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First Quarter 2001
Over the last few decades the number of U.S. metropolitan areas large enough to host a franchise from one of the four major professional sports leagues has soared. Even as the National Football League, Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, and the National Hockey League have expanded to include more franchises, demand by metro areas continues to exceed supply. Asa result, metro areas have been forced to compete with each other to retain and attract franchises.