Orlando Magic interested in D-league team for Jacksonville

[UNFurbanist]

Yeah, on the surface it seems to me that Jax would be a great location! Im also from Lakeland and if I still lived there I would definitely just drive to the real thing. Unlike in Jax where it is just too far and I'm even a pretty big Magic fan. I would go and watch their D league team though for the right price! I think many in Jax would feel the same way. Mix that with our population and arena I think we are the perfect secondary market!

[JaxJersey-licious]

Actually what I missed was the Magic having their training camp over at UNF back in the day. That should have been a great tool for them to increase their footprint but given this area's football roots plus the Orlando's area contempt for North Florida made that an uphill battle but the city's attainment of it's very own major league professional sports franchise really took up a lot of the oxygen for the support of other franchises not in the region.

On top of those barriers, I think the biggest hindrance for Jacksonville (or other cities of similar size without NBA teams) getting and keeping a D-League team is the "One-N-Done" nature of college basketball since much of any regular season college basketball interest is with programs with these players but much of the D-league is typically filled with these star's teammates who stuck around - players fans may not be familiar with since most college fans nationally stopped paying attention to the teams once their star left which leaves a smaller chance your D-League team will have enough players or anyone that can draw significant enough crowds for bigger venues like the Veteran's Arena.

Compare that too what the arena and the city of a much smaller venue could offer a D-League team. Chances are the area has no other pro sports team, the college teams most residents root for are too far away for any of them to see regularly, and they have an indoor venue that's only used sporadically. And chances are the idea that they could have 26 games a year drawing 1,000-2,000 fans each would be enough for the arena owners and the city to practically throw the owners the keys. While you'd never confuse the Veteran's Arena with the L.A. Staples Center, there's a limit how far the people who run the Arena or similar venues that size would go to attract this kind of team team.

That's why I think Daytona Beach in this scenario would have the best chance. Given the Ft. Myers arena is an outdated dump, at least the newer one in Estero gets its fair share of events while the Ocean Center is practically concert flyover country for venues in Orlando and could offer a more desperate deal. 

[ProjectMaximus]

^Sports' version of tax incentives for corporate relos

[KenFSU]

Jacksonville made the short list, per the T-U:

Jacksonville is one of four sites being considered for the Orlando Magic's new NBA Development League affiliate.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the Magic has narrowed the list of locations to Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, ESPN Wide World of Sports' HP Field House, Kissimmee's Silver Spurs Arena and The Lakeland Center, according to Magic CEO Alex Martins.

Each venue will submit proposals to the Magic by the end of March.

[JaGoaT]

Most likely going to Disney

[ProjectMaximus]

I feel like this isn't really worth the city/arena's effort as far as any big concessions go, but we might have a chance if the Magic consider this an opportunity to expand the fan base and brand.

[KenFSU]

Via the TU:

City won't be Magic D-League team

Jacksonville will not be the site of the Orlando Magic's NBA Development League team.

The Magic said Thursday it narrowed its choices the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee and The Lakeland Center. Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena and ESPN Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista also were considered. The new team will begin play in 2017.

[Kerry]

It seems to be a trend with basketball and baseball to move their development league teams closer to their primary team.  The OKC Thunder recently relocated their D-League team from Tulsa to an arena directly across the street from the Thunder's home court.   If the O-Rena was still standing I imagine it would be the new home already.  Atlanta moved their AAA team to metro Atlanta several years ago and the Texas Rangers have been doing the same thing.