Here are the cities ranked from 38-46.
46. Columbus, OH
Pro Teams: Athletic Supply 1937-38? (NBL), Blue Jackets 2000-present (NHL)
Championships: none
History: Not much is known about the first pro team in Columbus other than it's humble NBL background. The team did not play a whole season and folded soon after.
For a while after that, Columbus was once considered the largest city not to have a big four franchise headquartered there. In the year 2000, that all changed when the Blue Jackets played their first game. While they've been in existence for over 10 years they only made the Stanley Cup playoffs only once getting swept by the Red Wings in 2009.
Interesting facts: The Ohio State is the standard for education in the state. Nationwide Insurance is based there. The first soccer exclusive stadium is home to the Columbus Crew who have an MLS cup to their own right.
45. Charlotte, NC
Pro Teams: Carolina Cougars 1969-74 (ABA), Hornets 1988-2002 (NBA), Carolina Panthers 1995-present (NFL) , Bobcats 2004-present (NBA)
Championships: none
History: North Carolina's first professional team was truly North Carolina's team. The team was based in Greensboro, but they split their home games in Charlotte, Raleigh, Winston-Salem. They made the playoffs 3 times with their best season coming in 1972-73 when they won the division title. They lost to the Kentucky Colonels in the Eastern Divisional Finals in 7 games in that season.
The Hornets became the first expansion team in 1988 and lasted only 14 seasons never making it past the Conference Semis in 7 appearances.
The NFL expanded to the area with the Panthers in 1995. They played at Clemson until Ericsson Stadium (now Bank of America Stadium)was completed the following season. It was then that they made the playoffs and making it all the way to the NFC Championship Game for the first time losing to the Packers. They came close by making it to Super Bowl XXXVIII losing to the Patriots.
In 2004, the Bobcats brought the NBA back after a two year absence. Despite not being successful as their predecessors, they made the postseason last season only to be swept the defending Eastern Conference Champions Magic.
Interesting facts: Fortune 500 companies such as Bank of America, Duke Energy and Goodrich are headquartered in or around the Queen City. Also the home of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Birthplace of Billy Graham.
44. Memphis, TN
Pro Teams: Pros/Tams/Sounds 1970-75 (ABA), Grizzlies 2001-present (NBA)
Championships: none
History: P.W. Blake bought the New Orleans Bucs in 1970 and brought them to Memphis a short while later. They changed to the Pros because it was easier to change on the jersey's. Blake didn't last long and a community group bought the team before selling it to Charles Finley (once owned the Oakland A's) and renaming it the Tams (Short for Tennessee-Arkansas-Mississippi). Because of the team's lack of success and Finley's interest of selling the team instead of the team itself, the team struggled to survive. They made the playoffs twice without ever winning a series. The Sounds became the final name in their final season making it to the playoffs one last time before moving to Baltimore without ever playing a regular season game.
Michael Heisley moved the Grizzlies from Vancouver in 2001. Not only have they not clinched a division title in their first 6 years, but never made a playoff appearance until the 2003-04 season. Despite never winning a game in the playoffs in 3 straight seasons (2004-06 playoffs), not forgetting to mention missing the playoffs 5 consecutive years after that, there is still some hope for the Grizzlies. They just won their first playoff game defeating the Spurs equaling the total of the ABA franchise.
Interesting facts: The Liberty Bowl was the temporary home of the Tennessee Oilers in 1997. Fed-Ex and Auto Zone are headquartered in Memphis. Elvis Presley's estate "Graceland" is there. The University of Memphis has notable alumni such as Sen. Fred Thompson and game show host Wink Martindale as well as a successful athletic program.
43. Sacramento, CA
Pro Teams: Kings 1985-present (NBA)
Championships: none
History: In 1985, the Kings made Sacramento their fourth city that they've called home. And from the looks of it, they might be making another move in the near future. For now, Sac-town still has a pro team. The Kings have never really had much of any success until the early to mid 2000's when they had Rick Adelman coaching Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovic, Vlade Divac, Jason Williams and Mike Bibby to form a very watchable team that could compete with the bigger market teams. They ended losing in the Conference Finals in 2002 in 7 games to the mighty Lakers. After that, the Kings steadily declined until 2006 when the team was dismantled altogether. Which has lead to all of this. The only 2 titles for the franchise was as the Rochester Royals way back in the 1946 NBL Finals beating the Sheboygan Redskins 3-0 and the 1951 NBA finals knocking off the Knicks in 7.
Interesting facts: Sutter's Mill which was the location of the first discovery of gold is a tourist attraction. Cal State-Sacramento and UC Davis are there. The Sacramento Bee has won several Pulitzer prizes.
