5. Las Vegas
If ever there was a city build as a shrine to entertainment, it is Las Vegas. The neon home of casinos, the city where “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,” it would seem somewhat surprising that a major league franchise in any sport has not called this city home.
While it is a tourist and entertainment Mecca, the risks are obvious. With legalized gambling, and such a large part of the city’s economy based on such activities, there is the risk that various unsavory characters could look to influence the games. Given the numerous black eyes that the MLB has had in its past due to gambling, would Manfred want to open that potential Pandora’s Box by putting a franchise in Vegas?
However, it seems inevitable that a team from one of the four major sports will end up calling Vegas home in the somewhat near future. The NHL is considering their own expansion for the 2017-18 season, with Vegas and Quebec City being the only two locations under consideration. Even though such expansion is not guaranteed, the realization that Vegas will get a franchise should it happen may show that those concerns over legalized gambling are overblown.
Las Vegas has virtually anything that a person would want, except for a major league franchise from one of the four major sports in America. That could change in the next couple of years. Should expansion come to the NHL, and progress smoothly in Vegas, that could open the floodgates for other leagues to follow suit and place a franchise there.
Next: Home of the bats