What are the most popular sports teams in your city?

Acajack · #1 Posted **Dec 1, 2010, 3:01 PM**

OK folks, what are the most popular sports teams in your city? I have posted my rankings for Gatineau and Ottawa, plus blips on the radar for each in no particular order.

Gatineau
1. Montreal Canadiens NHL
2. Ottawa Senators NHL
3. Gatineau Olympiques QMJHL
4. Montreal Alouettes CFL

Blips on the radar: L’Intrépide de Gatineau (midget AAA), L’Impact de Montréal (USSF), Laval Rouge et Or (CIS football), Griffons de l’Outaouais (junior college football), Ottawa 67’s (OHL), U of Ottawa Gee-Gees (CIS football)

Ottawa
1. Ottawa Senators NHL
2. Montreal Canadiens NHL
3. Toronto Maple Leafs NHL
4. Ottawa 67s (OHL)
5. Toronto Blue Jays (MLB)
6. Toronto Raptors (NBA)

Blips on the radar: U of Ottawa Gee-Gees (CIS football), Carleton Ravens (CIS basketball), Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL), Buffalo Bills (NFL), Montreal Alouettes (CFL)

The_Architect · #2 Posted **Dec 1, 2010, 3:11 PM**

Toronto
-Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
-Toronto Blue Jays (MLB)
-Toronto FC (MLS)
-Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
-Montreal Canadiens (NHL)
-Toronto Raptors (NBA)
-Ottawa Senators (NHL)
-Toronto Rock (NLL)
-Hamilton Tigercats (CFL)
-Toronto Marlies (AHL)

Honourable Mentions:
Toronto Varsity Blues (CIS), Toronto Lynx/Lady Linx (Soccer), Toronto St. Michael's Majors (OHL)

That's my judgement anyways.

Acajack · #3 Posted **Dec 1, 2010, 3:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Architect

Toronto
-Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
-Toronto Blue Jays (MLB)
-Toronto FC (MLS)
-Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
-Montreal Canadiens (NHL)
-Toronto Raptors (NBA)
-Ottawa Senators (NHL)
-Toronto Rock (NLL)
-Hamilton Tigercats (CFL)
-Toronto Marlies (AHL)

Honourable Mentions:
Toronto Varsity Blues (CIS), Toronto Lynx/Lady Linx (Soccer), Toronto St. Michael's Majors (OHL)

That's my judgement anyways.

Interesting that you did not rank any NFL team (Bills?) in there. I know the NFL is popular, but is it because in Toronto people cheer for a variety of NFL teams rather than one in particular?

feepa · #4 Posted **Dec 1, 2010, 3:18 PM**

Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Eskimoes
Saskatchewan Riders (there is a lot of rider transplants here in Edmonton)
Calgary Flames (gasp)
Calgary Stamps
Vancouver Canucks
New England Patriots (I don't know if its just because they have been such a good team, or there are just a lot of pats fans here, but I see there logo worn all the time)

listed in order, at least that's what it seems.

esquire · #5 Posted **Dec 1, 2010, 4:01 PM**

In Winnipeg it seems to be (in something resembling descending order):

-Winnipeg Blue Bombers
-Canadian NHL teams (there is no clear favourite, but Alberta teams seem to have more fans than the rest)
-Manitoba Moose
-Minnesota Vikings
-Winnipeg Goldeyes

Blips:

U. of Manitoba Bisons football, Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jays, Saskatchewan Roughriders

The Bombers are the only home team which has a widespread and passionate fanbase. Even though the Moose have become more popular over the duration of their 15 years in Winnipeg, their games hardly ever constitute the subject of water-cooler conversation unless they make it past the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs. The Goldeyes draw decent crowds but most of the people in attendance would be hard pressed to name even three players on the field.

As for the NHL, there is a significant bandwagon following for Pittsburgh and Washington. There is hardly anyone who identifies as a Coyotes fan.

The Vikings are the only non-Canadian team with a critical mass of fans in town. There are a good number of NFL fans who routinely make the trip to MSP for games.