42. Orlando, FL
Pro Teams: Magic 1989-present (NBA)
Championships: none
History: No, the team was not named after Magic Johnson. But he did make his final All-Star game appearance as a player in 1992. The Magic won the draft lottery in 1992 and 1993 picking Shaquille O'Neal and Chris Webber. Penny Hardaway was picked by the Warriors and was traded for Webber on draft day, and the rest is history. The Shaq/Penny duo would help guide the team to the 1995 Finals only to be swept by the Rockets and get swept by the Bulls in the Conference Finals the following year. There was still some success after Shaq left, but Hardaway, Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill could only take them so far. After getting rid of the aforementioned, they built the franchise around Dwight Howard and have not looked back since. They returned to the Finals in 2009 only to fall to the Lakers in 5 games. As of now, the Magic are currently making their 13th attempt to win the championship.
Interesting facts: The Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill is a PGA stop. Darden Restaurants who owns Red Lobster and The Olive Garden is in Orange County. And lest we forget Disneyworld, Universal Studios and Sea World are places to take the kids.
41. Jacksonville, FL
Pro Teams: Jaguars 1995-present (NFL)
Championships: none
History: After the Houston Oilers stayed where they were in 1987, Jacksonville would have to wait 8 years for an expansion team. In 1995, the Jaguars era begun. The next season, the Jags finished 9-7 and secured a wild-card berth. Much to everyone's surprise the team made it all the way to their first AFC title game losing to the Patriots. The next chance they would get would be in 1999 when they had the best record (14-2) but losing to the Titans in the AFC championship. They haven't returned to the playoff picture since the 2007 season when they lost to the Steelers in the Divisional game.
Interesting facts: Alltel Stadium (now EverBank Stadium) hosted Super Bowl XXXIX (The Patriots last Super Bowl win). Fidelity is headquartered in Jacksonville. The Dames Point Bridge is considered a landmark in the state of Florida.
40. Nashville, TN
Pro Teams: Tennessee Oilers/Titans 1997- present (NFL), Predators 1998-present (NHL)
Championships: none
History: While history says that the Oilers/Titans franchise has two AFL titles to its credit, that never happened in the city of Nashville. They had a rough transition to Tennessee when they had to call the Liberty Bowl in Memphis and Vanderbilt Stadium home for the first two season. But with a new stadium and a new name, they were an instant success. Players such as Steve McNair and former Heisman winner Eddie George, the Titans went 13-3 going all the way to Super Bowl XXXIV losing to the St. Louis Rams by one yard (23-16). Since then, they've had some success, but none greater than the 1999 season.
In 1995, the NHL was very close to relocating the Devils to Music City. However the Devils worked everything out and Nashville would have to wait. Two years later, they were awarded an expansion franchise beginning the following season. The Predators struggled just like most new teams in a new situation, but found a little success here and there. Currently, they are in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the 6th time in franchise history. Their previous five appearances all resulted in a 1st round exit.
Interesting facts: The Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry call Nashville home. Other nicknames, "Athens of the South" (many universities), "The Protestant Vatican" and many others. The CMA Music festival in June is something to do when you're there.
39. Oklahoma City, OK
Pro Teams: Thunder 2008-present (NBA)
Championships: none
History: When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, it left the city in an awkward predicament. For Oklahoma City, they had an NBA ready arena to help out the Hornets for the next couple of seasons. The response was overwhelming, however the Hornets returned to New Orleans and OKC had no pro team, but only for a season. As a result, Clay Bennett moved the Sonics from Seattle in 2008 after many failed attempts to secure a new arena. They became the Thunder and in only their second season, they made the playoffs putting a scare into the defending NBA champion (and eventual back to back champion) Lakers but coming up short in 6 games. The Thunder are back and could make things interesting again.
Interesting facts: The Oklahoma City Memorial is in downtown. The University of Oklahoma in Norman is one of the premier universities in the nation. Sonic is based in the Bricktown district.
38. Vancouver, BC, Canada
Pro Teams: Millionaires/Maroons 1911-24,1924-26(PCHA,WCHL), Canucks 1970-present (NHL),Blazers 1973-75 (WHA), Grizzlies 1995-2001 (NBA)
Championships: 1 Millionaires (1915)
History: The Millionaires started out as a amateur hockey team but like the other teams in Canada became professional. They became the first team based around the Pacific to win a major championship. They won the Pacific Coast Hockey Association champs six times including a four-peat from 1921-24. Later they would be the Maroons and join the Western Canada Hockey league before disappearing altogether in 1926.
In 1970, the Canucks were just like their predecessors. The only differences, no Stanley Cups thanks to the New York area (swept by the Islanders in 1982 and losing to the Rangers in 7 in 1994 in the Finals). Despite that, they have made multiple playoff appearances and won the Presidents Cup for the first time this season.
The Blazers like most World Hockey Association franchises moved around quite a bit and in most cases folded, this team was no exception. It started out in Miami and then moving to Philadelphia before winding up in Vancouver. The team could not keep up with the Canucks and moved to Calgary before going away for good in 1977.
When the NBA expanded to Canada in 1995, the Grizzlies made their home in Vancouver. While the Grizzlies lasted three times longer than the Blazers did, the fact of the matter was they didn't make the postseason and thus leaving in 2001 to Memphis where they have been much more successful.
Interesting facts: Vancouver is one of LA's sister cities. They hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics. In 2006, Vancouver was the 2nd most expensive city to live in Canada.
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