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Will Birmingham join the National Basketball Association?

January 8, 2007
     Photograph
  Jefferson County commissioner
Larry Langford
   
Jefferson County commissioner Larry Langford informs the Commission that he is working to bring a National Basketball Association team to Birmingham.

Langford claims to be in discussion with a group of professional athletes to lure an NBA team to the city. His plans are contingent on the city building a multi-sport facility for the team to play in, however. "It needs to be a 40,000-seat stadium and not a 70,000-seat stadium. I'm working with some pro athletes right now. I'm excited where they are. The mere fact they want to commit that kind of money to it. A 40,000-seat stadium would let UAB and Miles play football games," Langford said.

Langford's comments came after Commission president Bettye Fine Collins updated the panel on a special meeting of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex board. Collins said the board members offered alternatives to a domed stadium, which a majority of the Commission members oppose. "They are looking at a reduction of their Plan A," Collins said.

November 17, 2007
Mayor-elect Larry Langford says there are still discussions with a group of pro athletes about luring an NBA team to Birmingham, contingent on construction of a dome. Langford would not elaborate on the plans but feels strongly there is a demand for professional basketball in Birmingham. "I guarantee you if an NBA team announced they were coming tomorrow morning, you'd have a hard time getting tickets," Langford said.

October 2007

2007-08                           
National Basketball Association                            
xxx   xxx   xxx   xxx   xxx   xxx
  Atlanta Hawks logo   Boston Celtics logo   Charlotte Bobcats logo   Chicago Bulls logo   Cleveland Cavaliers logo  
  Atlanta Hawks   Boston Celtics
Champion
  Charlotte Bobcats   Chicago Bulls   Cleveland Cavaliers  
                     
  Dallas Mavericks logo   Denver Nuggets logo   Detroit Pistons logo   Golden State Warriors logo   Houston Rockets logo  
  Dallas Mavericks   Denver Nuggets   Detroit Pistons   Golden State Warriors   Houston Rockets  
                     
  Indiana Pacers logo   Los Angeles Clippers logo   Los Angeles Lakers logo   Memphis Grizzlies logo   Miami Heat logo  
  Indiana Pacers   Los Angeles Clippers   Los Angeles Lakers   Memphis Grizzlies   Miami Heat  
                     
  Milwaukee Bucks logo   Minnesota Timberwolves logo   New Jersey Nets logo   New Orleans Hornets logo   New York Knicks logo  
  Milwaukee Bucks   Minnesota Timberwolves   New Jersey Nets   New Orleans Hornets   New York Knicks  
                     
  Orlando Magic logo   Philadelphia 76ers logo   Phoenix Suns logo   Portland Trailblazers logo   Sacramento Kings logo  
  Orlando Magic   Philadelphia 76ers   Phoenix Suns   Portland Trailblazers   Sacramento Kings  
                     
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  San Antonio Spurs   Seattle Supersonics   Toronto Raptors   Utah Jazz   Washington Wizards  
                     

Epilogue
Unfortunately, Birmingham did not build a new arena nor did the city ever obtain a National Basketball Association team.


Teams of the                           
National Basketball Association                            
xxx   xxx   xxx   xxx   xxx   xxx
  Anderson Packers logo   Atlanta Hawks logo   Baltimore Bullets logo   Baltimore Bullets logo   Boston Celtics logo  
  Anderson Packers
1949-50
  Atlanta Hawks
1968-69 to 2023-24
  Baltimore Bullets (I)
1947-48 to 1954-55
  Baltimore Bullets (II)
1963-64 to 1972-73
  Boston Celtics
1946-47 to 2023-24
 
                     
  Brooklyn Nets logo   Buffalo Braves logo   Capital Bullets logo   Charlotte Bobcats logo   Charlotte Hornets logo  
  Brooklyn Nets
2012-13 to 2023-24
  Buffalo Braves
1970-71 to 1977-78
  Capital Bullets
1973-74
  Charlotte Bobcats
2004-05 to 2013-14
  Charlotte Hornets (I)
1988-89 to 2001-02
 
                     
  Charlotte Hornets logo   Chicago Bulls logo   Chicago Packers logo   Chicago Stags logo   Chicago Zephyrs logo  
  Charlotte Hornets (II)
2014-15 to 2023-24
  Chicago Bulls
1966-67 to 2023-24
  Chicago Packers
1961-62
  Chicago Stags
1946-47 to 1949-50
  Chicago Zephyrs
1962-63
 
                     
  Cincinnati Royals logo   Cleveland Cavaliers logo   Cleveland Rebels logo   Dallas Mavericks logo   Denver Nuggets logo  
  Cincinnati Royals
1957-58 to 1971-72
  Cleveland Cavaliers
1970-71 to 2023-24
  Cleveland Rebels
1946-47
  Dallas Mavericks
1980-81 to 2023-24
  Denver Nuggets (I)
1949-50
 
