Can You Name the Former Home Town of These Sports Teams?
By: Gavin Thagard
Image: skynesher/E+/gettyimages
About This Quiz
Watching your favorite hometown sports team leave your city can be one of the most difficult experiences for a die-hard fan of any team. A team's exit can leave the city demoralized, wreck the economy and force you to find something else to do on the weekends. No more Sunday baseball games unless you want to watch the local little league team at the park up the street. It can also lead to bad feelings. Just ask Houston residents how they feel about the Tennessee Titans!
Of course, for the city that receives a new team, all of those negatives work in reverse. Franchises get a fresh start, new fans are gained, and a city gets an opportunity to unite the community behind a common interest. It's one of the reasons cities are so willing to give tax cuts and other benefits to get a team to choose their city over others.Â
How well do you know the teams across all sports that have made the move from one city to another? Many of these teams even changed names when they moved, adding to the confusion. Will that throw you off? Here's your chance to find out. If you are up for the challenge, get started and put your sports knowledge to the ultimate test!
Where were the Atlanta Hawks once located?
Houston
St. Louis
When you think of the greatest Hawks' player of all time, it's hard to not picture Dominique Wilkins. He was named an All-Star nine times and won the Slam Dunk Contest twice.
In which city were the Tennessee Titans once located?
Baltimore
Little Rock
Birmingham
Houston
The Tennessee Titans were known as the Oilers when they played in Houston. As the Oilers, the team made it into the NFL Playoffs ten times but never reached the Super Bowl.
Where were the Rockets located before moving to Houston?
Portland
Oklahoma City
San Diego
Led by Hakeem Olajuwon, the Houston Rockets won back to back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. Of course, these were also the years Michael Jordan left the NBA to play baseball, so the Rockets didn't have to face the greatest player in the game.
Utah Jazz player Donovan Mitchell was one of the finalists for the Rookie of the Year Award for the 2017-18 season. However, he lost the award to Ben Simmons, who plays for the 76ers.
Before being renamed the Yankees, where was the team located as the Orioles?
Lansing
Chicago
Baltimore
The Yankees have won far more World Series titles than any other team in baseball. They currently hold 27 titles, which is 16 more than the next closest team.
In which city were the Atlanta Braves once located?
Starkville​
Austin
Jacksonville
Milwaukee
One of the greatest players in baseball history, Hank Aaron, made the move from Milwaukee to Atlanta with the Braves in 1966. For his contributions to the team, Aaron's number 44 jersey was retired.
In which city were the Detroit Pistons once located?
Philidelphia
Fort Wayne
The Detroit Pistons had a fierce team in the '80s and '90s known as the "Bad Boy" Pistons. The team was led by the physical play of point guard Isiah Thomas.
The move from Baltimore to Indianapolis was a difficult one for the Colts. They had a strong fan-base for years, but poor play and a deteriorating stadium began to turn many fans away.
The Redskins were originally called the Boston Braves in 1932. However, after one year of play, the name was changed to the Redskins to match the town's baseball team, the Red Sox.
Known as the Browns, where were the Baltimore Ravens once located?
Cleveland
The city of Cleveland was disappointed by ownership's decision to move the Browns in 1996. They fought to keep the Browns' name, so the new Baltimore team was named the Ravens.
The New York Giants won five titles before moving to San Francisco, with the final championship coming in 1954. The team wouldn't win another title until 2010.
Where were the Oklahoma City Thunder once located as the SuperSonics?
Seattle
In their last year in Seattle, the SuperSonics drafted Kevin Durant, who went on to win Rookie of the Year. He would become a superstar for the Thunder, before leaving to join Golden State.
The Lakers have signed some of the greatest players in NBA history. Laker legends include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant.
Where were the Golden State Warriors located before moving to San Fransisco?
Las Vegas
Miami
Philadelphia
In 2017 and 2018, the Golden State Warriors won back to back NBA championships against the Cleveland Cavaliers. This is largely due to their signing of Kevin Durant prior to the 2016-17 season.
The Clippers have had their greatest success under head coach Doc Rivers. Rivers joined the team in 2013, and the Clippers won their first divisional title that same year.
In which city were the Oakland Raiders once located?
Boston
New York
Los Angeles
The Raiders have been in Oakland since 1995, gaining one of the strongest fan bases in the NFL. However, sadly for those fans, the team announced in 2017 that the Raiders will be moving to Las Vegas in the near future.
Where were the New Jersey Devils located as the Rockies?
Denver
The New Jersey Devils have won five Conference championships and three Stanley Cups. Their latest Stanley Cup was during the 2002-03 season when they defeated the Mighty Ducks.
Where were the Detroit Lions once located as the Spartans?
Oklahoma City
Austin
Portsmouth
Barry Sanders is regarded as one of the greatest players in Lions' history. Sadly, he was never able to unleash his athletic talent in the Super Bowl before retiring in 1998.
The Washington Wizards play basketball in Capital One Arena. The arena is shared with the Washington Capitals and the Georgetown University men's basketball team.
Where were the New Orleans Pelicans located as the Hornets?
Charlotte
The Pelicans drafted center Anthony Davis with the first overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft. Davis has not disappointed since being drafted, though injuries have affected him some.
The Chicago Bears had one of the most dominant defenses in NFL history when they won the Super Bowl in 1985. Though the offense had to do little other than not turn the ball over, they were led by Walter Payton, one of the greatest running backs to ever come through the league.
In which city were the Arizona Cardinals located before moving to Phoenix?
Oklahoma City
Austin
Tampa
St. Louis
The closest the Cardinals have come to winning a Super Bowl was in 2008 when they faced the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers scored the game-winning touchdown in the final minute of the game, winning 27-23.