Sports in Canadian culture

[logan5]

Originally Posted by suburbanite

I want nothing more than for Wiggins to find his way to the Raptors. The effect it would have not only on the team but for all of Canadian basketball is immeasurable.

The Raptors need him bad.

It was really disappointing to see Wiggins doing some ridiculous pose after a basket in some highlight reel I saw. I wish he would take on a more humble Canadian approach.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Allan83

Do you go to a lot of live curling events too? Canadian curlers are the best in the world, and curling is a very popular sport in Canada drawing much bigger television audiences than the Raptors and Jays.

The reason they’re on TSN2 is because their ratings were awful on TSN the other networks that carried them, (including the CBC which should not have been covering them in any event.) So, while I’ve certainly heard the p.o.v. you’re expressing before, in fact people don’t go to these games in great numbers, or even watch them on television, and for the NFL I’m sure it would be even worse. NFL tickets are very expensive, and the game is very slow, and if you’re not really a true fan of the game they’re tough to sit through.

While I’m familiar with your p.o.v. overall I’d say that it’s very non-traditional. Most people go to sports they know and like, or just to cheer on the home team. College sports are huge in the US for example, and by definition none of them are the “best”, but they draw huge crowds because people like cheering for the home team. The Riders are a good example in Canada of a team that has a lot of fans who don’t have a strong understanding of football, but who like to have fun cheering on the home team. It’s kind of a community thing, and a bonding thing. If you do really understand a sport, otoh, then you can appreciate the highest levels of play from that standpoint, like top level soccer, the NHL, CFL football, etc.. It’s pretty unusual, however, to not really understand a sport but to still go to a lot of games just because you perceive it to be the highest level of the sport. If you don’t really understand the game then you’re not really going to appreciate the skills you’re watching, and to pay top dollar to do that is strange. Doing this I think is more a function of trying to make oneself feel “world class”, to use a popular Toronto term, rather than being a function of being a true fan of the sport itself. In other words I think it’s a form of compensating behaviour. Furthermore, I find that people who say this don’t in fact watch a lot of curling, or the top Canadian Olympic athletes, for example, and what they do watch is almost exclusively “major league” American sports, so it seems that they feel that by attaching themselves to a particular kind of American cultural identity they will fell more worthy, or more “world class.” But I don’t think this really works, and I don’t think it lasts, and this has led to the big attendance drop offs and ongoing attendance issues for the Jays and Raptors.

Friggin' brilliant post! You definately "Get it"

[elly63]

Originally Posted by suburbanite

I want nothing more than for Wiggins to find his way to the Raptors. The effect it would have not only on the team but for all of Canadian basketball is immeasurable.

I really can't see it. Of course it would spike interest and if he became a superstar and the Raptors won, yes it would grow the game. But if the NT doesn't continue it's resurgence with him being a big part of it then he might as well be another Magloire and affect no change at all.

[Welkin]

Originally Posted by Allan83

As a long time Flames and Riders fan I know the pain of losing (recent times excepted for the Riders, of course) but if you're a fan of the sport and the home team then you keep going and you keep cheering. Remember that Toronto is a huge market as well, 6 million people. If they can't support their teams with that kind of population base then it really isn't very a good sports town.

Toronto is a terrible sports town because Toronto is a great city that gives its citizens a multitude of options as to how to spend their entertainment dollars. Regina has massive support for the Riders and going to the games is a "community event". Well, duh!! What else are you going to do in Regina? Take in world class theaters, museums and other entertainment options? People in Toronto have options. If sports teams want to draw higher attendance, they need to do a better job of marketing themselves as an entertainment option. You can't just open the gates and expect to fill your arena just because you are the "local home sports team". True sports fans will always show up, but to get the casual sports fan to drop a $100 bucks on your team, instead spending the day boating on the lake, takes a little more effort than most Toronto teams seem willing to spend.

[suburbanite]

Originally Posted by logan5

The Raptors need him bad.

It was really disappointing to see Wiggins doing some ridiculous pose after a basket in some highlight reel I saw. I wish he would take on a more humble Canadian approach.

The kid's been nothing but humble in every interview I've seen of him. I haven't seen the video you're referring to but it must have been something special because I've never seen an over-the-top celebration from the guy.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by suburbanite

The kid's been nothing but humble in every interview I've seen of him. I haven't seen the video you're referring to but it must have been something special because I've never seen an over-the-top celebration from the guy.

Yeah, I honestly don't know much about him.

I really can't see it. Of course it would spike interest and if he became a superstar and the Raptors won, yes it would grow the game. But if the NT doesn't continue it's resurgence with him being a big part of it then he might as well be another Magloire and affect no change at all.

To get a potential superstar who wants to play in Canada would be huge for Toronto. Other players will want to play in Toronto because of him. Then again, Lebron left his home town. I guess home isn't where the heart is for Lebron.

I wonder how the fortunes of the Grizzlies might have changed had Nash been drafted by the Grizz.