                     
  Denver Nuggets logo   NEED
LOGO
  Detroit Pistons logo   Fort Wayne Pistons logo   Golden State Warriors logo  
  Denver Nuggets (II)
1976-77 to 2023-24
  Detroit Falcons
1946-47
  Detroit Pistons
1957-58 to 2023-24
  Fort Wayne Pistons
1948-49 to 1956-57
  Golden State Warriors
1971-72 to 2023-24
 
                     
  Houston Rockets logo   Indiana Pacers logo   Indianapolis Jets logo   Indianapolis Olympians logo   Kansas City Kings logo  
  Houston Rockets
1971-72 to 2023-24
  Indiana Pacers
1976-77 to 2023-24
  Indianapolis Jets
1948-49
  Indianapolis Olympians
1949-50 to 1952-53
  Kansas City Kings
1975-76 to 1984-85
 
                     
  Kansas City-Omaha Kings logo   Los Angeles Clippers logo   Los Angeles Lakers logo   Memphis Grizzlies logo   Miami Heat logo  
  Kansas City-Omaha Kings
1972-73 to 1974-75
  Los Angeles Clippers
1984-85 to 2023-24
  Los Angeles Lakers
1960-61 to 2023-24
  Memphis Grizzlies
2001-02 to 2023-24
  Miami Heat
1988-89 to 2023-24
 
                     
  Milwaukee Bucks logo   Milwaukee Hawks logo   Minneapolis Lakers logo   Minnesota Timberwolves logo   New Jersey Nets logo  
  Milwaukee Bucks
1968-69 to 2023-24
  Milwaukee Hawks
1951-52 to 1954-55
  Minneapolis Lakers
1948-49 to 1959-60
  Minnesota Timberwolves
1989-90 to 2023-24
  New Jersey Nets
1977-78 to 2011-12
 
                     
  New Orleans Hornets logo   New Orleans Jazz logo   New Orleans Pelicans logo   New Orleans Hornets logo   New York Knicks logo  
  New Orleans Hornets
2002-03 to 2012-13
  New Orleans Jazz
1974-75 to 1978-79
  New Orleans Pelicans
2013-14 to 2023-24
  New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
2005-06 to 2006-07
  New York Knicks
1946-47 to 2023-24
 
                     
  New York Nets logo   Oklahoma City Thunder logo   Orlando Magic logo   Philadelphia 76ers logo   Philadelphia Warriors logo  
  New York Nets
1976-77
  Oklahoma City Thunder
2008-09 to 2023-24
  Orlando Magic
1989-90 to 2023-24
  Philadelphia 76ers
1963-64 to 2023-24
  Philadelphia Warriors
1946-47 to 1961-62
 
                     
  Phoenix Suns logo   Pittsburgh Ironmen logo   Portland Trail Blazers logo   Providence Steamrollers logo   Rochester Royals logo  
  Phoenix Suns
1968-69 to 2023-24
  Pittsburgh Ironmen
1946-47
  Portland Trail Blazers
1970-71 to 2023-24
  Providence Steamrollers
1946-47 to 1948-49
  Rochester Royals
1948-49 to 1956-57
 
                     
  Sacramento Kings logo   San Antonio Spurs logo   San Diego Clippers logo   San Diego Rockets logo   San Francisco Warriors logo  
  Sacramento Kings
1985-86 to 2023-24
  San Antonio Spurs
1976-77 to 2023-24
  San Diego Clippers
1978-79 to 1983-84
  San Diego Rockets
1967-68 to 1970-71
  San Francisco Warriors
1962-63 to 1970-71
 
                     
  Seattle Supersonics logo   Sheboygan Red Skins logo   St. Louis Bombers logo   St. Louis Hawks logo   Syracuse Nationals logo  
  Seattle Supersonics
1967-68 to 2007-08
  Sheboygan Red Skins
1949-50
  St. Louis Bombers
1946-47 to 1949-50
  St. Louis Hawks
1955-56 to 1967-68
  Syracuse Nationals
1949-50 to 1962-63
 
                     
  Toronto Huskies logo   Toronto Raptors logo   Tri-Cities Blackhawks logo   Utah Jazz logo   Vancouver Grizzlies logo  
  Toronto Huskies
1946-47
  Toronto Raptors
1995-96 to 2023-24
  Tri-Cities Blackhawks
1949-50 to 1950-51
  Utah Jazz
1979-80 to 2023-24
  Vancouver Grizzlies
1995-96 to 2000-01
 
                     
  Washington Bullets logo   Washington Capitols logo   Washington Wizards logo   Waterloo Hawks logo      
  Washington Bullets
1974-75 to 1996-97
  Washington Capitols
1946-47 to 1950-51
  Washington Wizards
1997-98 to 2023-24
  Waterloo Hawks
1949-50
     
                     
 
 
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Last update: March 22, 2024