it the San Antonio Texans and plays their games in the Alamodome. The name New Orleans Saints, the colors and team history remain behind in New Orleans, and rumors persist that the NFL is considering expanding in the near future to New Orleans (and possibly Toronto), other rumors persist that New Orleans interest groups plan on buying the Buffalo Bills and moving them south.
