NFL Team Distribution: States Without Professional Football Franchises

States without NFL teams: the football deserts of America

The national football league stand as America’s nigh popular sports league, with 32 teams spread across the country. Notwithstanding, the distribution of these franchises leave many states without professional football representation. Presently, 22 states do not host an NFL team, create significant geographical gaps in the league’s national footprint.

Complete list of states without NFL teams

The following states do not presently have a nNFLfranchise:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arkansas
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Maine
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• North Dakota
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• South Dakota
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

The nearly populous states without NFL teams

Among the states lack NFL representation, several have substantial populations that might differently support a franchise:

Virginia

With over 8.6 million residents, Virginia rank as the virtually populous state without a nNFLteam. Despite its size, vVirginias proximity to wWashingtond.c. ((ome of the commanders ))nd balBaltimorer(ens ) h) probable prevent it from secure its own franchise. Many virgiVirginiansecially in the northern part of the state, support these neighboring teams.

Source: dailysnark.com

Oklahoma

Home to almost 4 million people, Oklahoma have a passionate sports culture but no NFL presence. The state host successful college football programs at the university of Oklahoma and Oklahoma state university, which command significant local attention. Many Oklahoma football fans support either the Dallas Cowboys or Kansas City chiefs.

Oregon

With roughly 4.2 million residents, Oregon represent another significant gap in NFL coverage. Portland, the state’s largest city, support the NBA’s trailblazers but has ne’er secure aanfNFLranchise. The seSeattle Seahawkslocate in neighbor waWashingtoncapture much of the region’s football fandom.

Connecticut

Despite its population of 3.6 million, Connecticut sit between the New York and New England markets, with residents typically support either the giants, jets, or patriots. This geographical position between major markets makes it unlikely to gain its own team.

Why some states lack NFL teams

Market size limitations

The NFL prioritize large metropolitan areas that can support the substantial financial requirements of a franchise. Many states without teams have smaller population centers that struggle to compete with major markets. For instance, states like Wyoming, Vermont, and North Dakota have total populations smaller than many NFL cities.

The league look for markets that can:

• Fill a stadium with 60,000 + seats for eight or more home games
• Support premium and luxury seating options
• Attract corporate sponsorships
• Generate substantial local media revenue

Stadium financing challenge

Modern NFL stadiums typically cost between $1 3 billion to construct. This present a significant hurdle for smaller markets. Recent stadium projects include:

• SoFi Stadium (lLos Angeles) $ $5 billion
• Allegiant stadium (lLas Vegas) $ $1 billion
• Mercedes-Benz stadium (aAtlanta) $ $1 billion

Without substantial public funding or billionaire ownership willing to cover costs, many states can not realistically compete for teams.

Proximity to exist franchises

The NFL avoid oversaturating regions with overly many teams. States like Connecticut, Delaware, and parts of Virginia fall within to establish fan territories of exist franchises. The league protect these market boundaries to maintain team values and prevent dilution of fan bases.

College football dominance

In several states without NFL teams, college football reign supreme. Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Nebraska host powerhouse collegiate programs that command intense local loyalty. This establishes fan culture can make it difficult for a professional team to gain traction.

The university of Alabama, for example, regularly draw over 100,000 fans to home games, demonstrate the region’s football passion is already being served through collegiate competition.

States that nearly have NFL teams

Alabama

Birmingham has made several attempts to secure a nNFLfranchise. The city host the bBirminghamaAmericansand bBirminghamvVulcanin the world football league during the 1970s and former the biBirminghamtallions in the usUSFDespite these efforts, the nflNFLs ne’er expexpandedto aAlabama

Oregon

Portland was considered as a potential relocation destination when thNew Orleansns saints face uncertainty follow hurricanKatrinana. Finally, the saints remain iNew Orleansns, anPortlandnd’NFLfl aspirations go unfulfilled.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City has emerged as a viable professional sports market after successfully support theNBAa’s thunder. The city has occasionally been mention as a potentialNFLl expansion location, though no formal efforts havematerializede.

