There's often discussion in the United States which are the most popular teams, which generate the most revenue, and related questions. The following article is the first one I came across that has a market study of the Canadian professional teams. One thing that caught my attention is only 2 CFL teams finished in the top 10.
http://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey...-in-canada
Quote:There's often discussion in the United States which are the most popular teams, which generate the most revenue, and related questions. The following article is the first one I came across that has a market study of the Canadian professional teams. One thing that caught my attention is only 2 CFL teams finished in the top 10.
http://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey...-in-canada
Not much of a surprise at all to anyone who follows Hockey. The Montreal Canadiens, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, and the Boston Celtics are the only four sports franchises in all of North America with more than 10 professional championships. Bill Russell alone won 11 NBA championships in only 13 seasons with the Celtics. Even among professional sports teams, that's godlike success. The Montreal Canadiens had a dynasty which spanned over four decades in the NHL. That's why they're so popular (along with the fact that their team represents Canada as a whole).
I think that there's a lot that even NFL GM's and coaches can learn from those teams- in knowing how they were built, how they became so popular, and why they were so successful sports-wise, as well as financially.
DiamondJag, thanks for your input.
The NHL teams I enjoyed watching the most in my lifetime were the Montreal Canadiens of the late 1970's. Sam Pollack was a tremendous G.M. and Scotty Bowman was the same as a Head Coach. The dominance of the Canadiens in most of their 4 year run as Stanley Cup Champions hasn't been equaled before or since. Even the Canadiens teams of the late 1950's that won 5 straight Stanley Cups weren't as dominant.
Probably what surprised me the most in this Canadian market study is the Saskatchewan Roughriders being # 3 on the list and that the Toronto Argonauts weren't even in the top 10. There was a time when Saskatchewan was considered the weakest link in the CFL. They were the least likely to sign quality NFL prospects when the CFL was in much greater competition with the NFL than it has been in many years. Considering Toronto is the largest market in Canada and the province of Saskatchewan is the smallest provincial market that has Professional sports, I couldn't even have imagined that Saskatchewan would finish so far ahead of Toronto in this market study. The same Toronto that has hosted several Buffalo Bills home games and was widely considered the most likely Canadian market to get an NFL team.
Quote:DiamondJag, thanks for your input.
The NHL teams I enjoyed watching the most in my lifetime were the Montreal Canadiens of the late 1970's. Sam Pollack was a tremendous G.M. and Scotty Bowman was the same as a Head Coach. The dominance of the Canadiens in most of their 4 year run as Stanley Cup Champions hasn't been equaled before or since. Even the Canadiens teams of the late 1950's that won 5 straight Stanley Cups weren't as dominant.
Probably what surprised me the most in this Canadian market study is the Saskatchewan Roughriders being # 3 on the list and that the Toronto Argonauts weren't even in the top 10. There was a time when Saskatchewan was considered the weakest link in the CFL. They were the least likely to sign quality NFL prospects when the CFL was in much greater competition with the NFL than it has been in many years. Considering Toronto is the largest market in Canada and the province of Saskatchewan is the smallest provincial market that has Professional sports, I couldn't even have imagined that Saskatchewan would finish so far ahead of Toronto in this market study. The same Toronto that has hosted several Buffalo Bills home games and was widely considered the most likely Canadian market to get an NFL team.
Well, the way that I see it; Saskatchewan just has more loyal fans and a better marketing campaign. There's no better type of marketing than marketing that involves genuine love for a team or a product. Just ask the Packers and Green Bay.
Quote:Not much of a surprise at all to anyone who follows Hockey. The Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Celtics are the only two sports franchises in all of North America with more than 10 professional championships.
The St. Louis Cardinals with 11 and the New York Yankees with
27 might take offense to that.
Quote:Well, the way that I see it; Saskatchewan just has more loyal fans and a better marketing campaign. There's no better type of marketing than marketing that involves genuine love for a team or a product. Just ask the Packers and Green Bay.
That's a good analogy. The population of the Regina Metropolitan Area is only around 211,000, which is compared to the Green Bay Metropolitan area population of around 307,000. The biggest difference is the state of Wisconsin, which is much smaller land mass wise than Saskatchewan, has a much greater population. The Packers also have a large following in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and parts of Minnesota.
Quote:The St. Louis Cardinals with 11 and the New York Yankees with 27 might take offense to that.
Yep you're right. Sorry. I Should have researched that before posting. I remember reading something about the Canadiens and the Celtics having the most titles. Maybe they meant the most professional titles in the last 30-40 years.
Quote:Not much of a surprise at all to anyone who follows Hockey. The Montreal Canadiens, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, and the Boston Celtics are the only four sports franchises in all of North America with more than 10 professional championships. Bill Russell alone won 11 NBA championships in only 13 seasons with the Celtics. Even among professional sports teams, that's godlike success. The Montreal Canadiens had a dynasty which spanned over four decades in the NHL. That's why they're so popular (along with the fact that their team represents Canada as a whole).
I think that there's a lot that even NFL GM's and coaches can learn from those teams- in knowing how they were built, how they became so popular, and why they were so successful sports-wise, as well as financially.
EDIT: Double post.
Quote:Yep you're right. Sorry. I Should have researched that before posting. I remember reading something about the Canadiens and the Celtics having the most titles. Maybe they meant the most professional titles in the last 30-40 years.
The Lakers also have 16 championships.
I could see the Edmonton Oilers climb up real quick if they start winning again. They are supposed to have an elite player (#1 draft pick) and they have some tradition to go along with it.
I would have thought the Oilers would have been in the top 5 ..... how quickly we forget !! hey
Quote:I could see the Edmonton Oilers climb up real quick if they start winning again. They are supposed to have an elite player (#1 draft pick) and they have some tradition to go along with it.
I would have thought the Oilers would have been in the top 5 ..... how quickly we forget !! hey
Winning 5 Stanley Cups in 7 seasons is a remarkable accomplishment. No team has done it since the Edmonton Oilers accomplished this.
Related to that, from 1984 to 1990, all 7 Stanley Cups were won by Canadian based teams. Edmonton won 5. Montreal 1. Calgary 1. Considering no Canadian based team won the Stanley Cup since the 1993 Canadiens, the pendulum has gone 180 degrees the other way.
I still root for Montreal & Ottawa when they're not playing the Pens. I like the fanbase.
If you think about it, Quebec would have been next in line for the Stanley Cups if the team hadn't moved to Colorado.