Purely Hypothetical Question Re: Team movement

Post #1 » by **Snakebites** » Sat Jan 30, 2016 2:28 am

I waivered back and fourth on whether or not to actually make a poll about this, but I decided I'm really just interested in reading people's thoughts on the matter:

I live in southern california, where anyone who follows football knows that there's a lot of NFL team movement and discussion of team movement going on. The situation doesn't involve Detroit in any way, and its pretty apparent that Detroit/Michigan is a strong enough sports market as to make moving unlikely in the extreme for the forseeable future, but I was wondering how people on this board would react if the Pistons moved out of the Michigan area?

Would the team immediately be dead to you forever?

Would changing their name impact how you felt about it?

Would you continue to root for the team due to investment in the players, etc.?

Would WHERE the team moved impact how you felt about the team moving forward?

I probably have a different perspective than most people do because I do not, nor have I ever lived anywhere near Michigan, and my status as a Piston fan really isn't tied to Detroit in any meaningful way. Its really not something I've ever had a conversation with a fellow Piston fan about, since there simply aren't any where I live other than my dad.

Just curious about some general thoughts on this entirely hypothetical subject.

ComboGuardCity · Post #2 » by **ComboGuardCity** » Sat Jan 30, 2016 2:35 am

It would be so tough to cheer for the team if they moved out of state. I'd love the players still, but by that point I'm sure there's some bad blood between ownership and fans that I could no longer root for them.

Blkbrd671 · Post #3 » by **Blkbrd671** » Sat Jan 30, 2016 2:44 am

i couldn't be a fan, love the player and would reminisce but i'd shut down my realgm account. I am a piston fan because they are from michigan

MrBigShot · Post #4 » by **MrBigShot** » Sat Jan 30, 2016 2:54 am

Blkbrd671 wrote:i couldn't be a fan, love the player and would reminisce but i'd shut down my realgm account. I am a piston fan because they are from michigan

This more or less. The sense of pride and joy when we win against the Cavs or Chicago, or Boston...it's in huge part due to the feeling that our state/area beat their's. Without that as time went on and the team changed I don't think I'd be able to root for them anymore.

DETermination · Post #5 » by **DETermination** » Sat Jan 30, 2016 3:21 am

I would stop watching the nba if the pistons were moved out of michigan.

joedumars1 · Post #6 » by **joedumars1** » Sat Jan 30, 2016 3:27 am

mattao313 · Post #7 » by **mattao313** » Sat Jan 30, 2016 3:30 am

It would suck, I probably couldn'tt even watch them anymore because of the heartbreak. I would prefer a name change if it happened, it's only one Pistons team and its the Detroit Pistons not some other city.

Post #8 » by **Snakebites** » Sat Jan 30, 2016 4:01 am

I figured that would be the general consensus. Any other non-natives around here besides me? Am I the only one?

Pugz · Post #9 » by **Pugz** » Sat Jan 30, 2016 4:11 am

i probably wouldnt be able to watch as religiously but id still watch from time to time. im a fan of the game first and foremost, but still love the pistons. id just follow the league; rather the team.

ahike12 · Post #10 » by **ahike12** » Sat Jan 30, 2016 5:46 am

I'm from Omaha. Family up in Michigan. I don't know, I feel like I identify with the Detroit work ethic, but I probably just identify with Midwest life in general. I feel like if they stayed Midwest I would be okay. A coast or down south would be hard. I'm such an NBA fan, though, and a big believer in fully supporting one team, that I would need a team. I don't know that I could just move on to a team that I've grown to not be a fan of over the years.

Finn McCool · Post #11 » by **Finn McCool** » Sat Jan 30, 2016 5:56 am

Snakebites wrote:I waivered back and fourth on whether or not to actually make a poll about this, but I decided I'm really just interested in reading people's thoughts on the matter:

I live in southern california, where anyone who follows football knows that there's a lot of NFL team movement and discussion of team movement going on. The situation doesn't involve Detroit in any way, and its pretty apparent that Detroit/Michigan is a strong enough sports market as to make moving unlikely in the extreme for the forseeable future, but I was wondering how people on this board would react if the Pistons moved out of the Michigan area?

Would the team immediately be dead to you forever?

Would changing their name impact how you felt about it?

Would you continue to root for the team due to investment in the players, etc.?

Would WHERE the team moved impact how you felt about the team moving forward?

I probably have a different perspective than most people do because I do not, nor have I ever lived anywhere near Michigan, and my status as a Piston fan really isn't tied to Detroit in any meaningful way. Its really not something I've ever had a conversation with a fellow Piston fan about, since there simply aren't any where I live other than my dad.

Just curious about some general thoughts on this entirely hypothetical subject.

You are not the only one. I grew up in California. There weren't many Pistons fans from where I was from.

My Grandfather had superb season tickets to the Warriors.... we're talking early 70s to late 80s. He had a bunch of pictures of the players with him around his house. He was a pro golfer, though... so, pros get together some.

I understand how locals would feel... as I am also an Oakland Raider fan.... and there is much talk of them moving.

MotownMadness · Post #12 » by **MotownMadness** » Sat Jan 30, 2016 5:57 am

I've actually thought about this before and I couldn't be into basketball anymore lol

tmorgan · Post #13 » by **tmorgan** » Sat Jan 30, 2016 8:43 am

I don't know what I'd do. Probably just cave, become a Warriors fan, and claim I'd been there all along. Sad but true.

JLiv · Post #14 » by **JLiv** » Sat Jan 30, 2016 2:06 pm

I've never even been to Michigan so I'd still follow the team lol

DBC10 · Post #15 » by **DBC10** » Sat Jan 30, 2016 2:13 pm

It'd be how the current (or former) Supersonics fans feel, betrayed, angry, and lost.

They still hate the OKC ownership there and consequently the team since it's no longer theirs. I'd easily stop following the Pistons and follow the Warriors (my 2nd team) or even the Knicks.

Post #16 » by **Snakebites** » Sat Jan 30, 2016 2:31 pm

Yeah, for me its very different because I have never been a part of ANY local fan community for a professional team. Rooting for teams from far away is all I've ever really known and the concept of being unwilling to do so is foreign to me.

In fact (and sure, get your tomatoes ready if this bothers you), I'd probably actually be HAPPY if the Pistons moved closer to my region, as it would give me more of a chance to see them, and possibly even a chance to see them on TV without paying for the league pass.

whitehops · Post #17 » by **whitehops** » Sat Jan 30, 2016 3:52 pm

i'm not from detroit so as long as the people in the organization (coach and players, really) stayed the same i would still cheer for the pistons.

also i think you mean "wavered".

Post #18 » by **Snakebites** » Sat Jan 30, 2016 3:56 pm

whitehops wrote:i'm not from detroit so as long as the people in the organization (coach and players, really) stayed the same i would still cheer for the pistons.

also i think you mean "wavered".

Thank you so much for the spelling correction. It in no way irritates me and truly adds much to your post and this discussion as a whole.

whitehops · Post #19 » by **whitehops** » Sat Jan 30, 2016 3:58 pm

Snakebites wrote:
whitehops wrote:i'm not from detroit so as long as the people in the organization (coach and players, really) stayed the same i would still cheer for the pistons.

also i think you mean "wavered".

Thank you so much for the spelling correction. It in no way irritates me and truly adds much to your post and this discussion as a whole.

any time.

Finn McCool · Post #20 » by **Finn McCool** » Sat Jan 30, 2016 4:13 pm

deleted post.