Source: totalprosports.com

Nevada

Until latterly, Nevada was among the states without a nNFLteam. That change when the raiders relocate from oOaklandto lLas Vegas begin play in nNevadain 2020. This move remove nNevadafrom the list of states without nNFLrepresentation.

Alternative football in states without NFL teams

College football prominence

Many states without NFL teams boast strong college football traditions:

• 
  Alabama:
  
  University of Alabama and auburn university
• 
  Oklahoma:
  
  University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma state
• 
  Oregon:
  
  University of Oregon and Oregon state
• 
  Nebraska:
  
  University of Nebraska
• 
  Mississippi:
  
  Ole miss and Mississippi state

These programs oftentimes serve as de facto professional teams for local fans, generate similar levels of passion and community engagement.

Minor league and alternative football

Several alternative football leagues have attempt to fill the void in states without NFL teams:

• 
  XFL:
  
  Has place teams in non NFL markets
• 
  USF / uNFL
  
  The revive United States football league merge with the XFL to form the NFL, place teams in markets like Birmingham, Alabama
• 
  Indoor football league:
  
  Operate in smaller markets across many states without NFL representation

These leagues provide professional football opportunities in regions overlook by the NFL, though with importantly smaller budgets and profiles.

Could more states gain NFL teams?

Expansion possibilities

The NFL presently maintain 32 teams, organize into eight four team divisions. Any expansion would potentially involve add teams in pairs to maintain competitive balance. The league has not express immediate plans for expansion, but several locations are ofmentionedon as candidates:

• 
  Portland, Oregon:
  
  A growth market with establish professional sports culture
• 
  San Antonio, Texas:
  
  Would add a third team to Texas, which already support the cowboys and Texans
• 
  Oklahoma City:
  
  Has demonstrated viability with theNBAa’s thunder
• 
  Louisville, Kentucky:
  
  Offer a passionate sports market presently without major professional teams

Relocation scenarios

Sooner than expansion, states without teams might more realistically gain NFL representation through relocation. Teams face stadium issues or market challenges occasionally consider move. Current franchises that have face relocation speculation include:

• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Buffalo Bills (before secure a new stadium deal )
• Arizona Cardinals

Nonetheless, the NFL has progressively prioritized keep teams in their current markets, work with local governments to secure stadium deals sooner than approve relocations.

The cultural impact of NFL absence

For states without NFL teams, the absence creates distinct cultural and economic realities:

Regional allegiances

Fans in states without teams typically adopt franchises from neighboring regions. This creates interesting divides, such as:

• Alabama fans split between the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans saints, and Tennessee Titans
• Oklahoma preponderantly supports theDallas Cowboyss
• Oregon back the Seattle Seahawks

These adopt allegiances oftentimes follow media market boundaries and historical broadcasting patterns.

Economic implications

States without NFL franchises miss out on certain economic benefits, include:

• Direct employment from team operations
• Game day revenue for local businesses
• Construction jobs for stadium development
• National media exposure

Notwithstanding, they besides avoid the controversial public financing arrangements that oftentimes accompany NFL stadium deals, which economic studies often question in terms of true public benefit.

Conclusion: the future of NFL geography

The NFL’s current distribution leave almost half of u.s. states without teams, create significant geographical gaps in professional football coverage. While expansion or relocation could finally bring teams to states like Virginia, Oregon, or Oklahoma, many smaller states will probable will remain without NFL representation indefinitely.

For football fans in these regions, college football, emerge alternative leagues, and allegiances to teams in neighboring states fill the void. The passion for football remain strong across America, yet in states where the NFL’s shield does not fly over a home stadium on Sundays.

As the NFL will consider its future growth, the balance between market size, facility financing, and regional representation will continue to will shape which will state will gain teams and which will remain on the outside will look in. For nowadays, these 22 states represent the unfilled territories in America’s almost popular sports league.