Skip navigation

 Login or Register | Member Centre

Basketball a far tougher sell than the Leafs

WILLIAM HOUSTON

From Thursday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 11:37 PM EST 20/03/08

MLSE making the Raptors deal almost a financially impossible proposition ...Read the full article

This conversation is closed

  1. Rob C from God's Country, Canada writes: Sportsnet has a regional strategy, which does not seem to make sense - they carry a Leaf game regionally, but attract around 350K viewers, while TSN goes nationally and gets almost 750K viewers...Meanwhile Sportsnet is paying the same or more as TSN to show the games and be called the "official" Leaf broadcaster...makes less than no sense - like everything else they do (including carrying McCown nationally) - I am sure all 9 other provinces are quite happy watching Rachel Rae on the food netowork - or much music...or anything! Why not use the regional approach for the filler too?
  2. Chris Michaels from Oakville, Canada writes: I must say that I'm quite surprised that MLSE has been as patient with the Raptors as they have. Clearly, the interest in this team has peaked...while a Championship run would certainly put a temporary charge into the rating.

    Would anyone really shed any tears if this team landed at the Sprint Center in Kansas City as has been rumoured?

    It's not as if the Air Canada Centre wouldn't be able to fill, at least, half of those home dates in a heartbeat. And, set up and production costs would be off the books.

    Hmmmm, perhaps that would allow time, effort and resources to be put where it belongs -- in this pitiful excuse for a hockey team.
  3. g h from Canada writes: The Raptors are rumoured to moving to Kansas City?. Where did you hear that one? Nowhere, because you made it up. What a ridiculous thing to say.

    Typical comment from the one or two sport die hards who that visit this site who feel they have to make silly comments about basketball. Who knows why but it provides a good laugh for the rest of us.
  4. Chris Michaels from Oakville, Canada writes: g h from Canada writes: The Raptors are rumoured to moving to Kansas City?. Where did you hear that one? Nowhere, because you made it up. What a ridiculous thing to say.

    I think you ought to do a search through the archives of even this very paper. In a recent article, there was discussion about how a few U.S cities had contacted MLSE regarding the team. The Kansas City rumour -- along with a few other teams, as well as an NHL franchise -- has been talked about since even before a shovel hit the ground in K.C.

    Preposterous, eh?

    Could you imagine a team leaving a lukewarm market for a sparkling new arena in the basketball hotbed of Missouri/ Kansas -- a place where U.S TV networks can un-aidedly locate on a map?

    Downright ridiculous, I'd say.

    Next thing you'll tell me is that NHL teams should be playing in places like Miami and Nashville instead of Hamilt.......oh wait....nevermind.
  5. g h from Canada writes: Whatever Michaels. It ain't happening. The Raptors are here to stay. They sellout almost every game and yet are a candiate for relocation??? You don't know what you're talking about. I don't why am I even discussing this you.
  6. Joe Dirt from Canada writes: Actually Chris, I did a search in this newspaper and found NOTHING to support your crazy rumour, nothing on google either. Please provide evidence or stop lying.

    Lukewarm market? The Raptors are in the top 10 in league attendance and have 98% capacity this year so far. That's lukewarm to you? What do you call Memphis, Indiana, or New Orleans then? And what evidence is there that team interest has peaked and won't still grow?
  7. Michael Enright from Toronto, Canada writes: I think Michaels is our friend Brezen.

    If you take a look at the 2007 Forbes Sports Franchise Valuation, it values the Raptors at $373-million and they generate $28-million in operating profits of MLSE. Wow, throw those bums out and change the keys to the ACC.

    http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/32/biz07nbaToronto-Raptors_321933.html
  8. Chris Michaels from Oakville, Canada writes: Whoa, whoa, whoa.
    Never did I say the Raps were on their way elsewhere. I said they were part of the rumours that spoke of a few current NBA franchises to be headed to Kansas City.

    The article (the recent one anyway) focused on the TV ratings. The crux of it was that the ratings were growing but still (as stated in this article) were paltry by most standards...especially outside the GTA.

    Somewhere in that particular article it said that MLSE brass had been contacted by a few cities, but were turned down quickly. Then it went on about MLSE's perseverance to make things work.

    Does that ring any bells? I'm 90% sure it was a Globe article...otherwise it would have been the Star.

    Anyway, if you guys think that gate receipts alone are what makes a successful franchise in the NBA, you're sorely mistaken. Yes, it is a key part of it, but TV trumps all. And when U.S owners and networks bellyache about poor viewerships when the Raptors are in town, then there's always gonna be some pressure.

    And, using reported attendance numbers we all know is a bit sketch. Seeing it myself, I can say that the attendance has immensely improved over just a few short years ago. But, as someone who has had to offload tickets at the last minute, both in the office and on the street, finding buyers or even takers isn't always easy. (Read: good luck getting face value).

    I'm blown away that MLSE has the stones to charge anything for game rights. When junior hockey outdraws you, and they have almost no expenses by comparison, I think "lukewarm" is awfully flattering.
  9. Erik Mielke from OSHAWA, Canada writes: lets be honest the raptors do not have a big fan base really the only reason they "might sell out games and even thats a stretch is the corporate ticket buyers of toronto. I live in and around toronto and their is no buzz about this team other than on stations that have a vested interest in the team. GO HABS!!!!
  10. Joseph Daniel from Oakville, Canada writes: No buzz. hmm check out the comments in here after a raptors game. Also C Micheals from Oakville did you know the Raps tickets are like the 5th most expensive in the NBA? Grange posted a link in his blog about a season ticket holder who is not renewing because MLSE is gouging him for another 10% increase. The guy mentions that his exact same seat in LA for a Lakers game is actually cheaper than a Raps game. I think this article has more to do with MLSE gouging than interest. I have watched enough games on the tube to see that the ACC is packed to the rafters and pretty noisy compared to a Laffs game. Been to a few Raps games in the past but not a big fan of forking over my hard earn pesos to MLSE.
  11. David G from Toronto, Canada writes: If one checks out the ACC at a Raptors game they see why the team has a great future. This isn't the old whitebread hockey crowd. It's a reflection of the rich ethnic diversity and youthful vigor of the city, indeed of Canada's major cities. This New Canada is growing much faster than the white Canada of the two founding peoples, and a lot of children of immigrants are moving into well-paying jobs and starting good businesses, which makes them a distinct and lucrative market of the future.

    And as for what MLSE can or cannot do, they are jacking up my season ticket price by 10% for next season, so I guess the demand is real.

Comments are closed

Thanks for your interest in commenting on this article, however we are no longer accepting submissions. If you would like, you may send a letter to the editor.

Report an abusive comment to our editorial staff

close

Alert us about this comment

Please let us know if this reader’s comment breaks the editor's rules and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.

Do not use this to complain about comments that don’t break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.

Back to top