|
What Is a Combined Statistical Area?
A Combined Statistical Area (CSA) is a geographic
measurement used by the United States Office of Management and Budget
to describe groups of adjacent metropolitan and micropolitan
statistical areas that have meaningful economic and social
connections.
The individual metropolitan and micropolitan areas within a CSA
retain their own identities, but the larger combined area recognizes
that neighboring population centers can function as part of the same
broader economic region. Connections between those areas are
measured in part through commuting and employment patterns.
CSAs can therefore provide a broader picture of the population
surrounding a professional sports franchise than the population
inside the legal boundaries of the team's home city.
Why Use Market Population Instead of City Population?
The population of an NBA team's home city does not necessarily
represent the size of the population from which the franchise draws
fans. NBA teams attract spectators, television viewers, sponsors and
customers from throughout their surrounding metropolitan region and,
in many cases, from neighboring metropolitan areas as well.
Municipal boundaries also vary dramatically. Some cities encompass
large geographic areas while others represent only a relatively
small portion of their metropolitan population. Comparing city
population alone can therefore make one NBA market appear much
smaller or larger than another for reasons that have little to do
with the actual size of the surrounding market.
CSA population provides one useful way of looking at the broader
population base surrounding NBA franchises. It should not be confused
with television-market rankings, metropolitan statistical area
population or the population of the city itself.
Largest Markets With an NBA Team
| Market |
CSA Population |
CSA Rank |
| New York City |
22,679,948 |
1 |
| Los Angeles |
18,764,814 |
2 |
| Chicago |
9,866,910 |
3 |
| Washington, D.C. |
9,778,360 |
4 |
| San Francisco |
9,666,055 |
5 |
| Boston |
8,285,407 |
6 |
| Dallas |
7,957,493 |
7 |
| Philadelphia |
7,204,035 |
8 |
| Houston |
7,197,883 |
9 |
| Toronto |
6,954,433 |
N/A |
| Miami |
6,913,260 |
10 |
| Atlanta |
6,775,511 |
11 |
| Detroit |
5,353,002 |
12 |
| Phoenix |
4,911,851 |
13 |
| Orlando |
4,096,575 |
15 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul |
4,014,593 |
16 |
| Cleveland |
3,599,264 |
17 |
| Denver |
3,572,798 |
18 |
| Portland |
3,239,335 |
19 |
| Charlotte |
2,758,810 |
21 |
| Sacramento |
2,619,754 |
22 |
| Salt Lake City |
2,606,548 |
24 |
| San Antonio |
2,555,933 |
25 |
| Indianapolis |
2,431,361 |
28 |
| Milwaukee |
2,049,391 |
33 |
| New Orleans |
2,317,175 |
37 |
| Oklahoma City |
1,469,124 |
41 |
| Memphis |
1,367,788 |
43 |
Largest U.S. Markets Without an NBA Team
Several large Combined Statistical Areas do not currently have an
NBA franchise. These markets are frequently useful when discussing
the geographic footprint of the league, franchise relocation and
possible future expansion.
Population alone does not determine whether a market can support an
NBA franchise. Arena availability, corporate support, ownership,
television reach, competition from other professional sports teams
and the overall economic strength of the market are also important.
| Market |
CSA Population |
CSA Rank |
| Seattle |
4,853,364 |
14 |
| St. Louis |
2,909,777 |
20 |
| Pittsburgh |
2,612,492 |
23 |
| Columbus |
2,509,850 |
26 |
| Kansas City |
2,487,053 |
27 |
| Las Vegas |
2,276,993 |
29 |
| Cincinnati |
2,272,152 |
30 |
| Raleigh-Durham |
2,238,315 |
31 |
| Nashville |
2,057,416 |
33 |
| Virginia Beach |
1,854,604 |
34 |
| Greensboro |
1,677,551 |
35 |
| Jacksonville |
1,662,541 |
36 |
| Louisville |
1,488,015 |
38 |
NBA Markets Compared
The difference between the NBA's largest and smallest markets is
substantial. New York's Combined Statistical Area is listed at more
than 22.6 million people, while Memphis is listed at approximately
1.37 million. Despite that difference, both markets support NBA
franchises competing within the same national league.
The table also illustrates why city population can be misleading.
For example, a team's market may extend far beyond the city in which
its arena is located. Fans living in suburbs and nearby cities can
still be part of the same regional economy and professional sports
market.
Market size is therefore best viewed as one piece of a much larger
picture. Attendance, local television audiences, sponsorship,
corporate presence, arena economics, regional population growth and
fan support can all affect the strength of an NBA market.
NBA Expansion and Markets Without Teams
Seattle stands out in this dataset as the largest United States CSA
without a current NBA franchise. The city previously hosted the
Seattle SuperSonics from 1967 through 2008 before the franchise moved
to Oklahoma City.
Other large markets without NBA teams include St. Louis, Pittsburgh,
Columbus, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Cincinnati, Raleigh-Durham and
Nashville. Some have previous NBA or professional basketball history,
while others have frequently appeared in discussions about potential
future professional sports expansion.
A large population does not automatically make a city an ideal NBA
market, but population provides useful historical context when
comparing existing NBA cities with possible future locations.
Important Data Note
The figures on this page measure Combined Statistical Area
population. They are not city-population rankings and should
not be interpreted as television-market rankings.
Toronto is included because it is an NBA market, but the United
States Office of Management and Budget's CSA ranking system applies
to United States statistical areas. Toronto therefore does not
receive a U.S. CSA rank in the table.
Market definitions and population estimates can change over time as
statistical boundaries and population estimates are revised.
Submit a Correction or Addition
If you notice an incorrect market population, ranking or other
statistical error, please send the information along with a reliable
source when available.
Send corrections, additions and updates to:
Rednecksbasketball@yahoo.com
Submissions will be reviewed before changes are made to the
NBAHoopsOnline historical records.
|
|
