OT: Hornets could be contracted?

[Minstrel]

Let's get to the important issue: Chris Paul is going to be a Blazer, thanks to the franchise's instability.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

When you're an NBA team customs is easy peasy. With Stern talking about expansion to Europe, bringing a team back to Vancouver would be a piece of cake. The climate is no different than Seattle, unless you go a little further up into Whistler. You also have to consider basketball is growing big time in Canada. Look around the NCAA and recruiting websites, high school basketball in Canada is bigger than it has ever been.

Plus, I would love to road trip up to BC.

Its not as far-fetched an idea as your making it out to be.

Yeah. Its still a bit further up than Seattle. I love Canada, but I don't think Basketball makes sense...its already failed there in the past, as it has in Seattle.

I can see Orange County or San Diego having a team before Canada.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I think Ptd tri-county area can support two professional basketball teams . . . the Beaverton Hornets!

 

[andalusian]

I think Ptd tri-county area can support two professional basketball teams . . . the Beaverton Hornets!

Screw that. Put them in beautiful Central Oregon and make Maris happy. They would probably draw as many people in Bend as they do in New Orleans.

Might as well make it the Hilsoboro Hornets and sell Bagels in the arena

 

[Sex Panther]

Yeah. Its still a bit further up than Seattle. I love Canada, but I don't think Basketball makes sense...its already failed there in the past, as it has in Seattle.

I can see Orange County or San Diego having a team before Canada.

Oh dear God, no more California teams please.

And Zaggers right, basketball in Canada is getting really big. My girlfriend goes to school at McGill (up in Montreal) and when I went to watch a Raptors preseason game in the Bell centre, they sold out the game game in 20 minutes. They all love hockey, soccer, football, and basketball in Montreal. I'm sure Vancouver would be no different.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Vancouver has an expansion MLS team starting this year with Steve Nash heavily involved in that.

It will be intersting to see who draws more attendance between the two expansion clubs, Ptd or Vancouver.

Go Timbers!

 

[Boob-No-More]

Yeah. Its still a bit further up than Seattle. I love Canada, but I don't think Basketball makes sense...its already failed there in the past, as it has in Seattle.

I can see Orange County or San Diego having a team before Canada.

Yes, but basketball has also previously "failed" in New Orleans, Charlotte, Minneapolis, Kansas City, St. Louis and San Diego. Those first three all have gotten second chances, and the last three were at the top of Stern's list of cities that are in the running for future relocations. Hell, the NBA even failed in Chicago - twice. The Washington Wizards were originally the Chicago Packers/Zephyrs. Chicago got a second chance (third chance, actually counting the original Chicago Stags from early days of the NBA) when the Bulls were added as an expansion franchise in 1967.

So, there are multiple precidents for cities getting a second chance.

BNM

 

[Sex Panther]

Yes, but basketball has also previously "failed" in New Orleans, Charlotte, Minneapolis, Kansas City, St. Louis and San Diego. Those first three all have gotten second chances, and the last three were at the top of Stern's list of cities that are in the running for future relocations. Hell, the NBA even failed in Chicago - twice. The Washington Wizards were originally the Chicago Packers/Zephyrs. Chicago got a second chance (third chance, actually counting the original Chicago Stags from early days of the NBA) when the Bulls were added as an expansion franchise in 1967.

So, there are multiple precidents for cities getting a second chance.

BNM

BOOM

 

[The_Lillard_King]

If NO is any kind of gage for cities getting a second chance, they better pass on Vancouver.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Vancouver Attendance
http://www.databasebasketball.com/teams/teamatt.htm?tm=Van&lg=n

Memphis Attendance
http://www.databasebasketball.com/teams/teamatt.htm?tm=mem&lg=n

Thanks for digging up the links. It agrees with my general memory of the attendance figures for the Grizzlies in the two different markets.

Here's the numbers from the links (totals and average/game):

In Memphis:
2009-10   552,914   13,485 
2008-09   509,806   12,745 
2007-08   523,578   12,770 
2006-07   600,836   14,654 
2005-06   647,533   15,793 
2004-05   691,362   16,862 
2003-04   622,723   15,188 
2002-03   614,301   14,983 
2001-02   591,030   14,415 

In Vancouver:
2000-01   563,218   13,737 
1999-00   569,864   13,899 
1998-99   417,966   16,719 
1997-98   660,457   16,109 
1996-97   679,422   16,571 
1995-96   704,489   17,183

For the first four seasons in Vancouver, the Grzzlies were in the 16,000 - 17,000 range. That is definitely in the range for a viable NBA franchise. 1999-2000 was the year after the lockout, which definitely hurt attendance, and 2000-01 was a lame duck season when it was announced that the team was moving. And, even in those two down years, attendance in Vancouver was better than it's been in Memphis for the last three seasons.

The only season attendance in Memphis was in the 16,000 - 17,000 range was 2005-05 - the year after they won 50 games and made the play-offs for the first time in fanchise history. That level of success helps increase season ticket sales substantially.

So, in general, the people of Vancouver supported a far inferior product better than the people of Memphis have supported the team even though they've had better success on the court (three consecutive post season appearances) since moving to Memphis.

BNM

 

[maxiep]

I bet if the Hornets moved to Vancouver, you'd see Steve Nash agree to play a couple of years at the vet min as a backup PG.