Bigtime · #6 Posted **Dec 1, 2010, 4:05 PM**

For Calgary I'd have to rank them like this:

-Flames
-Stamps
-Roughriders (

)
-Hitmen
-Roughnecks (lacrosse)
-Oilers
-Canucks (

)
-Vipers (baseball)

The_Architect · #7 Posted **Dec 1, 2010, 4:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

Interesting that you did not rank any NFL team (Bills?) in there. I know the NFL is popular, but is it because in Toronto people cheer for a variety of NFL teams rather than one in particular?

That's exactly why I didn't include any football teams, I couldn't pick any specific one because you see many different jerseys around and generally not a lot of one specific team, other than bandwagon Patriots fans.

Distill3d · #8 Posted **Dec 1, 2010, 8:20 PM**

I think for Vancouver its simple, for the local teams at least

1. Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
2. BC Lions (CFL)
3. Vancouver Whitecaps (USL/MLS)
4. Vancouver Giants (WHL)
5. Chilliwack Bruins (WHL)
6. Vancouver Canadians (baseball)
7. Abbotsford Heat (AHL)

Ramako · #9 Posted **Dec 1, 2010, 8:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Architect

Toronto
-Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
-Toronto Blue Jays (MLB)
-Toronto FC (MLS)
-Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
-Montreal Canadiens (NHL)
-Toronto Raptors (NBA)
-Ottawa Senators (NHL)
-Toronto Rock (NLL)
-Hamilton Tigercats (CFL)
-Toronto Marlies (AHL)

Honourable Mentions:
Toronto Varsity Blues (CIS), Toronto Lynx/Lady Linx (Soccer), Toronto St. Michael's Majors (OHL)

That's my judgement anyways.

There's no way that the Argos are more popular than the Raptors. Even when they're terrible, they still sell very well.

esquire · #10 Posted **Dec 1, 2010, 8:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Distill3d

I think for Vancouver its simple, for the local teams at least

1. Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
2. BC Lions (CFL)
3. Vancouver Whitecaps (USL/MLS)
4. Vancouver Giants (WHL)
5. Chilliwack Bruins (WHL)
6. Vancouver Canadians (baseball)
7. Abbotsford Heat (AHL)

Don't any Seattle teams have a significant Vancouver following? One would think that the Mariners and Seahawks would draw quite a bit of interest among sports fans in the Lower Mainland.

raggedy13 · #11 Posted **Dec 1, 2010, 8:33 PM**

^The Mariners and Seahawks do have a following but I'm not sure where they'd be on that list. I'd say around the #5 spot at best.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Distill3d

I think for Vancouver its simple, for the local teams at least

1. Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
2. BC Lions (CFL)
3. Vancouver Whitecaps (USL/MLS)
4. Vancouver Giants (WHL)
5. Chilliwack Bruins (WHL)
6. Vancouver Canadians (baseball)
7. Abbotsford Heat (AHL)

I think the Manitoba Moose would make it on that list, and higher than the Abbotsford Heat.

A few years down the road I could see the Whitecaps surpassing or at least coming up even with the Lions. If we could land another NBA team I think they'd come in second.

Acajack · #12 Posted **Dec 1, 2010, 8:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramako

There's no way that the Argos are more popular than the Raptors. Even when they're terrible, they still sell very well.

I suspect this may be the case as well.

Still, I am quite surprised at how highly people are ranking the CFL and its clubs in Toronto and Ontario (this and the other thread).

le calmar · #13 Posted **Dec 1, 2010, 8:54 PM**

Sherbrooke:

Montreal Canadiens
U of S Vert et Or - CIS
Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Impact
Saint-François - LNAH (ligue nord américaine de hockey)
Bishop's Gaiters - CIS
New England Patriots
Sherbrooke Expos - LBEQ (ligue de baseball élite du Québec)

-Harlington- · #14 Posted **Dec 1, 2010, 8:58 PM**

local favorites for halifax:

Halifax mooseheads (QMJHL)
Halifax rainmen (PBL)
Saint Mary's huskies (CIS) (mostly football or hockey)
Dalhousie tigers (CIS) (hockey, soccer, ect.)
Halifax lions (MJAHL) (jr A, at the form)

as for non locals:

Montreal canadiens (NHL)
Toronto maple leafs (NHL)
Boston bruins (NHL)
Pittsburgh penguins (NHL)
Calgary flames (NHL)
Hamilton tigercats (CFL)
Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
Saskatchewan roughriders (CFL)
Toronto blue jays (MLB)
Boston red sox (MLB)
Toronto raptors (NBA)
Boston celtics (NBA)
LA lakers (NBA)
New england patriots (NFL)

its interesting with Halifax because there is no real major pro teams here (yet) but this is what i see..