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by Welkin

Toronto is a terrible sports town because Toronto is a great city that gives its citizens a multitude of options as to how to spend their entertainment dollars. Regina has massive support for the Riders and going to the games is a "community event". Well, duh!! What else are you going to do in Regina? Take in world class theaters, museums and other entertainment options? People in Toronto have options. If sports teams want to draw higher attendance, they need to do a better job of marketing themselves as an entertainment option. You can't just open the gates and expect to fill your arena just because you are the "local home sports team". True sports fans will always show up, but to get the casual sports fan to drop a $100 bucks on your team, instead spending the day boating on the lake, takes a little more effort than most Toronto teams seem willing to spend.

I always hate when this is said. Is there absolutely nothing to do in Saskatoon then? Is all of Atlantic Canada a complete dead zone for entertainment options? London and KW? The truth of the matter is that either people are interested in the local sports scene or they aren't. People can be just as disinterested in sports in Regina as they are in Toronto. They can decide to do anything else with their time if they so choose. For example, nature is a much more important aspect to life for Saskatchewanians than Torontonians, and there are plenty of lakes and parks in Saskatchewan that people make full use of during the summer months (directly competing with football season)... it just so happens that also taking in football games is a priority for many from all over the province. Yes Toronto has more/better museums and art galleries... but you can't tell me that is a common weekly activity. I'm willing to bet the vast majority of Torontonians haven't even stepped into any of the museums/galleries outside of a class/school scenario.

There are many metro areas around the world that are about the same size/larger than Toronto and have just as much, if not more to do in them, and some of these places sustain multiple teams in the same league (e.g. London has 6 teams in the Premier League - not to mention the plethora of teams in tiers below, Melbourne has 9 teams in the AFL). Some places are hotbeds for sport, some aren't.

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by Xelebes

sycophancy

Thanks!

[Gerrard]

Originally Posted by Nathan

I always hate when this is said. Is there absolutely nothing to do in Saskatoon then? Is all of Atlantic Canada a complete dead zone for entertainment options? London and KW? The truth of the matter is that either people are interested in the local sports scene or they aren't. People can be just as disinterested in sports in Regina as they are in Toronto. They can decide to do anything else with their time if they so choose. For example, nature is a much more important aspect to life for Saskatchewanians than Torontonians, and there are plenty of lakes and parks in Saskatchewan that people make full use of during the summer months (directly competing with football season)... it just so happens that also taking in football games is a priority for many from all over the province. Yes Toronto has more/better museums and art galleries... but you can't tell me that is a common weekly activity. I'm willing to bet the vast majority of Torontonians haven't even stepped into any of the museums/galleries outside of a class/school scenario.

There are many metro areas around the world that are about the same size/larger than Toronto and have just as much, if not more to do in them, and some of these places sustain multiple teams in the same league (e.g. London has 6 teams in the Premier League - not to mention the plethora of teams in tiers below, Melbourne has 9 teams in the AFL). Some places are hotbeds for sport, some aren't.

Um, London is a Soccer town. Period. It isn't supporting Football leagues and hockey leagues and basketball leagues and baseball teams etc.

Toronto is a hockey town, as with most of Canada, and when they're doing well, it's a baseball and basketball town as far as major leagues go. Because it doesn't jizz all over the Argos when they play shouldn't be felt as an affront to you guys but somehow is for whatever, somewhat crazy reason, on this forum. I mean, get over it. An NFL team would have about as much fan support as the Argos do now in Toronto and would only seem to be popular initially (as any NFL team in any market in Canada would) because of the novelty factor.

Stop taking Toronto's very existence as a personal insult guys.

And I sincerely doubt curling gets better ratings than the Raptors or Jay. I mean, really.

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by Nathan

I always hate when this is said. Is there absolutely nothing to do in Saskatoon then? Is all of Atlantic Canada a complete dead zone for entertainment options? London and KW? The truth of the matter is that either people are interested in the local sports scene or they aren't. People can be just as disinterested in sports in Regina as they are in Toronto. They can decide to do anything else with their time if they so choose. For example, nature is a much more important aspect to life for Saskatchewanians than Torontonians, and there are plenty of lakes and parks in Saskatchewan that people make full use of during the summer months (directly competing with football season)... it just so happens that also taking in football games is a priority for many from all over the province. Yes Toronto has more/better museums and art galleries... but you can't tell me that is a common weekly activity. I'm willing to bet the vast majority of Torontonians haven't even stepped into any of the museums/galleries outside of a class/school scenario.

There are many metro areas around the world that are about the same size/larger than Toronto and have just as much, if not more to do in them, and some of these places sustain multiple teams in the same league (e.g. London has 6 teams in the Premier League - not to mention the plethora of teams in tiers below, Melbourne has 9 teams in the AFL). Some places are hotbeds for sport, some aren't.

My thoughts exactly. Whenever people bring up the "We have so much more to do" excuse in big cities, I wonder: Who actually goes to art museums and live theatre?

