Relocation is Not the Answer for NFL Teams

Most educated NFL fans remember what took place under the darkness in Baltimore on March 29, 1984. The Colts were on their way out of Baltimore and headed to Indianapolis, their new home. Ask any Baltimore fan how they felt about that, and I'm sure you will understand where this is going.

With the recent troubles affecting the Jacksonville Jaguars franchise, as well as a few others (Detroit, St. Louis, Buffalo) there have been many rumors of sending a franchise to Los Angeles. The ticket sales have been dramatically low, and the franchises are finding it hard to survive in this economy. While the economy isn't the only thing to blame, moving to L.A. is not always the answer.

There have been many re-locations in the league, as well as other leagues, most recently the Seattle Sonics moving to Oklahoma City. There have been eleven football re-locations since 1921, with Baltimore being the main city in the two most controversial moves.

The first move is the well-documented escape of the Colts to Indianapolis, the second was after they received the Cleveland Browns' franchise in 1996. This team changed their name to the now Baltimore Ravens. Three years later, the NFL made another franchise and gave it back to Cleveland.

Once the Houston Oilers made the move to Tennessee and became the "Titans" the city of Houston was awarded another franchise five years later, now known as the Texans. Two teams lose their franchise, only to gain another one a few years later?

Obviously the problem in Baltimore was the city did not want to fund the team with a new stadium, but the situation in Jacksonville is quite different. The attendance and money being taken in is not significant enough for the franchise, and they think that by moving to L.A. things will be resolved. The constant moving of football franchises is beginning to wear on the fans, as well as the cities.

Think about how you would feel if your NFL team decided to up and move the franchise overnight without telling anyone. The fans of Baltimore have experienced a great loss with the relocation of the Colts.

As a Colts fan here in Indianapolis, I particularly feel bad for the fans of Baltimore. Not only did they lose their team, but even 25 years later, the Indianapolis Colts are still using the same logo and colors.

At least when Baltimore got the Ravens, Tennessee got the Titans, and Houston got the Texans, they were able to change the team names, colors, and logo.

If the Jaguars, or any other franchise plans a move in the near future, for whatever reason, they should consider the consequences before making such a big decision. The fans in Baltimore will never forget what happened that night, and to this day, they still hold a giant grudge when playing the Indianapolis Colts, and I don't blame them one bit.

When the Indianapolis Colts visit Baltimore, the scoreboard will always read "Indianapolis" instead of "Colts." When the Ravens fans come here to Indianapolis for a game, you can see the hatred and disgust on their faces during the game. Although we as fans here didn't steal the team from them, I can sympathize with them because of what the franchise did to them.

To the Baltimore fans, I understand your anger, especially when you see people in this town (Indianapolis) wearing their Johnny Unitas jerseys. What the Baltimore Colts did during their time in Baltimore will always stay in their record books, and should be counted towards the Ravens' achievements.

When the Colts left town on that snowy, early March morning, they not only took the furniture and equipment, they took the spirit of the NFL away from the city of Baltimore. When will the owners learn that moving the team is not the answer.