Montreal and Toronto have always been the two hockey teams in Halifax for some reason but also Boston a bit to, Pittsburgh and Calgary seem to be gaining more fans due to Crosby and everyone moving out west and then liking the flames for some reason.
The most football fans around here seem to like NFL and CFL about the same but there seems to be more hype on NFL and New England just looks to me like there's more people i know that are fans, CFL it just seems to be Toronto and Hamilton and a bit of the riders although they're everywhere anyway.
With baseball i just tend to see more Toronto and Boston fans Toronto has the only Canadian team so that's probably why there and Halifax just seems to like Boston maybe because they helped us out during the Halifax explosion i don't know, aha.
Raptors are again the only Canadian team and Boston and LA have just been good for a long time so they gained fans.
these are just observations that i witnessed around the city but if anyone else from Halifax wants to add to it go ahead.

The_Architect · #15 Posted **Dec 1, 2010, 8:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramako

There's no way that the Argos are more popular than the Raptors. Even when they're terrible, they still sell very well.

Fair enough, I really don't follow the Raptors or NBA so I don't know exactly how popular they are in Toronto. I was under the impression they were having attendance problems, but I guess that was a few years ago.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

Still, I am quite surprised at how highly people are ranking the CFL and its clubs in Toronto and Ontario (this and the other thread).

Like I said in the other thread, many people sell Toronto short as a football city. Other sports may be before it.. but it isn't exactly in danger of folding. They are more popular than it seems, we just don't have the rabid obnoxious fans that the Riders and Als and other CFL teams do.

Acajack · #16 Posted **Dec 1, 2010, 9:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Architect

we just don't have the rabid obnoxious fans that the Riders and Als and other CFL teams do.

(smiles)

The_Architect · #17 Posted **Dec 1, 2010, 9:02 PM**

Of course rabid, obnoxious fans aren't necessarily a bad thing..

But you know what I mean, especially with the Riders.

SteelTown · #18 Posted **Dec 1, 2010, 11:11 PM**

Hamilton:

Maple Leafs
Buffalo Bills
Hamilton Tiger Cats
Buffalo Sabres
Montreal Canadiens
Hamilton Bulldogs
Toronto Argos

Distill3d · #19 Posted **Dec 2, 2010, 12:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

Don't any Seattle teams have a significant Vancouver following? One would think that the Mariners and Seahawks would draw quite a bit of interest among sports fans in the Lower Mainland.

There is some interest with the Seahawks, there's always some contest to see them somewhere, but realistically, I don't think they have any serious following here. I think that's a real credit to the BC Lions and the CFL marketing teams at keeping interest here in such a major market so close to the USA.

As for Baseball, I don't think there is really a team following, so much as a player following. There's a lot of successful local boys that have been stars in the majors like Justin Morneau and Larry Walker. I'd say that its the same with basketball here. I think that since the Grizzlies moved to Memphis and renamed the Grizzlies, all our support is behind Steve Nash more than say the Supersonics or the Trail Blazers. Of course, there's also the "patriotic" crowd that cheers on the Blue Jays and Raptors because they're "Canada's Team".

BretttheRiderFan · #20 Posted **Dec 2, 2010, 1:22 AM**

Where I'm currently at is Grande Prairie, Alberta

1. Grande Prairie Storm (AJHL)
2. Edmonton Oilers
3. Calgary Flames
4. Vancouver Canucks
5. Saskatchewan Roughriders

Edmonton

1. Oilers NHL
2. Eskimos CFL
3. Riders CFL
4. Flames NHL
5. Canucks NHL