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by Gerrard

Um, London is a Soccer town. Period. It isn't supporting Football leagues and hockey leagues and basketball leagues and baseball teams etc.

Toronto is a hockey town, as with most of Canada, and when they're doing well, it's a baseball and basketball town as far as major leagues go. Because it doesn't jizz all over the Argos when they play shouldn't be felt as an affront to you guys but somehow is for whatever, somewhat crazy reason, on this forum. I mean, get over it. An NFL team would have about as much fan support as the Argos do now in Toronto and would only seem to be popular initially (as any NFL team in any market in Canada would) because of the novelty factor.

Stop taking Toronto's very existence as a personal insult guys.

And I sincerely doubt curling gets better ratings than the Raptors or Jay. I mean, really.

I was more addressing the whole "big cities have so much more to do" excuse. I was merely pointing out that other big cities also have plenty to do, but support just as many/if not more teams better. The more to do excuse is tired, because people will always find something to occupy their time if they deem it worthwhile, big city or not.

As for Toronto being as much of a Hockey town as London is a Football city... I'm gonna go ahead and say it's not on the same level. I mean... I guess if Toronto had 6 NHL teams and 10+ CHL/AHL teams, sure...

[Gerrard]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

My thoughts exactly. Whenever people bring up the "We have so much more to do" excuse in big cities, I wonder: Who actually goes to art museums and live theatre?

A lot of people do those things. Having a large population allows you to support a variety of cultural options. God knows I'd rather watch an original theater production than share space with a bunch of failed jocks who think they actually have a vested and emotional interest in some physical activity they haven't participated in since high school.

[Gerrard]

Originally Posted by Nathan

I was more addressing the whole "big cities have so much more to do" excuse. I was merely pointing out that other big cities also have plenty to do, but support just as many/if not more teams better.

As for Toronto being as much of a Hockey town as London is a Football city... I'm gonna go ahead and say it's not on the same level. I mean... I guess if Toronto had 6 NHL teams and 10+ CHL/AHL teams, sure...

I'm just not sure why you care so much what Torontonians do with their free time. Trust me, no one in Toronto cares whether people in Saskatoon or Calgary are going to hockey games or football games or not. It totally never comes up in conversation. Kinda like the Argos or CFL.

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by Gerrard

I'm just not sure why you care so much what Torontonians do with their free time. Trust me, no one in Toronto cares whether people in Saskatoon or Calgary are going to hockey games or football games or not.

I don't really care what they do... I was addressing Welkin's comment that "of course the Riders are well supported... there's nothing else to do in Regina".

[craneSpotter]

Originally Posted by Gerrard

And I sincerely doubt curling gets better ratings than the Raptors or Jay. I mean, really.

I think this suspect too. Really? Curling? A popular sport in small towns because you can drink lots of beer! Shuffleboard on ice? I'd like to see proof, and if it is a 'big' draw nothing else must have been one

I found this interesting regarding the NFL in Canada. Recent TV 'sports only' ratings.



link - http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/eh-...195312058.html

[FrankieFlowerpot]

Unless I'm reading that wrong - the Lions / Riders game did a better rating than the NFL game

[logan5]

The NFL would do well in Canada, as those ratings suggest. Football is not a "novelty" in Canada, the way hockey is in Florida.

[craneSpotter]

Originally Posted by FrankieFlowerpot

Unless I'm reading that wrong - the Lions / Riders game did a better rating than the NFL game

Umm read the writers comments, the #3 NFL game are the viewer numbers for TSN alone, they do not include the Canadians watching the same game on NBC The actual Canadian viewership was speculated to be well above 725k when including the NBC viewers, maybe even over 1 million - which would place it #2 behind the NHL that week

Impressive for a sport that has no Canadian representation! No? Imagine if there were one or two Canadian teams...

[Gerrard]

Originally Posted by Nathan

I don't really care what they do... I was addressing Welkin's comment that "of course the Riders are well supported... there's nothing else to do in Regina".

Marquee events in smaller markets will get disproportionate support than ones in markets where marquee events occur daily. It's simply a numbers game.

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by Gerrard

And I sincerely doubt curling gets better ratings than the Raptors or Jay. I mean, really.

Um, go to Eh game on Yahoo sports and check the ratings. Curling BLOWS THE RAPTORS out of the water all the time! In fact Tractor Pulls blow the Raptors out of the water out side of the GTA. I actually think that the only people who watch NBA are in the GTA.

Also, do you know the reason why the NFL went back to Baltimore so soon after the Colts went to Indy? Its because the city embraced the CFL and the Stallions and packed their stadium. Thats why. So if Toronto wanted the NFL to come, then they should have packed Rogers Centre for Argo games, they should have packed Varsity to watch UofT, they should have packed whatever stadium York plays in. Thats how you get the NFL to notice you, not by thumbing your nose at your pro and college teams. Its that simple.