NFL Expansion Project

By:

N. D.

K. H.

D. N.

J. F.

Background

The NFL is expanding from 32 teams to 40.

The Commissioner was planning on adding four new cities each to the NFC and the AFC.

We had to find 8 new cities that had populations that could support a large franchise.

We created 2 new teams in each region (North, South, East, West); one each for the NFC and AFC.

Process

We started by creating a map with the existing NFL teams on it.

We used 2005 census data to approximate necessary population size and income level.

We categorized possible cities using: Total population of that city

Approximate population growth

Average family income

Current NFL Teams

Blue Dots: Existing Teams

Population Range

The existing NFL cities’ populations range from a little more than 300 thousand people, to several million.

We used these numbers to approximate how many inhabitants a city needed to sustain a NFL franchise.

Family Income Range

The median family income of the current NFL cities varies form over 70 thousand per family, to as little as 30 thousand

These numbers helped us estimate the family income necessary for an NFL city.

Ranges

The Population Range and the Family Income Range helped us realize that the population necessary is about 300 thousand people or more.

The Median Family Income level also needed to be fairly high so that families could afford tickets to games, as well as merchandise and souvenirs.

New Teams

AFC: North : Omaha, Nebraska

South: Fort Worth, Texas

East: Virginia Beach, Virginia

West: Albuquerque, New Mexico

NFC North: Louisville, Kentucky

South: San Antonio, Texas

East: Raleigh, North Carolina

West: Anaheim, California

Current and New NFL Teams

Blue Dots: Existing Teams

Red Dots: New Teams

AFC North: Nebraska Nighthawks

Based in Omaha, Nebraska

Population: 414,521

3.1% growth rate in 2005

Income is approximately $51,637 per family

First professional football team in this area.

The excitement of a football game could bring people from surrounding states as well.

AFC East: Virginia Beach Vipers

Population: 438,415

3.1% growth rate in 2005

Income is approximately $65,102 per family

A possible natural rival to other Mid-Atlantic and New England teams.

Dense population in the Northeast region can support another franchise.

AFC South: Fort Worth Fire Ants

Population: 624, 057

15.3% growth rate in 2005

Income is about $47,064 per family

Natural rival to other Texas teams.

Has a fairly large population in addition to the high growth rate.

AFC West: Albuquerque Atoms

Population: 494, 235

10% growth rate in 2005

Income is approximately $54, 570 per family

First pro football team in New Mexico

Could easily draw spectators from surrounding states due to New Mexico’s central location.

NFC North: Louisville Lancers

Population: 556,429

1% growth in 2005 Income rate: $50,098 per family

Natural rival to the Tennessee Titans

Close to existing Indiana and Ohio franchises

Can take advantage of Kentucky’s football fever (Kentucky Wildcats)

NFC East: Raleigh Rhinos

Population: 341,530 people

19.9% growth rate in 2005

Income rate: $65,033 per family

Decent population size and relatively high population growth rate can sustain a team

Relatively close to the densely populated Northeast

NFC South: San Antonio Stars

Population: 1,256,506

9.1% growth rate Median family income rate: $47,150 per family

Texas’s large area and population can easily support another team

Already has over one million inhabitants and still has a reasonable growth rate.

Already has a successful basketball franchise.

NFC West: Anaheim Arrows

Population: 331,804

1.2% growth rate in 2005

Income rate: $55,478 per family

California’s relative wealth can sustain another franchise

California already has several successful pro sports franchises.