Basketball has grown by leaps and bounds in Montreal and Quebec but it's still not to the point where it is a major sport that a lot people follow and talk about.
Moreso than they used to? Definitely.
But still not major.
The moral of the story is that what works in the US doesn't automatically map onto Canada (and especially not in Montreal and Quebec) simply based on population figures. I.e. that Montreal as a metro of 4 million + people would automatically support an NBA team like a US city of similar size would.
Quote:
Originally Posted by isaidso
All 6 of the NBA pre-seasons games at the Bell Centre sell outs.
|
A handful of exhibition games aren't necessarily indicative of how much support a team would have week in week out and through thick and thin.
Either way, in fact.
For example I don't think the flop that the Buffalo Bills series in Toronto was is necessarily indicative of how an NFL club would fare in that city.
A real Toronto NFL team would do fine I am sure.
OTOH I think that an NBA team in Montreal would probably fare like the Expos did: Quite popular as a fad in the early going but once the shine is off their success would be far too dependent on whether they win, and even on whether they win with flash.
Montreal sports fans are notoriously fickle and generally prefer one-off big time events than long-term devoted fandom.
The Habs being the one exception to this.
Quote:
Originally Posted by isaidso
Basketball has lots of interest and grass roots participation in Montreal. All 6 of the NBA pre-seasons games at the Bell Centre sell outs. This is a city producing lots of basketball talent too. But like most things, money will dictate whether Montreal lands a NBA team. Montreal certainly has more market heft than practically any other non NBA city in north America so it will boil down to putting together the right ownership group.
And if your contention that 'absolutely nobody sees any historical context' is accurate that speaks more to ignorance than anything else. Naismith was McGill's very first Director of Athletics and went on to invent basketball the following year. Basketball's roots stretch back further in northeastern North America than anywhere else on the planet. That said, Montrealers probably aren't aware of the historical importance their city played in the development of football either.
Basketball definitely has historical context in Montreal. Basketball has existed practically from the beginning and before places like California, Serbia, Australia. What I think you're trying to say is that the sport didn't gain widespread interest in Montreal till very recently.
|
I don't think that this somewhat tenuous historic reference would make much difference. It certainly didn't help baseball which has a much longer and illustrious past in the city including legend Jackie Robinson breaking the colour barrier with the Montreal Royals.
Prev
Linear Mode
