A basketball team has 1000% more chance to succeed in Montreal than a baseball team
Basketball is very big with the younger crowd here on the west coast.I don't think it would be too hard to find investors; the NBA is so profitable these days and a quick market study would ensure the feasibility of the project. There are many billionaires in Québec. I also think Montréal would easily be able to fill seats and there is no need to build a stadium.
Maybe their history of having an NBA team has an influence, but I also don't see how Vancouver is a better market than us. I feel like basketball is more popular around here than it is in Western Canada.
In the late '90s Canada stepped up to revitalize the state of hockey in this country with their little Open Ice Summit that helped mandate skills development, etc, etc. The time has long since come for the country to step up again to hold a serious discussion on the actual future of the game in Canada.
Basketball is very big with the younger crowd here on the west coast.
I feel old now because can see that disconnect I have with the younger crowd seeing as most of them would rather talk about nba.
Any word on who is the group from Montreal that reached out to the nba?
Vancouver has been mentioned for a few years now, but the group linked to that has been the aquilini family which owns the Canucks, and I think they had a problem with the price tag back then, and it isn't any cheaper today.
There is money in bc to own one, but for example, the guy who has traditionally been the richest guy in BC is like 95 years old now and he has never invested in a pro sports team.
More access to the less forunate. I kinda get a chuckle when the NHL have their pride nights and pontificate on how the game is for everyone.
mtl group was originated by mark scheinberg who invites some obvious PR issues
i suspect you would also have an issue with them pontificating on how hockey is only for privileged kids. but i digress.
"LeBRoN iS tHe GOAT!!!"
Any word on who is the group from Montreal that reached out to the nba?
Vancouver has been mentioned for a few years now, but the group linked to that has been the aquilini family which owns the Canucks, and I think they had a problem with the price tag back then, and it isn't any cheaper today.
There is money in bc to own one, but for example, the guy who has traditionally been the richest guy in BC is like 95 years old now and he has never invested in a pro sports team.
with the huge popularity of the game in Montreal, the multi-ethnic flavour of the city and the number of local players in the NBA (Dort, Prosper, Mathurin, Birch etc..) imo, it would absolutely succeed
Im always shocked whenever I read the expansion rules the Raps and Grizzlies had because they are just unfair. How can you expect to build a winner when youre unable to compete in free agency, have players/prospects decline to play for your team and arent able to rely on a top pick to build your team. Its really something the Raptors were able to come out of that (thanks Vince).I think it's questionable whether Vancouver is a bigger market than Montreal. Certainly from a straight up population standpoint, Montreal is a bigger market.
But Vancouver is a legacy market, and I don't think they were given a fair shake the first time around. For example, the league had a rule where the Grizzlies were not allowed to pick 1st overall for the first five years of their existence. Imagine the course of history if the Grizzlies were able to draft tim Duncan first overall, for example. Of course, this is all sentimental talk, and means nothing from a dollars and cents point of view, which is ultimately what matters.
I think a Montreal team will have to build exclusively through the draft and the European free agent market for at least a number of years. The Raptors struggled mightly pre Masai to get even decent star players to go there, still today they arent in the conversation for superstar players to sign there. Montreal will face the same issue.I haven’t always been a Raptors fan… i only started watching basketball in my 40’s. I absolutely LOVE it and having been to all 4 major sports live, the fan experience for basketball is pretty tough to beat.
I also agree that the diversity in the sport would appeal to a city like Montreal. That said, the challenges Toronto has with attracting players will be the same, if not harder, in Montreal. If it happens, there needs to be some money backing the team as the first few years are going to be rough.
If it's the case, Montreal NBA team should focus exclusively on European, Canadian, African or even Asian players. You don't need the americans to win anymore.I haven’t always been a Raptors fan… i only started watching basketball in my 40’s. I absolutely LOVE it and having been to all 4 major sports live, the fan experience for basketball is pretty tough to beat.
I also agree that the diversity in the sport would appeal to a city like Montreal. That said, the challenges Toronto has with attracting players will be the same, if not harder, in Montreal. If it happens, there needs to be some money backing the team as the first few years are going to be rough.
Im always shocked whenever I read the expansion rules the Raps and Grizzlies had because they are just unfair. How can you expect to build a winner when youre unable to compete in free agency, have players/prospects decline to play for your team and arent able to rely on a top pick to build your team. Its really something the Raptors were able to come out of that (thanks Vince).
I think the leather realizes they messed up in Vancouver so it wouldn't surprised me if they get choosen over Montreal. I do think Montreal will get a team one day, especially with the demographic trends of the city and the growing number of Quebec basketball players.
Showed this to my son the other day.
MJ probably had a higher peak (can't confirm, wasn't watching bball then) but LeBron has been doing his thing twice as long as MJ and that, to me, is very valuable and it's why I think I'd take Bron over MJ."LeBRoN iS tHe GOAT!!!"
MJ probably had a higher peak (can't confirm, wasn't watching bball then) but LeBron has been doing his thing twice as long as MJ and that, to me, is very valuable and it's why I think I'd take Bron over MJ.
Showed this to my son the other day.
Lebron wanted to win championships, MJ wanted to will his team to championships.
Two different sports.
You're quite tame compared to the real Skip when it comes to the GOAT debate.
I don't consider Lebron James part of the GOAT debate. Not even close.