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I don't understand the counter argument or if you are even advancing one. Do you think that an owner who thought expansion in Vegas would increase the value of his own franchise would be against expansion?

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That's kind of playing both ends against the middle IMO. First off, how would his franchise's value perceptibly increase by a team in Vegas? Secondly, although this stuff is researched to death by the NBA before the trigger is pulled, I can't figure out how most teams are significantly affected by expansion. Unlike college games, they don't get part of the road gate that I am aware of.

I can't see a major sports team in Vegas in the near future, but it's inevitable. Along with Phoenix it's the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the country, when they start pushing 2-3+ million people the lure of that fan base will be greater than whatever false image issues the league may face. For the near term however, I could see it being too hot of a potato, and this ref thing could even set it back a few years.