Sports in Canadian culture

[esquire]

Fascinating map... so clearly the Lakers are the default team, much like the Yankees in baseball. I'm a little surprised by that as I thought the Heat would have more of a following throughout North America.

So the Maritimes also appear to be Raptors country... that's basically it once you get outside of Ontario.

Poor Clippers, though... barely number 3 in their own market At least the Nets can claim their own county.

Also, the southeastern teams (except for the Heat) have much smaller footprints than I would have expected.

[kirjtc2]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

Also, I like the Raptors! Can't imagine cheering for a team in another country.

Why? I don't care what country it's in, I feel absolutely zero connection to Toronto. I resent having all the sports channels based there feel like they should shove their mediocre teams down the rest of the country's throat at the expense of other teams and stories that actually matter.

I live closer to Boston and even New York, for crying out loud.

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by esquire

Fascinating map... so clearly the Lakers are the default team, much like the Yankees in baseball. I'm a little surprised by that as I thought the Heat would have more of a following throughout North America.

So the Maritimes also appear to be Raptors country... that's basically it once you get outside of Ontario.

Poor Clippers, though... barely number 3 in their own market At least the Nets can claim their own county.

Also, the southeastern teams (except for the Heat) have much smaller footprints than I would have expected.

I think that college hoops have a greater following in the US (especially the midwest and southeast) than most NBA teams.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

I think that college hoops have a greater following in the US (especially the midwest and southeast) than most NBA teams.

Good point. Pro teams (in any sport) typically have a regional following, but NCAA teams fill that role in those regions.

About two years ago I visited Raleigh-Durham and it was pretty astounding what a presence UNC, NC State and Duke basketball, and to a lesser extent football had there. The city's only major pro team, the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL, barely seemed to register on the mental map there, and it was as if the NBA team down the highway, the Charlotte Bobcats, didn't even exist.

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by kirjtc2

Why? I don't care what country it's in, I feel absolutely zero connection to Toronto. I resent having all the sports channels based there feel like they should shove their mediocre teams down the rest of the country's throat at the expense of other teams and stories that actually matter.

I live closer to Boston and even New York, for crying out loud.

I can't really explain it. I live closer to a good half of the cities in the NBA than Toronto, but for some reason the nationality thing makes a difference. Most legitimate basketball fans I know here (i.e. not GO LAKERS/HEAT!!!1) are fans of the Raptors.

[osmo]

Originally Posted by kirjtc2

The NY Times has put together a map showing the favourite NBA team in every county of the US and Canada:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...50.266,-83.477

If you need more proof that Raptors fever is strictly an Ontario phenomenon, this is it.
Montreal? Winnipeg? Calgary? Edmonton? Vancouver? Raptors aren't even top 3.

Last time I checked we don't use zip codes in Canada which is how this data map was created. Did nobody else not notice the strange mapping for the Blue Jays on tbr baseball version?

Raptors are a strong hold in places that are strong with basketball. The majority of the country isn't. Even NBA playoff numbers in general don't do all that well. Nash pulled in big numbers during his peak, also the Raptors with Vince Carter pulled in large numbers, as did the Raptors during their playoff run.

[FrankieFlowerpot]

Big news for the Pan Am Games

Following the success of the XVI Pan American Games Guadalajara 2011, ESPN Deportes, ESPN and ESPN2 will provide exclusive, multimedia coverage of the XVII Pan American Games Toronto 2015 in English and Spanish. The networks plan to dedicate over 150 hours of Olympic-type coverage around the event.

Considered the Olympics of the Americas, the event will take place July 10-26, featuring 36 Summer Olympic sports, such as soccer, boxing, swimming, gymnastics, volleyball, cycling, judo, etc. More than 6,000 athletes, representing 41 nations from the Americas, are expected to compete in Toronto. This is the third time that Canada hosts the event, and the first held in the providence of Ontario.

In 2011, ESPN Deportes' 125 hours of live coverage of the Pan American Game from Guadalajara delivered the highest ratings across all Spanish-language cable networks through the 17 days of the tournament. The ESPN Deportes telecasts, in addition to ESPN2's coverage of select events, reached 19 million viewers.

[Mister F]

Don't look now but the Toronto Marlies just beat the Chicago Wolves 4-0 to move on to the AHL conference finals. They've swept both series they've played completely dominated Chicago. We had sweet seats for $30.

[SaskScraper]

Originally Posted by kirjtc2
The NY Times has put together a map showing the favourite NBA team in every county of the US and Canada:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...50.266,-83.477

If you need more proof that Raptors fever is strictly an Ontario phenomenon, this is it.
Montreal? Winnipeg? Calgary? Edmonton? Vancouver? Raptors aren't even top 3.

Originally Posted by osmo

Last time I checked we don't use zip codes in Canada which is how this data map was created. Did nobody else not notice the strange mapping for the Blue Jays on tbr baseball version?

Raptors are a strong hold in places that are strong with basketball. The majority of the country isn't. Even NBA playoff numbers in general don't do all that well. Nash pulled in big numbers during his peak, also the Raptors with Vince Carter pulled in large numbers, as did the Raptors during their playoff run.

