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Major professional sports teams in the United States and Canada

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This article is a list of teams that play in the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada: Major League Baseball (MLB), Major League Soccer (MLS), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Football League (NFL), the National Hockey League (NHL), and the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Est. represents the year the team was originally established. Future expansion teams whose inaugural seasons are confirmed are also included.

More information Team, Venue ...

Established

  1. [e 1]
    The Hurricanes did not play in Raleigh until 1999, when the venue now known as Lenovo Center opened. The team, as planned, played its first two North Carolina seasons in Greensboro.
  2. [e 2]
    The Panthers played their inaugural 1995 season on the campus of Clemson University in South Carolina while the venue now known as Bank of America Stadium was being completed in Charlotte.
  3. [e 3]
    The team did not play in Nashville until 1998. When relocating the franchise from Houston to Nashville, owner Bud Adams originally planned for the team to play both the 1997 and 1998 seasons in Memphis as the Tennessee Oilers during the construction of what is now known as Nissan Stadium. Low attendance led Adams to move the team to Nashville a year earlier than planned, playing in Vanderbilt Stadium until the new venue was completed for the 1999 season.

Notes

  1. [n 1]
    Previously the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1993–2006)
  2. [n 2]
    Established in Chicago as the Morgan Athletic Club, and joined the NFL as a charter member on September 17, 1920. Previously the Chicago Cardinals (1920–1959) and St. Louis Cardinals (1960–1987)
  3. [n 3]
    Previously the Philadelphia Athletics (1901–1954), Kansas City Athletics (1955–1967), and Oakland Athletics (1968–2024)
  4. [n 4]
    Previously the Boston Braves (1871–1952) and Milwaukee Braves (1953–1965)
  5. [n 5]
    Previously the Tri-Cities Blackhawks (1949–1951), Milwaukee Hawks (1951–1955) and St. Louis Hawks (1955–1968)
  6. [n 6]
    Previously the Milwaukee Brewers (1894–1901) and St. Louis Browns (1902–1953)
  7. [n 7]
    The Baltimore Ravens were created from the corporate structure of the previous season's Cleveland Browns. The NFL considers the Ravens to have been an expansion franchise. See also Cleveland Browns relocation controversy.
  8. [n 8]
    Previously the New Jersey Americans (1967–1968), New York Nets (1968–1977) and New Jersey Nets (1977–2012)
  9. [n 9]
    Previously the Atlanta Flames (1972–1980)
  10. [N 10]
    Previously the Hartford Whalers (1972–1997)
  11. [N 11]
    As part of a collaboration between this franchise, the New Orleans Pelicans and the NBA, the history of the original Charlotte Hornets (1988–2002) and the history of the Charlotte Bobcats are considered part of the history of the current Hornets franchise.
  12. [N 12]
    Previously the Decatur Staleys (1920)
  13. [N 13]
    In 1996, the Browns corporate structure was transferred to Baltimore, Maryland, to become the Baltimore Ravens. The NFL considers the Browns to have been inactive from 1996 until the re-establishment of football in Cleveland in the 1999 NFL season. See also Cleveland Browns relocation controversy.
  14. [N 14]
    Previously the Cleveland Indians (1915–2021). Club announced on December 14, 2020 that it would change the name "Indians" amidst the controversy surrounding it. The new team name "Guardians" was officially announced on July 23, 2021.
  15. [N 15]
    Previously the Quebec Nordiques (1972–1995)
  16. [N 16]
    Previously the Minnesota North Stars (1967–1993)
  17. [N 17]
    Previously the Portsmouth Spartans (1928–1933)
  18. [N 18]
    Previously the Fort Wayne Pistons (1948–1957)
  19. [N 19]
    Previously the Edmonton Eskimos (1949–2019). Club announced on July 21, 2020 it had retired its "Eskimos" name amid the controversy over it. In 2021, the club officially changed its name to the Elks.
  20. [N 20]
    Previously the Philadelphia Warriors (1946–1962) and San Francisco Warriors (1962–1971)
  21. [N 21]
    Formed by the merger of the Hamilton Tigers (1869) and Hamilton Wildcats (1941).
  22. [N 22]
    Previously competed in the National League (1962–2012) and currently in the American League (2013–present).
  23. [N 23]
    Formed from the roster of the San Jose Earthquakes, which went on hiatus.
