I suggest you read the threads about the terribly attended US NHL teams. That sort of "go to see the away team" doesn't seem to fly.
I agree with you on that point.....so....uh.....cheers!
What part of 2K below a sellout do you not comprehend? We aren't talking about 10K fans, we're talking about ~17K in an arena with a maximum of 19.7K. You don't think that they can pick up an extra 3K fans if the team is marginally competitive?
In points...
- Toronto does draw poorly
You know who else repeats mis-truths until they stick as fact in people's minds? Glen Beck
- BC Place could hold MLB....unless MLB has recently outlawed domes
- No new park needed......Minnesota deal is more about an up-to-date stadium than it is indoor or outdoor.
As others have mentioned, they've played exhibition ball there, and the players hated it. MLB wouldn't seriously consider Vancouver if BC Place is part of the bid. The city would have to shell out half a billion, and the will to spend that kind of money isn't going to be strong when people can just head south to Seattle and watch the Mariners.
Same reason Bettman mentions "fixing mistakes" without ever mentioning those mistakes.
So rumours of the team leaving started and the response was???? Nobody showing up to watch the team? Ok.....good approach. How many times do I have to hear that as an excuse before people realize it has NEVER worked.
As others have pointed out, current NBA markets draw a lot worse than the Grizzlies ever did. 16.7K would put the Grizzlies around 15th today.
http://espn.go.com/nba/attendance
"Hey....we're thinking of moving the team....oh! Nobody is going to show up now because of that? Oh....ok.....man....a HUGE drop in attendance makes me want to keep this team here." - Quoted from a Mythical Fairytale creature.
Derp! It's never good to go full Pejorative Slur
Blah blah blah....how has the economic environment changed since the Grizzlies were there??
2001 CDN is worth $0.63 USD
2011 CDN is worth $1.015 USD
http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/echarts...osshair=on;ohlcvalues=0;logscale=off;source=;
I'm not saying it didn't have an impact.....but they were an expansion team. When I look at Phoenix and their mediocre performance in the standings I don't chalk up 100% of their brutal attendance for NHL games to their position in the standings.
It does cause some lower attendance....but not all.
So you agree that it probably accounted for about 3K fans on average... Oh wait, if they got those extra 3K fans in, then they would be selling out regularly. We aren't talking about Phoenix with 11.3K fans and 65% capacity, Vancouver had 85% capacity despite being a putrid expansion team. Just think how they would do with the Hornets, currently a playoff team?
Whatever....I agree that relocation is a good option for leagues....they seem to prefer expansion. It is probably a dollar thing.
As far as talent and potential of those markets go.....yeah....relocation is better. So we are on the same page there.
But.....what you are talking about (Vancouver NBA) is like me asking for the Oakland Seals to be brought back Oakland. I'm not too sure it is the right move......
Heck...it is the NBA....what do I care? Put a team in El Paso for all I care.
The problems were more to do with ownership and the leagues dumb draft restrictions, not fan support.