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Originally Posted by phesto
Ok, let's assume that MLB actually has interest to expand (which it currently does not) or that there are teams considering relocation (there aren't really - of the teams facing issues, they center around their existing multi-purpose stadiums, and as with Florida, these issues get addressed with new stadiums).
Vancouver would be the 3rd smallest market in the league, ahead of two Midwest cities that have had teams for many years and have a loyal baseball following in Kansas City and Milwaukee. And while I have only been to one of those two cities, I can safely assume that neither offer the wide array of summer activities as Vancouver.
Add to this that MLB would want a baseball specific stadium at least planned, would make it extremely difficult.
Vancouver is a great city that is exhibiting strong growth, but I don't buy that we have some particular demographic feature that would make an MLB team work here. And yes, it would have to be just as popular in the Fraser Valley as in the City; we would need people coming from everywhere for all 81 home games.
Furthermore, while baseball may be increasingly popular in Asia, in my experience, the Asian population in Vancouver is largely disinterested in attending outdoor sports as evidenced by a disproportionate few Asians I see at Lions, Whitecaps and Canadians games. I realize this is a generalization on the entire Asian community, but I find it odd, especially considering I see a fairly accurate representation of Metro Vancouver's ethnic makeup at Canucks games (and previously, at Grizzlies games).
Surely if there was some pent up demand for baseball, wouldn't Nat Bailey be able to sell out more, instead of being half empty a lot of the time? Okay, I've heard the typical response "It's only single-A, it's not good baseball", but even the people who do go to the games don't appear to care about baseball, most are just there for the novelty of it.
I appreciate some of the arguments being made here guys, but let's be realistic about this. A feasible business case to bring MLB to Vancouver would be very difficult to create; not just because of Vancouver as a city, but from the MLB perspective, Vancouver isn't on anyone's radar, except for maybe exhibition games (and, fingers crossed, maybe a real series) at BC Place.
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The NBA is a league in a constant state of flux, and while Vancouver would still be one of the smaller market teams, we have a lot of wealthy people here (including CSE owners) and a growing market with a stadium ready to go. I think the probability of the NBA coming back is vastly greater than MLB ever coming here.
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I think most immigrants from asia really don't care about canadian football (Lions), nor do they care much about the Whitecaps for that matter (MLS). Most asians have grown up with euopean football (the EPL, Barclay, etc), and those are the leagues that MLS 'Caps are competing with, in some ways. That's probably why you don't see many asians at those games. Now, with that being said, a lot of Asian born Canadians (asians who were born here, and not overseas), are supportive of their hometown clubs. And plus, Single A ball? C'mon. We all know the Canadians are to develop these players for the Major League Club, Blue Jays. Nobody really goes, because, well, either they aren't fans of single A baseball, or they just aren't fans.
I agree with you, however, that I don't see MLB coming to Vancouver in a long time. But perhaps over a period of time, Vancouver as a city itself, can make a case that it can support MLB here in this city. Adding another sporting franchise and event to this city in the Summer would be wonderful, in addition to all the other things that people can do in the city. I think you'd see a lot of Japanese people come out to games, as well as Asians coming out to something big like MLB. The Minor leagues? Probably not. I have a lot of friends who are fans of the NFL, but not the CFL game, because they see the CFL as a minor league, second rated league, where players who aren't good enough to make in the NFL, come to play (Casey Printers as an example, who left the Lions, to try out for the Chiefs - on practice roster).
The reason you see a lot of asians at Canucks and even in Grizzlies games (when they were still here), is because the Canucks - well - they ARE the event to attend when in town. Even people who don't know anything about hockey will come out, because of the atmosphere it generates, and the excitment of all the other 18,000 plus fans make when a goal is scored, or when a save is made. The Grizzlies, were a novelty, but when that novelty wore off over time, people still came, because it was a sporting event. And hey, who wouldn't want to support their hometown team? Those guys were REAL fans, who gave their support, money and time to the team. Unfortunately, the team left. But I'm hopeful that one day, the NBA will return, a lot sooner than receiving a MLB franchise for Van.