NBA Back in Vancouver

UPDATE: Been busy covering the NBA playoffs. I'll post something juicy this weekend in between series...

Over the past year, there have been sporadic reports that Francesco Aquilini along with local hoop king Howard Kelsey are interested in bringing an NBA team back to Vancouver. First it started with the temporary relocation of the New Orleans Hornets, then the failing Portland Trailblazers. Most recently, the Seattle Supersonics have threatened to move the franchise should financing for a new building fall through.

Why'd They Move Anyway??

The first question that needs to be asked is why the Grizzlies moved in the first place. The official reason given by then owner Michael Heisley and the NBA was that the city of Vancouver and the business community failed to support the team financially. The reality is that Vancouver, like many other smaller market teams in the US would be hard-pressed to find the huge corporate dollars like in a Toronto, Chicago, or Houston. The Grizzlies like the Canucks would never be fully supported by corporate box seats and major sponsors, but instead by the community at large.

As poor as the Grizzlies were in making money, the financial situation paled in comparison to the performance of the team on the basketball court. The Grizzlies when they were in Vancouver were by far the worst team in NBA history achieving a losing percentage that the dubious Washington Generals would be ashamed of. So Heisley and the NBA can talk all they want, the truth is that the Grizzlies left Vancouver because the so-called Expert Management types had no clue about running a successful NBA franchise let alone a lemonaide stand.

Why Vancouver?

The next question that needs to be asked is why Vancouver, and why now. There are 3 factors that support an NBA franchise in Vancouver at this time. First, with GM Place and a brand new state-of-the art training facilities being built in Vancouver, all of the logistics of hosting an NBA franchise are conveniently in place and require very little investment to attract and maintain that franchise. Second, the pending Olympics are creating an explosion in the local economy and attracting more and more people to relocate to the paradise we call home. Lastly, the Canadian dollar is fast approaching the US dollar with some experts saying the Canadian dollar could even surpass the US dollar in coming years.

But Hold on, Let's be Realistic

Being the contrarian that I am however, I feel compelled to present why Vancouver should steer clear from the NBA. One question that begs to be asked is why are all these franchises like Portland, Seattle, Memphis, New Orleans failing in the first place and could they succeed in Vancouver. Many of these cities have limited population growth and very little corporate presence. All of it means that the TV revenues are non-existent and sponsors are hard to come by. These cities require a large community fan base to support the team year after year. Fans need to feel connected to the team, sound familiar Grizzlies' fans??

My theory, the alienation of the NBA Player from the average NBA fan is the primary reason why basketball fans from those failing teams among others are turning away from the League. Stories like the one about Allen Iverson and Chris Webber showing up late to the final game of the season, Fan Appreciation night no less, has disenfranchised the average basketball fan. In North America, most fans have grown weary of the elitism and antics of NBA players. David Stern knows this and so is marketing the League to the world instead because that is where the growth exists. The League is now a global enterprise with fans from all over the world. TV revenue, marketability, and corporate sponsors are the driving force, not local community support. Fans in China and Turkey don’t know why Stephon Marbury hates his coach and they don’t really care. He scores a bunch of points, and looks good doing it. Marketability, that’s what the NBA is striving for.

Whether you support the NBA returning to Vancouver, there is one universal truth. The team needs to be managed properly or it will out the door as fast as it came back in.

Post or email your take to BCSportsFanatic@yahoo.ca.