  24. [N 24]
    Previously the San Diego Rockets (1967–1971)
  25. [N 25]
    Previously the Baltimore Colts (1953–1983). See also Baltimore Colts relocation to Indianapolis.
  26. [N 26]
    Previously the Dallas Texans (1960–1962)
  27. [N 27]
    Previously played in Kansas City, Missouri (1996–2008).
  28. [N 28]
    Previously the Oakland Raiders (1960–1982 and 1995–2019) and Los Angeles Raiders (1982–1994). See also Oakland Raiders relocation to Las Vegas.
  29. [N 29]
    Previously the California Angels (1965– 1996), Anaheim Angels (1997–2004) and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2005–2015)
  30. [N 30]
    Played inaugural 1960 season in Los Angeles before moving to San Diego, where they played as the San Diego Chargers (1961–2016)
  31. [N 31]
    Previously the Buffalo Braves (1970–1978) and San Diego Clippers (1978–1984)
  32. [N 32]
    Previously the Brooklyn Dodgers (1884–1957)
  33. [N 33]
    Previously the Detroit Gems (1946–1947) and Minneapolis Lakers (1947–1960)
  34. [N 34]
    Previously the Cleveland Rams (1937–1945) and St. Louis Rams (1995–2015). Previously located in Los Angeles (1946–1994)
  35. [N 35]
    Previously the Vancouver Grizzlies (1995–2001). See also Vancouver Grizzlies relocation to Memphis.
  36. [N 36]
    Previously the Florida Marlins (1993–2011)
  37. [N 37]
    Previously the Seattle Pilots (1969). Competed in the American League (1970–1997) and currently in the National League (1998–present).
  38. [N 38]
    Previously the Washington Senators (1901–1960)
  39. [N 39]
    The CFL considers all incarnations of the Alouettes as one franchise. Current incarnation is a result of a move by the Baltimore Stallions (1994–1995) ownership, but the Stallions are not considered part of the Alouettes franchise.
  40. [N 40]
    Previously the Montreal Impact (2012–2020)
  41. [N 41]
    Previously the Boston Patriots (1960–1970)
  42. [N 42]
    Previously the Kansas City Scouts (1974–1976) and Colorado Rockies (1976–1982)
  43. [N 43]
    Temporarily relocated to Oklahoma City (2005–2007)
  44. [N 44]
    Previously the Titans of New York (1960–1962)
  45. [N 45]
    Previously the Seattle SuperSonics (1967–2008). See also Seattle SuperSonics relocation to Oklahoma City.
  46. [N 46]
    Since 2017, the CFL has treated all Ottawa-based teams in the CFL and its predecessor leagues as a single entity for record-keeping purposes. The previous teams were the Ottawa Rough Riders (1876–1996) and Ottawa Renegades (2002–2005).
  47. [N 47]
    Previously the Syracuse Nationals (1949–1963)
  48. [N 48]
    Previously the Rochester Royals (1948–1957), Cincinnati Royals (1957–1972) and Kansas City Kings (1972–1985)
  49. [N 49]
    Previously the Dallas Chaparrals (1967–1973)
  50. [N 50]
    Previously the New York Giants (1883–1957)
  51. [N 51]
    The franchise was placed on hiatus in 2006, with the roster moving to Houston to become the Houston Dynamo, and reactivated in 2008.
  52. [N 52]
    The Rays will temporarily move to George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida for the 2025 season after extensive damage done by Hurricane Milton to Tropicana Field.
  53. [N 53]
    Previously the Houston Oilers (1960–1996)
  54. [N 54]
    Previously the Washington Senators (1961–1971)
  55. [N 55]
    Previously the New Orleans Jazz (1974–1979).
  56. [N 56]
    Team is officially considered by the NHL to be an expansion team, but acquired the entire hockey assets of the Arizona Coyotes.[15] Played as the Utah Hockey Club during the 2024–25 NHL season.
  57. [N 57]
    Previously the Boston Braves (1932–1933), Boston Redskins (1933–1936), Washington Redskins (1937–2019), and Washington Football Team (2020–2021). The team retired its "Redskins" name and logo in July 2020 amidst corporate financial pressure resulting from the controversy over it. They were rebranded as the Commanders in 2022.
  58. [N 58]
    Previously the Montreal Expos (1969–2004). During the franchise's last two seasons as the Expos, it split its home schedule between Montreal and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
  59. [N 59]
    Previously the Chicago Packers (1961–1962), Chicago Zephyrs (1962–1963), Baltimore Bullets (1963–1973), Capital Bullets (1973–1974) and Washington Bullets (1974–1997)
  60. [N 60]
    Previously the Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2011)
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See also

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References

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