Expansion Team

An Expansion Team is considered to be a brand new team in a sports league. The term comes from the fact that the league expands its presence into new cities.

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However, when an expansion team begins play, they are generally stocked with players who were rejected by the other existing teams. As a result, most expansion teams are known to be very awful during their first season, but some are known to even held a title (championship) in their league only a few years after their first season. Most teams are considered as an expansion team usually in their inaugural season and in their second season.

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Depending on the league and the situation, a team that moves to another location and/or changes its name are generally not considered an expansion team.

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Expansion Teams of 2005:

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NFL:

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None

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NHL:

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None, due to lockout

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NBA:

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• Charlotte Bobcats

MLB:

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None

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MLS:

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• Real Salt Lake
• Chivas USA