re: Is Houston considered a big sports market?

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Dallas, Houston, DC, Atlanta and Miami all have huge transplant populations on that list

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I wouldn't consider Dallas in that. I would venture to say at least 75% of people that live in DFW grew up within 200 miles of the area

eta: and in Texas that isn't very far

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I don't think Dallas is as big as Houston but a fair amount are coming from out of state due to the economy. Maybe huge isn't right, but it still seems like it's pretty big whenever I'm there. I'd definitely put it over places like Boston, Philly and Chicago.

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Valid point. I think that leads to interesting make up. Like you said, the economy is so good, people want to come work here, but people don't want to leave either

No data present, but IMO I'd say NYC, LA, Chicago, DFW, Boston, Philadelphia, and Miami are all bigger sports markets. Houston is second tier with ATL, Denver, Phoenix, Bay Area, etc.

Hopefully that trend will change. Houston has great facilities, two really competitive teams (Texans/Rockets) and hopefully the Astros pick up steam with the move to the AL West. I know Houston put a bid in for the 2012 Olympics years back. That would've done a lot for the city as far as a sports market.

As far as sports markets go Boston>>>Chicago

b/c they still remember their Choke City days

I would venture to say that the reason Houston isn't considered a big sports market, even though they are population wise, is because they are all 'new' teams. The Rockets don't fall in this category because they have had well known players and have won championships and have been around for awhile.

The Texans are a relatively new team, plus the Oilers were loved so it took some time to get over them. The Astros are a lot like the Rangers, never could get a huge following until recently, except the Astros weren't able to keep up their success which killed their teams popularity.

Tradition has a lot to do with a perception of a 'big market'. The amount of money spent on a team and the players also give a feel that its a big market team. Up to about a couple of years ago, the Rangers were considered a 'small market' team. That is a couple of reasons why Boston is considered a big market, although they do branch out to most of New England. Plus, the more bandwagon fans there are all over the country makes it seem like a big market team.

I do think the perception of Houston is changing as their teams get bigger and more successful.

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And LA and NY don't? 40% of LA's residents were not only not born in Metro LA, but where not even born in the United States.

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By transplant I meant within the US. Those areas I listed (though maybe not Dallas as much) have lots of people who have moved from other US metro areas and already have other fan allegiances.

To me having a large immigrant population represents an opportunity to grow as a sports city in the long term.

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Considered medium market by most.

It seems really only NYC, LA and Chicago are considered big markets

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it is a big market for advertising considerations.

for the purposes of selecting a home base, it has no 'bohemian' culture. It is less attractive to players because its a boring redneck oil town.
NYC has bohemians and a bohemian culture and a black music culture.
Chicago has a bohemian culture and a black music culture.
L.A. has movie stars and access to Hollywood.

So... Houston is a big market but finishes out of the money when you are talking about great cities to live in and enjoy.
Chicago and NYC have better opera, better symphony, better jazz, and lots of legitimate theatre and the best dance companies. Players may not care about all that but their wives do.

One more thing, Houston is IMMENSE so it has that same down side as LA, Chicago and NYC have.

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Players may not care about all that but their wives do.

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No. I agree Houston is much less attractive but it has nothing to do with having an opera or some shite. It has to do with it being a smaller market than NYC, LA or Chicago and having much less attractive nightlife and celebrity life than those three. Nobody gives a shite about the symphony or opera.

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Chicago and NYC have better opera, better symphony, better jazz, and lots of legitimate theatre and the best dance companies. Players may not care about all that but their wives do.

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@ Wives
@NBA Wives caring about the symphony and operas.