The NBA G-League is quickly becoming known for making use out of unconventional venues and buildings whose glory days are, in theory, behind them. The Knicks’ affiliate plays at the old, art deco Westchester County Center. The Cleveland Charge recently moved to legendary Public Auditorium. The Portland Exposition Building, the oldest multi-use sports venue in the country, is home to the Maine Celtics. Even the Osceola Magic play at an arena that’s designed more for rodeo than basketball. It makes one wonder: what other former sports venues or unorthodox spaces can the G-League utilize that would further cement its unique standing in North American sports?

Broadway Auditorium

📍Buffalo, New York

One of Buffalo’s oldest structures, Broadway Auditorium was built in 1884 as part of a local armory, and it opened to the public in 1913. The building is supposedly slated to be revived and become a sports complex, and landing a G-League franchise is the logical next step.

Who Could Move Here? The Grand Rapids Gold. The team is already the furthest G-League club from their NBA parent, affiliated currently with the Denver Nuggets. What’s another 380 miles to the east?

Mississippi Coliseum

📍Jackson, Mississippi

Uniquely located on the site of the former Jackson Volcano – yes, a dormant volcano – the Mississippi Coliseum is an icon of the state capital of Jackson. The building also lacks a primary tenant of any kind, but regularly hosts shows, concerts and an annual rodeo. Mississippi State and Ole Miss also meet once a year on the hardwood at the Coliseum, and massive renovations in 2020 to the venue’s exterior and interior make it the perfect spot for a minor league basketball team.

Who Could Move Here? The Laketown Squadron. Yes, they recently moved from Birmingham to just down the road from their affiliate in New Orleans, but there’s no denying the facilities in Jackson would be leaps and bounds better than the Pontchartrain Center.

Dorton Arena

📍Raleigh, North Carolina

This iconic arena is known for its large windows and saddle-looking shape – the first in the world to have a cable-supported roof – and is on the National Register of Historic Places, so it isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. The building previously housed a minor league hockey team and still hosts events during the North Carolina State Fair. The Fairgrounds could easily throw down some hardwood for a new G-League team.

Who Could Move Here? The Greensboro Swarm. Instead of playing at the non-descript Novant Health Fieldhouse, the Swarm could move just down I-40 to Raleigh and still maintain strong ties with the Hornets down in Charlotte.

The Hippodrome

📍Waterloo, Iowa

The art deco Hippodrome opened in 1919 and has seen thousands of events pass through its quirky halls. In addition to livestock events and agricultural shows, the venue has hosted plenty of semi-pro and pro sports teams over the years, including basketball, hockey and football. The return of hoops to the Hippodrome – Hoopodrome, anyone? – is a no-brainer.

Who Could Move Here? The Iowa Wolves. The team presently competes at Casey’s Center in downtown Des Moines, a venue that’s far too large for them, so the Wolves could benefit from playing in a more intimate setting. Plus, Minnesota gets to keep their affiliate within a reasonable distance of Minneapolis.