The Upshot does explain their statistical analysis..
"Like the baseball maps, these were created using estimates of team support based on each team’s share of Facebook “likes” in a ZIP code (or census division in Canada). We then applied an algorithm to deal with statistical noisiness and to fill in gaps where data was missing.
Facebook likes show broadly similar patterns as polls do."

..not surprisingly, basketball fans in Western Canada predominately are Lakers(Nash) fans, Raptors fan base stops at the Manitoba/Ontario border..

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by SaskScraper

The Upshot does explain their statistical analysis..
"Like the baseball maps, these were created using estimates of team support based on each team’s share of Facebook “likes” in a ZIP code (or census division in Canada). We then applied an algorithm to deal with statistical noisiness and to fill in gaps where data was missing.
Facebook likes show broadly similar patterns as polls do."

..not surprisingly, basketball fans in Western Canada predominately are Lakers(Nash) fans, Raptors fan base stops at the Manitoba/Ontario border..

I suspect that for most regions of Quebec, like MRC Papineau east of Gatineau, the total number of likes for all NBA teams put together is probably less than 100.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Originally Posted by FrankieFlowerpot

Big news for the Pan Am Games

It would appear nobody cares about the Pan-Ams. That's a shame because it's a much bigger event than Canadians realise > this news is evidence of that.

Do we know about Canadian coverage yet?

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Dr Awesomesauce

Do we know about Canadian coverage yet?

Google is your friend.

If their online coverage is anything like Sochi, it will be great.

CBC wins rights to 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto
CBC Sports Sep 07, 2012

CBC/Radio-Canada has been awarded the host and Canadian broadcast rights for the 2015 Pan American Games and Parapan American Games in Toronto.

The agreement will give Canadians access to comprehensive coverage in both official languages and on multiple platforms. Specific broadcast details will be made available at a later date.

"We are pleased to have been selected to partner with Toronto 2015," said Jeffrey Orridge, Executive Director, Sports Properties for CBC English Services. "This is more good news for Canadians and the amateur sport community across the country, and we are thrilled to connect viewers with these Canadian athletes on home soil in advance of the Olympic Games in Rio the following year."

"As the host broadcaster, CBC/Radio-Canada will also bring the Pan/Parapan Am Games to the world, which positions us well for a revenue-positive outcome."

The Pan/Parapan American Games are considered a proving ground of sorts for Summer Olympic hopefuls, offering viewers the chance to see athletes that will potentially be representing Canada at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

The 2011 Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, featured 15 sports with either direct or indirect qualifying implications for the London Olympics.

The CBC/Radio-Canada deal includes English and French-language television, online, mobile and non-commercial radio rights for the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games, which run from July 10-26, and the Parapan Am Games, which go from August 7-14.

Last month, CBC/Radio-Canada was awarded the Canadian media rights for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. That deal is expected to be cost-neutral for the public broadcaster.

[osmo]

A lot of hype for the Pan-Ams. It's only saving grace may come from seeing are new young and emerging basketball players play, and IF Usain Bolt, and Yohan Blake decide to run in the games. I don't buy the rest of the fluff the press tries to sell us with, as the games are what they are a C-grade affair not attended by many of the worlds too athletes from the Americas.

Yes in size and scope it's a huge event but you notice quickly it's clearly not the Olympics with many athletes skipping it to focus on circuits and world championships and real Olympic qualifiers, not the "potential" that is painted in the posted article above. The Pan-Ams conflict with world championship in all of the most prestigious sports (Track, Swimming, Basketball) and once you remove that volume your left with stuff like field hockey and whatever else.

For Track, many sprinters are noting going to miss the European circuit that pays very well to run at the Pan-Ams, while also the obvious of the world championships in Beijing conflict with the Pan-Ams.

I just want to see the what perform. I don't get sold as fake flag waving. I want to see the best performances and thus always prefer world championships 2nd to the Olympics for this very reason.

[esquire]

^ The hand-wringing over the Pan Am Games verges on being comical.

Is it really impossible to enjoy what is by any measure a world class athletic event without getting hung up on whether it is, in fact, the absolute highest possible calibre competition possible?

You would think that having a big sports event in your backyard would be a good excuse to cut loose and enjoy the excitement of a big sports spectacle and all the hoopla that comes with it. But of course it brings out the no-fun brigade looking for any reason possible to dismiss it.

[Berklon]

It doesn't matter how it stacks up against the Olympics, World Championships, etc in competition and skill level - what matters is how much support it gets.

Since the Pan-Am games were awarded to Toronto I was curious as to how popular these games were. I personally knew nothing about these games, who hosted and who competed - but I figured that just might my apathy towards most sports as I don't follow all that much.
I have yet to meet anyone who follows these games, and like me - had no idea who hosted and competed. Not only did they not follow, they had no intention of following these upcoming games. I've asked A LOT of people (hundreds) - sure it's still a small sample size, but it does raise some alarm bells for me.

I dunno, maybe when the games take place people will care? But I'm really not expecting much from it.

