Spring Break
Relocation: as American as apple pie
Carolina Hurricanes will stay put in Raleigh
Kellen Holtzman
Issue date: 6/18/08 Section: Sports
The relocation of professional sports franchises in the United States has been commonplace since the turn of the 20th century.
One of the first significant relocations occurred over 100 years ago when baseball's Milwaukee Brewers became the St. Louis Browns.
In fact, baseball has witnessed some of the most historic relocations.
The New York Yankees franchise is one of the most popular in all of sports--a Yankees cap is almost instantly recognizable anywhere in the world--but the history of the storied team isn't well known.
The Yankees began as the Baltimore Orioles before the team moved to New York to become the "Highlanders" in 1903.
In 1958, the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants accounted for one of the most infamous moves in relocation history.
Both of the New York squads headed west for Los Angeles and San Francisco respectively, and became the first two major league teams on the west coast.
The Dodgers' home of Ebbets Field and the Giants' Polo Grounds weren't seen as suitable for Major League Baseball any longer, thus the team's owners searched for new places to call home.
Sadly, the insufficient stadium trend carries on today and seems to be the major source for relocation talks.
The Tar Heel state has found itself in the middle of relocation plans on more than one occasion.
The Carolina Hurricanes recently extended their lease with the RBC Center, ensuring the team will remain in Raleigh until at least 2024. The extension was part of two years of negotiations involving the Hurricanes, ownership of the RBC Center, the city of Raleigh and NC State.
Of course, the Hurricanes are a product of relocation themselves, having moved from Hartford, Connecticut in 1997.
Hurricanes President/General Manager Jim Rutherford recognizes the agreement as an important milestone for the Hurricanes.
"The extension of our lease displays the confidence that we have in the growth of hockey in this market," said Rutherford in a press conference last week.
One of the first significant relocations occurred over 100 years ago when baseball's Milwaukee Brewers became the St. Louis Browns.
In fact, baseball has witnessed some of the most historic relocations.
The New York Yankees franchise is one of the most popular in all of sports--a Yankees cap is almost instantly recognizable anywhere in the world--but the history of the storied team isn't well known.
The Yankees began as the Baltimore Orioles before the team moved to New York to become the "Highlanders" in 1903.
In 1958, the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants accounted for one of the most infamous moves in relocation history.
Both of the New York squads headed west for Los Angeles and San Francisco respectively, and became the first two major league teams on the west coast.
The Dodgers' home of Ebbets Field and the Giants' Polo Grounds weren't seen as suitable for Major League Baseball any longer, thus the team's owners searched for new places to call home.
Sadly, the insufficient stadium trend carries on today and seems to be the major source for relocation talks.
The Tar Heel state has found itself in the middle of relocation plans on more than one occasion.
The Carolina Hurricanes recently extended their lease with the RBC Center, ensuring the team will remain in Raleigh until at least 2024. The extension was part of two years of negotiations involving the Hurricanes, ownership of the RBC Center, the city of Raleigh and NC State.
Of course, the Hurricanes are a product of relocation themselves, having moved from Hartford, Connecticut in 1997.
Hurricanes President/General Manager Jim Rutherford recognizes the agreement as an important milestone for the Hurricanes.
"The extension of our lease displays the confidence that we have in the growth of hockey in this market," said Rutherford in a press conference last week.
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