The cities potentially competing for a team

Anaheim, Calif.

Arena: Honda Center. Cost: $123 million. Opened: 1993.

Market size (rank): 13,171,400 (2nd). Includes Los Angeles.

Population: 334,425.

Fortune 500 companies: Three.

Median household income: $52,158.

No. of major professional sports teams: Two. Angels (MLB), Ducks (NHL).

Summary: City of Anaheim officials tried to lure the Grizzlies when the team left Vancouver and 27 percent of the market is very or somewhat interested in the NBA, according to a 2007 survey conducted by the Scarborough Report. But with the Lakers and Clippers in nearby Los Angeles and the Arsenal, an NBA Developmental League team in town, it's unlikely league owners would endorse placing another team in the area.

Kansas City, Mo.

Arena: Sprint Center (18,500). Cost: $276 million. Opened: October 2007.

Market size (rank): 1,767,940 (32nd).

Population: 447,306.

Fortune 500 companies: None.

Median household income: $41,069.

No. of major professional teams: Two: Chiefs (NFL), Royals (MLB).

Summary: Since the Kings left Kansas City, the city hasn't been a serious candidate to attract another NBA team until recently. The Sprint Center is the grandest arena in the country without a major professional team as a tenant. The city, however, doesn't have a local ownership group willing to pay millions for a franchise. In a survey, 22.1 percent of the market said it's very or somewhat interested in the NBA.

Las Vegas

Arena: Name TBA (20,000). Cost: $500 million. Open: 2010.

Market size (rank): 1,371,948 (43rd).

Population: 552,539.

Fortune 500 companies: Two.

Median household income: $47,863.

No. of professional teams: None.

Summary: Las Vegas became the first non-NBA city to host an All-Star Game in 2007, and Mayor Oscar Goodman is a man possessed to deliver a team to Sin City. He wooed league owners and commissioner David Stern, who had been cold on placing a team in Las Vegas because of the city's strong ties to gambling. If the Maloof family, which owns the Sacramento Kings and the Palms Casino in Las Vegas, can't get a team in Las Vegas, then it's not going to happen.

Louisville, Ky.

Arena: Name TBA (22,000). Cost: $252 million. Opened: 2010.

Market size (rank): 1,240,652 (52nd).

Population: 554,496.

Fortune 500 companies: Two.

Median household income: $29,800.

No. of professional teams. None.

Summary: Tried unsuccessfully to attract three teams (Rockets, Grizzlies and Hornets) in the past 10 years. Still, the city is set to open a downtown arena in two years with the hopes of landing an NBA or NHL franchise. The building's main tenant will be the Louisville men's basketball team. In a survey, 21.1 percent of the market is very or somewhat interested in the NBA.

San Jose, Calif.

Arena: HP Pavillion. Cost: $162.5 million. Opened: 1993.

Market size (rank): 5,167,351 (5th). Includes San Francisco and Oakland.

Population: 929,936.

Fortune 500 companies: Seven.

Median household income: $70,921.

No. of professional teams: Two: Sharks (NHL), Earthquake (MLS).

Summary: The region has enough money and potential sponsors to attract the NBA. Oracle founder Larry Ellison nearly bought the Sonics in 2006 and wanted to move the team to San Jose. Still, HP Pavilion is woefully outdated and only 18.7 percent of the market said it's very or somewhat interested in the NBA.

Seattle

Arena: KeyArena (17,072). Cost: $74.5 million (privately financed). Opened: October 1995.

Market size (rank): 3,529,048 (12th).

Population: 582,454.

Fortune 500 companies: Five.

Median household income: $49,297.

No. of professional teams: Four: Seahawks (NFL), Mariners (MLB), Storm (WNBA), FC Sounders (MLS, beginning in 2009).

Summary: The city's immediate chances of landing a team hinge on KeyArena. Mayor Greg Nickels said he plans to lobby the state Legislature to help fund a $300 million renovation. Four previous attempts in Olympia failed.

St. Louis

Arena: Scottrade Center. Cost: $170 million. Opened: 1994.

Market size (rank): 2,413,967 (21st).

Population: 350,759.

Fortune 500 companies: Seven.

Median household income: $30,874.

No. of professional teams: Three: Rams (NFL), Cardinals (MLB), Blues (NHL).

Summary: The city has an old connection with the NBA that's been nearly forgotten. The St. Louis Bombers were one of the founding teams of the NBA. The Atlanta Hawks also began in St. Louis before moving in 1968. The city also hosted the St. Louis Spirits of the defunct ABA. These days, however, there's lukewarm interest in the NBA, which would require a new arena before seriously considering the city. Only 10.5 percent of the market said it's very or somewhat interested in the NBA.

Sources: For all market-related data, 2007 Scarborough Research; 2006 U.S. Census Bureau report and City-Data.com figures from 2005.

Percy Allen and Gene Balk