15 Sports Franchises That Relocated For the Better

The Washington Nationals moved from Montreal in 2005, and nobody within the organization has ever complained. Whether it is the beautiful amenities provided at Nationals Park, actual success on the baseball field or an average attendance of 31,844 in 2014, it is clear baseball in Washington has worked out this time.

The Los Angeles Lakers moved from Minnesota in 1960, and it isn't hard to see why. Players would much rather come play in Los Angeles than Minnesota, the fan support is greater in Hollywood and the organization has won 11 NBA titles since the move.

The Arizona Cardinals played in St. Louis until 1987, where they played constant second fiddle to the St. Louis Cardinals of MLB. The move out west provided the NFL with an expanded fanbase and the organization with utter control of the Arizona sports market, making the move a win for both league and organization.

Fans in Seattle will hate this one, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are better off for having moved. The most important part of the move has been that Oklahoma City sells out every game they play in, whereas fans in Seattle said they wanted to keep the team but didn't actually show up to watch them play.

The Los Angeles Dodgers moved from Brooklyn in 1958, which allowed them to move out of decrepit Ebbets Field and into the sunshine at Dodgers Stadium. Thankfully enough, Los Angeles accepted the Dodgers with open arms, and they have become the most important sports franchise in the city alongside the Lakers.

The San Francisco Giants moved from New York to California at the same time as the Los Angeles Dodgers, and they have benefited from the move as well. The Giants suffered from the same issues as the Dodgers, and although they haven't become quite the glamor organization since the move, they certainly haven't struggled for fan support or success on the field.

The Carolina Hurricanes moved from Hartford in 1997 as part of the NHL's expansion experiment into the Sun Belt. Carolina has been the model franchise of this Sun Belt Expansion, as PNC Arena is arguably the loudest venue in the NHL come playoff time, and players love to come play for the Hurricanes.

The Texas Rangers moved from Washington in 1971, escaping having to play in front of a lowly 8,000 people per game. The Rangers may not always have a full stadium nowadays, but they certainly don't play in front of 8,000 fans. They have developed a niche in the Dallas market as the second sports franchise behind the Cowboys.

Houston Dynamo have become one of the model franchises in MLS since moving from San Jose in 2006. Houston has built one of the nicest soccer specific stadiums in the U.S., developed great fan support and even won two MLS Cup championships since moving.

Arsenal moved from South London to North London in 1913, changing the composition of English soccer for historical purposes. Arsenal have become one of the top soccer clubs in the world since the move, and the world has been afforded rivalries with teams such as Tottenham Hotspur because of it.

The Winnipeg Jets moved from Atlanta in 2011, which is about as extreme of a move as is humanly possible. The Jets have gone from the least beloved franchise in Atlanta to the most beloved in Winnipeg, and there is no sign that fan enthusiasm will die down in the hockey mad Canadian city.

Manchester United moved from the heart of Manchester to the area of Stretford in 1910, which initially jeopardized the organization's name. Nevertheless, they have remained Manchester United and become one of the top three most successful sporting organizations in the entire world.

The Calgary Flames moved from Atlanta in 1980, proving to have a situation very similar to that of Winnipeg. Despite Calgary being a relatively small area, the Flames consistently fill up their arena, are on stable economic footing and provide the NHL with a genuine "hockey" city.

The San Antonio Spurs moved from Dallas in 1973, which turned out to be a great move. The Spurs have benefited immensely by practically owning the San Antonio sports market, which has proven to have some of the most loyal fans in the world.

The Indianapolis Colts moved from Baltimore in the dark of the night in 1984, angering legions of people throughout the NFL. Since the move, the Colts have benefited from the presence of Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck to gain great success on the field, a new stadium in downtown Indianapolis and the fan support to afford nearly any necessary expenditure.