Pete, the issue is not the size of the city -- it's television market size. According to Nielsen's rankings of the top 210 TV markets in the country (nielsenmedia.com/DMAs.html), Las Vegas ranks 48th while Salt Lake City ranks 36th. In fact, only three markets smaller than Las Vegas (Buffalo, Jacksonville and Green Bay) are home to at least one franchise from any of the four major sports leagues (NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB).

Which leads to the next issue: What else is there to do in those cities, as well as Salt Lake, compared to Vegas? Visit Green Bay in November and, outside of Packer football, tell me if you can find the same entertainment distractions there as you can in Las Vegas.

Gambling probably is an issue, more for the NFL and NBA than baseball or hockey, as most sports book action centers on those two sports. However, Las Vegas as it stands now could not support a MLB team. Nor could it support an NFL team.

If we were to get a team in the immediate future, the NBA -- despite David Stern's gambling phobia and would be a better fit for Vegas. It works in places like SLC and San Antonio, also small markets, because you don't have to worry about filling a 75,000-seat football stadium (and its pricey luxury boxes, plans for and sales of which are a prerequisite before the league will approve your city for a franchise) every Sunday or a 45,000-seat baseball stadium 81 days over a six-month span.

Plus, don't overestimate the affect of tourists on attendance at sporting events (outside of special events like NASCAR, all-star games, Super Bowls, NCAA bowl games/March Madness, etc.); after all, there is a reason why it's called "home field advantage."

You’ve certainly raised a valid point about Las Vegas and our Nielsen 48th place rank with only 651,110 “TV homes.” I’m not too worried that the number of TV homes in Vegas as reported by Nielsen will continue to increase. How can it not with as many move-ins as we have each month? But you’re right, it’ll take some time.

I also agree the NBA is probably the best bet, and most likely will be our community’s first opportunity to prove whether or not we’ll support a pro sports team.

This begs the question of “community” in Vegas. We’re a group of fresh starts and replants, a real melting pot. You have to wonder if we’ll band together to support anything. Consider the challenge the Water Authority has convincing east-coasters to conserve water.

Then again, perhaps an NBA team would be the spark that lights our community fire and helps create more of a sense of belonging and life outside of The Strip.

In a way, it's sad to think that metro areas around the country measure their value as a "community" based on their pro sports franchises. Would Dallas be Dallas without the Cowboys?