Should Canada Recieve Another Team? This seems like an interesting topic. The country of Canada has really learned to appreciate basketball for what it's worth. After being stripped of a team in Vancouver they probably learned that they need to support their team by showing up to the games if they want to keep that team. I think I am not the only one who thinks that it is annoying having the whole country of Canada root for one team (the Raptors). Let's look at some possible destinations for the new Canadian franchise. There is Windsor which has a population of about a million people. Windsor would alos get crowds from Detroit which is just a bridge away. Edmonton would be a candidate, but there is nothing special about that city. I am not sure if they have the greatest basketball audience. David Stern will probably give thought to bringing a team back to Vancouver. I thought Vancouver did just fine the first time and they deserve a second chance. Finally, there is Quebec. The generic choice. Which one would you chose and why?
My answer is a two part answer depending on how Canada would obtain a new team. If we are talking about a team re-locating, for example the Los Angeles Clippers (because no city should have 2 teams of the same sport), the city I would choose is Vancouver, and then Montreal. The reason I would choose Vancouver is because of it's already strong U.S. influence and the fact it attracts a lot of tourism. There are a lot of businesses and sports fans to support the team, if they market it properly. One of the problems with the original franchise was the fact they had no marquee player, and had to market Bryant Reeves as their franchise player. His shaved head trend lasted a little while, but the franchise is still suffering the repurcussions of over investing in the "Big Country" Bryant Reeves. Montreal would be another great choice because the city is well known for its casinos and prostitutes, similar to Houston. The Kahnawake Indian Territory is home to many online casinos and sportsbooks. The betting population alone in Montreal would immediately generate a fan base, after all there's nothing more entertaining than laying $50 on your home team to cover the spread every night. Montreal has a lot of history and their fans are diehard and fall in love with their teams. A key example is the Montreal Canadians. When they had Patrick Roy and dominated the post season year in and year out, there was plenty of fans selling out their stadium. The Expos also had an enormous fan base until they started trading away their young talent. Pedro Martinez, Larry Walker, Marquis Grissom, Randy Johnson, etc. The bottomline for most sports franchises is they want to back a winner and identify with certain players. Case in point Vince Carter aka Air Canada. Great working class cities really back their winning teams, and Montreal fits the profile. Check back for Part II...
yea either montreal or vancouver would be good choices, i lived in vancouver when the grizzlies were there and i hated them, i only went to a few games b/c who the hell wants to see big country in an ugly uniform.....i think vancouver has learned there lesson and would support a new team a lot better, there is 3 million people within an hours drive away and the US border is also very close so there are plenty of fans to draw, they just have to market the team right as shape said. montreal would also be a good choice as they have a large population and a large black population (i know im stereotyping but they do and they are actually producing some really good players and bball is really populare there) the US is yet again very close and there is always the gambling factor
I think that the best possible city is Windsor. The city itself has about one million people which about how many people live in Memphis. That's not really special if you compare them to other large Canadian cities, so why do you think I picked Windsor? I picked Windsor because of their strong American influence. Windsor is more or less Detroit part two. There is a bridge that even connects the two cities. If the Windsor team was playing the Lakers and the Pistons were playing the Clippers I believe that the majority of the fans from Detroit would make the drive over the bridge to Windsor. Also, let's say that the Pistons sell out one night but there are many people in Detroit who still want to watch basketball(Pistons home games aren't on television). Where would they go? Windsor of course. Windsor would be the perfect place for a new team. The same can be said for hockey where I know for a fact the Red Wings sell out every night and leave thousands of fans at the gates.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting go_duke21:</div><div class="quote_post">having a team in hamilton is pretty much just the same has having another team in toronto</div>As having a team in Windsor is just like having another team in Detroit.
Windsor can't have a team ... neither can ottawa I agree with u wave .. but ..who would want to live in a small city such as Windsor ?? Ottawa .. ain't that big .. and it doesn't have big population too ... and most of its Bball fans r raptor fans .. so I don't see them having a team over there .. the best choice is either Vancouver or Montreal !! and TO all the way
Montreal or Vancouver would probably be the best choices. I think relying on Windsor to bring people from Detriot is too risky and may not happen. You'd want to take a place that people love basketball and the city needs to have a large population. Vancouver and Montreal are 2 of the 3 most populated cities in Canada (Toronto being the first). Also money could be a large issue in Windsor, I'm sure if they could afford a CFL team they would have it, but they don't have one, so why would basketball be the next option? Montreal or bringing it back to Vancouver would be the smartest idea if anyone was thinking of re-locating there: they both have large populations, and financial reasons wouldn't be a problem.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Half Man-Half Amazing:</div><div class="quote_post">hey .. r Mississauga and Brampton considered as parts of Toronto ?</div> Yes, as many fans from Mississauga and Brampton go to Raptor games, they are in the GTA, way too close to Toronto to have a team.
Canada shouldnt even have one NBA team. The Clippers should move to St. Louis, Pittsburgh, or maybe Hartford or even Las Vegas
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting olskoolFunktitude:</div><div class="quote_post">Canada shouldnt even have one NBA team. The Clippers should move to St. Louis, Pittsburgh, or maybe Hartford or even Las Vegas</div> y not ?? the raptors r one of the most popular teams in the L .. and they fit perfectly in T.O. ... and they had ( have ) a lot of success here ..
^^ Agreed. But IMO, the best option was Vancouver, and them Montreal. Vancouver has a very diverse culture etc,. et,c. blah blah. THey have learned their lesson woit the grizzlies. I have many more reasons i could probably come oup woith, BUt im a bit lazy. Montreal is a good choice, but the porblem is the language...possibly. Not that big of a deal as i would thing though. Windsor was an OK suggesttion, BUt hamilton and Ottawa were just, in my opinion ...the worst. The idea of having one in edmonton wouldnt work, but was in anteresting idea in . Ihardlyt hink there are many baksetball fans out there to support the teams finacnail needs. I dont think moving a team up to Canada would work. The name wouldnt sound right for one, and then theres more to that. I think you owuld need an expansion team. ont he talk of Canada and a new team. Is it true players get double taxed who klive in the states??(Canada, and US Tax)?!?!?
raptors are popular. Lets see if they are a bunch of losing seasons if the maple leafs turn into contenders. I just dont trust Canadians long term interest in any American sport. The Jays were ten times as big as thee raps when they were winning WS but even now that theyve somewhat righted themselves and put some very good teams on the field in 2 of the last 3 years they cant draw.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting olskoolFunktitude:</div><div class="quote_post">raptors are popular. Lets see if they are a bunch of losing seasons if the maple leafs turn into contenders. I just dont trust Canadians long term interest in any American sport. The Jays were ten times as big as thee raps when they were winning WS but even now that theyve somewhat righted themselves and put some very good teams on the field in 2 of the last 3 years they cant draw.</div> hey .. Last season's home finale .. between the raptors and heat .. do u know how many fans came to the ACC in that pointless game ??? 18 , 000 .. some teams don't even get 17000 when MJ plays there !! that means we're sticking up with our team through good and bad .. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I just dont trust Canadians long term interest in any American sport.</div> escusme .. but a canadian who invented BASKETBALL ..