[Acajack]

Not pointing at anyone here in particular but this preoccupation that many Canadians seem to have with ''the best'' when it comes to international games like the Pan-Am or the Olympics, CFL vs. NFL, Canadian movies and TV vs. American ones, etc. is interesting when you consider how run-of-the-mill Canada is in most respects for a country: education, health care, the environment, child poverty, transportation infrastructure, etc. We're better than most countries in most everything, but the best in almost nothing. But listening to people talk about how ''the best'' is so important, you'd think we were Switzerland, Denmark or Norway or some place like that. When in actual fact we're like a big Belgium.

[suburbanite]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Not pointing at anyone here in particular but this preoccupation that many Canadians seem to have with ''the best'' when it comes to international games like the Pan-Am or the Olympics, CFL vs. NFL, Canadian movies and TV vs. American ones, etc. is interesting when you consider how run-of-the-mill Canada is in most respects for a country: education, health care, the environment, child poverty, transportation infrastructure, etc. We're better than most countries in most everything, but the best in almost nothing. But listening to people talk about how ''the best'' is so important, you'd think we were Switzerland, Denmark or Norway or some place like that. When in actual fact we're like a big Belgium.

You don't go to the local bar with your friends to celebrate the new GDP per capita rankings?

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Not pointing at anyone here in particular but this preoccupation that many Canadians seem to have with ''the best'' when it comes to international games like the Pan-Am or the Olympics, CFL vs. NFL, Canadian movies and TV vs. American ones, etc. is interesting when you consider how run-of-the-mill Canada is in most respects for a country: education, health care, the environment, child poverty, transportation infrastructure, etc. We're better than most countries in most everything, but the best in almost nothing. But listening to people talk about how ''the best'' is so important, you'd think we were Switzerland, Denmark or Norway or some place like that. When in actual fact we're like a big Belgium.

We're probably the best at actively looking for reasons to ignore things that don't measure up to our ideals of what "the best" are; at least in relation to sports and culture.

I mean, if sports aren't your thing then whatever... just carry on enjoying the summer as you normally would. But for the people who seem almost offended by the prospect of a Pan Am Games mens' 100m event without Usain Bolt, I mean... what is the alternative? It isn't as though the Olympics are happening on TV at the same time. I guess if watching the Royals vs. Tigers instead satisfies your need to be viewing the "best" then have at 'er, but it seems like a lame reason to avoid what is by any measure a big national event.

[Berklon]

Originally Posted by esquire

I mean, if sports aren't your thing then whatever... just carry on enjoying the summer as you normally would. But for the people who seem almost offended by the prospect of a Pan Am Games mens' 100m event without Usain Bolt, I mean... what is the alternative? It isn't as though the Olympics are happening on TV at the same time. I guess if watching the Royals vs. Tigers instead satisfies your need to be viewing the "best" then have at 'er, but it seems like a lame reason to avoid what is by any measure a big national event.

I think you need to take into account the over-saturation of sports as a factor. You've already got the NHL, MLB, NBA, NFL, CFL, MLS in North America as sports leagues (not to mention the CHL and AHL), then you've got the major motorsports - Indy, Formula 1, Nascar... and for those who follow soccer overseas you've got a few leagues there.

Now every 2 years there's the Olympics (rotating between Summer and Winter) and the World Cup and Euro Cup alternating every 2 years.

People have a bevy of options on what to follow and care about, and most aren't going to follow everything. People are going to be selective, and many will choose what they feel offers the best athletes in the respective thing they choose to follow - go big or go home mentality. With all these choices, the Pan-Am games are a tough sell.

And you have to remember, sports needs to compete with other options people have to spend their entertainment dollars on.

[osmo]

Why should I not want to see the best athletes in the Americas perform? Especially since these tickets will not be cheap for events?

People are acting like me wanting to see the best competition is a crime.

Canadians like mediocracy to much. Europeans and Americans would never expect some third rate event that costs billions of dollars to put on to be placed in their back yards. Not if they couldn't get a show out of it at the very least. Rationalizing the Pan-Ams just plays up to Canadians persistence of excepting mediocre stuff on all levels. I always viewed the Pan-Ams as nothing more for Toronto then a warm up for the Olympics. But since now Toronto has gotten cold feet on its bid the Pan-Ams will largely be useless aside from some facilities that will add community benefits but we could of built those anyways and saved money.

"Just be happy for what it is?
So I can pay 100$ to watch a jr. track meet?

There is a reason the Pan-Ams have been in a comma and it's because the organization that runs it is to inept to get a system going where the Pan-Ams act as placeholders or qualifiers for the Olympic Games. Sports federations now have monetized their world championships and have zero use for the Pan-Ams, and because of this the athletes have zero use for the pan-Ams either.

Same thing has happen in Asia with the Asian Games but they are currently being re-aligned and re-focused as a attempt to be the main qualifier stage for Asian Olympic nations.

You have I find a reason for existing. As costs to hold these things keeps growing the Pan-Ams need to find a legit reason to exist or they will simply vanish.