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+---- Thread: *Why Seattle deserves a expansion team (/showthread.php?tid=20501)
*Why Seattle deserves a expansion team - cho1325 - 03-27-2020
Now of course I have a bias for this city being born and playing college here, but I am here today to explain to you all why Seattle deserves an expansion team in the NSFL. Currently out of all 12 NSFL teams not one resides in the Pacific Northwest which I believe is a hot spot for an expansion team. The Mariners, Seahawks, and the Sounders are mainstays in Seattle. Even the NHL has finally dug its heels over here in the Pacific Northwest, and thus the NSFL should also look to tap into this city’s dedicated fan base. Bringing a NSFL franchise to Seattle would be an obvious benefit to the fans, but the NSFL could end up being an even bigger winner overall. With the influx of more and more players why not expand the league even more? Currently we are seeing the most talent ever assembled at the same time in the league. Adding two or four extra teams gives more players a shot at NSFL stardom. Expansion teams usually start slowly, but they would have ample salary cap space something very few teams can say and can always try to lure star free agents away from other teams with certain narratives or financial incentives.
Why would star players and other athletes want to move to Seattle to play? There are so, so many ways to indulge in Seattle. From sky high fine dining to sourdough clam chowder bowls on the waterfront, there is wondrous food galore among the shoreline and hills of this great Washington city.Aside from the diverse restaurant scene, Seattle is known for its gourmet beverages. The Starbucks Roastery and Tasting Room is your chance to indulge in the most luxurious and rare coffees Starbucks has to offer. Just outside of the city, Woodinville Wine Country is a growing wine collective and local wines such as these can be found in shops all over Seattle. More notorious is the Pacific Northwest’s growing microbrew beer scene. Seattle is rich with independent breweries some large, some small, and all with interesting and unique brews to discover. Seattle itself is constantly evolving and feels like both a big city and a small city at the same time. On a clear day, heading south on I5 via the Ship Canal Bridge gives you a view of all Seattle truly is.
The glass skyscrapers and steel construction cranes are encircled by pine dotted hills, deep blue lakes, and two soaring mountain ranges crowned by Mount Rainier. Seattle is pretty, there’s no doubt about it, and while it would seem everyone in the country would move here if given the chance, the one detail holding people back is the weather. But the truth is a rain jacket is often the better solution since the weather is usually more damp than actually rainy. There’s no shortage of things to do here, including outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking, mountain biking or live events like catching a show at the historic Paramount Theatre or one of the OG music venues like the Crocodile. In the summer, you might find yourself enjoying a craft brew at an outdoor food festival or rollerblading along the sun drenched shores of Alki Beach. In the winter, you might head up to one of the mountain passes for some all day snowboarding or cozying up in a wood cabin and soaking your feet in a hot tub. As more and more transplants are beginning to find out, Seattle’s a pretty special place. Even those of us who were born and raised here can’t stop admiring the breathtaking beauty that surrounds us on a daily basis. The major parks here feel untouched, and the frequent drizzle contributes to a cleaner air quality.
There are plenty of neighboring cities to visit. Since Seattle is in the upper corner of the U.S., it may seem isolated from other interesting areas. But there are actually quite a lot of places to visit within driving distance. Surrounded by mountain ranges, dense rainforests, blue lakes, and nearby Pacific shores, there’s plenty of options for the adventurous. There’s almost no limit to the amount of activities available, as long as you’re open to quick excursions outside the city limits. Kayaking, rafting, Jet Skiing, hiking, and backpacking are all common go to’s for locals. In the colder months, skiers and snowboarders will love their close proximity to several ski resorts like Stevens Pass and Snoqualmie, plus world class resorts less than a day’s drive away in Whistler BC, Canada. Year round rock climbers will enjoy the quick 2 hour drive to the iconic Mount Rainier. In the coastal regions, there’s also a wide assortment of things to do in the sea, from whale watching to fishing, or just setting up a tent near one of the region’s sandy beaches.
Seattle was ranked one of the nation’s top 10 cities for football fans. If you go to Century Link field, be prepared for some noise. Seattle fans like to stand for the full match. They like to sing. They like to dance. They basically just like to be loud and energetic. How many fandoms do you know that cause small earthquakes with the sheer force of the collective presence? Which team has fans that can break the Guinness World Record for loudest sporting event? None other than the fans of the Seattle Seahawks, of course. A fan base whose stadium reached 137.6 decibels making CenturyLink Field the loudest place to play in the NFL. Now think about having fans that can cause an earthquake rooting you on at home games in the NSFL. Many fanbases are great and very hostile for opponents. In terms of excitement, intimidation, enthusiasm, and passion, without a doubt Seattle fans show up.
Whether you stick around or not, you’ll come to appreciate your time here (and you’ll probably be back). Sometimes it takes living in Seattle for awhile, then moving away for a bit to truly appreciate what you once had. Outside of the people, the picturesque natural surroundings tend to make former residents nostalgic whether what’s made an impression are the vibrant hues of falling maple leaves, the slightly sweet smell of post drizzle pavement, or the tranquil serenity of the grove of cherry blossoms in the UW quad. Seattle just feels like home, and no matter where you came from originally or how far you go from the city, it always seems to stay that way.
James Cho #92 DE