Why Missouri Lacks a Professional Basketball Team and the Mystique of the Spirits of St. Louis

While the state of Missouri may not have an NBA franchise at the moment, it has a rich sports history that includes some interesting twists and turns. The absence of an NBA team in Missouri is a complex issue influenced by various factors. This article will explore the reasons behind this and the intriguing story behind the Spirits of St. Louis.

Missouri's Basketball History and the NBA Franchise Lapse

Missouri does have professional basketball teams, but these teams are not part of the NBA. St. Louis and Kansas City, the major cities in Missouri, have hosted various professional sports teams, including basketball, but not an NBA franchise since the late 1980s.

The NBA Presence in St. Louis

The city of St. Louis once had an NBA team, the St. Louis Hawks, which played from 1955 until 1968. This team then relocated to Atlanta, becoming the Atlanta Hawks. Since then, St. Louis has not had a permanent NBA team. The city has, however, hosted several minor league and professional teams in basketball.

The NBA Presence in Kansas City

Similarly, Kansas City had an NBA team, the Kansas City Kings, from 1972 until 1985. This team moved to Sacramento, leaving Kansas City without a permanent NBA team since then. While both cities have hosted basketball teams in the past, the competition from larger markets and the financial viability of hosting an NBA team play significant roles in the current absence of an NBA franchise.

Market Size and Competition

The NBA tends to favor larger metropolitan areas for expansion or relocation, which can make it challenging for cities like St. Louis and Kansas City to attract a team. The sheer size of markets such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago often takes precedence, making it harder for smaller markets in states like Missouri to secure an NBA franchise.

Infrastructure and Fan Support

The financial viability and local support are critical factors when hosting an NBA team. Both St. Louis and Kansas City have arenas, but the financial support from local ownership and the development of a robust basketball culture play crucial roles. While both cities have basketball fans, the lack of a recent team may have affected the growth of local support and ownership.

The Enigma of the Spirits of St. Louis

While Missouri does not have an NBA team at present, the Spirits of St. Louis serve as a unique remnant of the past. These professional basketball players were part of the American Basketball Association (ABA) in the 1970s and made headlines when the NBA and ABA merged. Herein lies the reasoning as to why, in my opinion, the state of Missouri currently lacks a professional basketball team.

The NBA-ABA Merger

When the NBA and ABA merged in the summer of 1976, out of the six financially solvent ABA teams, the NBA chose to absorb only four franchises: the New York Nets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs. The owners of these teams received substantial upfront payments and portions of future NBA television revenue.

The Unique Agreement with The Spirits of St. Louis

It's here that things get interesting. The founders of The Spirits of St. Louis, brothers Ozzie and Daniel Silna, managed to negotiate a unique deal with the NBA. Instead of accepting a one-time payment, they received a 2 million dollar upfront payment and a 1/7 share of the future NBA television revenue from the surviving ABA teams. This agreement was not a one-time deal but a perpetual arrangement.

The Financial Windfall

As a result, while Missouri has not had a professional basketball team since 1976, the Silna brothers have been reaping the financial benefits of this deal. They have pocketed over 800 million dollars since the conclusion of the last game played by the Spirits of St. Louis. The latest agreement in 2014 saw the NBA reduce these payments, but the Silna brothers still benefit from a much smaller portion of the television revenue.

The NBA Almost Bought Out the Silnas

Incidentally, the NBA nearly succeeded in buying out the Silna brothers in 1982 by offering 5 million over eight years but the negotiations stalled when the siblings demanded 8 million over five years. This scenario underscores the significant financial value derived from the unique agreement they made.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while Missouri's absence of an NBA team is due to various factors, including historical relocations and market competition, the unique financial arrangement with the Spirits of St. Louis adds an intriguing dimension to this story. The Silna brothers have effectively functioned as a "shadow" NBA franchise, reaping significant financial benefits from a deal that nearly went unchallenged. This begs the question: for a new NBA franchise to be established in Missouri, it would likely need to negotiate a similar, or perhaps even more lucrative, deal.

Damn, the NBA really got hustled.

The NBA-ABA merger and the unique deal with the Spirits of St. Louis is a fascinating chapter in professional basketball history, offering insights into the financial and strategic aspects of sports franchises.