2016 Grey Cup @ BMO Field continued

[BorisToronto]

Fair enough, but almost always full if not always. I used to religiously read the box score and knew the full attendance by heart, and it was something like 16,144, whatever it was, and it was ALMOST always that number. It basically sold out and therefore made Ballard a lot of money, but it wasn't like it was in the 90s. But my point is, you never really had to struggle to market the Leafs in Toronto. Even if a few greys went unsold, which really even never happened, because guys like me and you would buy them on game day. But it was never like what happened in the 90s, where the Leaf brand really took off. MLSE inherited that, they never built it. I'm not really convinced they really know how to build anything.

I would say that MLSE does know how to build a brand or better expand it, i.e. the rise of Raptors. With help of some good seasons. But they certainly don't know how to build winners. That they've shown over and over again.

[argos1873]

I would say that MLSE does know how to build a brand or better expand it, i.e. the rise of Raptors. With help of some good seasons. But they certainly don't know how to build winners. That they've shown over and over again.

I'm not sure the Raptors are a good example. Did they really build the Raptor brand? Besides maybe the last season, have you ever had a problem getting a Raptor ticket? Of course they can market something, they have more money then you or I combined will ever see in 10 lifetimes, but they never convinced me to be a Raptor fan. I admit I slightly cheered them on when they were in the playoffs, but only because they were a Toronto team. I did the same with TFC. It had nothing to do with MLSE. But that's just me.

[BorisToronto]

I'm not sure the Raptors are a good example. Did they really build the Raptor brand? Besides maybe the last season, have you ever had a problem getting a Raptor ticket? Of course they can market something, they have more money then you or I combined will ever see in 10 lifetimes, but they never convinced me to be a Raptor fan. I admit I slightly cheered them on when they were in the playoffs, but only because they were a Toronto team. I did the same with TFC. It had nothing to do with MLSE. But that's just me.

Fair points. I have to give them credit for the We the North thing... I personally hate it.. The teacher in me knows it's both grammatically and factually incorrect but it did take off for them. I'd say they did have something to do with the presence of the team increasing in this town. I remember I time when they were pretty much an afterthought. But that could also have to do with actually being a contender as well.

[argos1873]

Fair points. I have to give them credit for the We the North thing... I personally hate it.. The teacher in me knows it's both grammatically and factually incorrect but it did take off for them. I'd say they did have something to do with the presence of the team increasing in this town. I remember I time when they were pretty much an afterthought. But that could also have to do with actually being a contender as well.

We the North, which as you pointed out is so grammatically wrong, was only created after they made the playoffs. I guess you are right that it did something to raise the profile of the team. But really if they raised that grammatically incorrect banner when they were winning .356 would it mean anything? To me anyhow, it meant nothing, since most of the players were from the US, southern states at that, just a guess I don't really care. That abomination of language did nothing for me, if not turn me off. But I know I'm now in the minority for "unimportant" things like that.

[BorisToronto]

We the North, which as you pointed out is so grammatically wrong, was only created after they made the playoffs. I guess you are right that it did something to raise the profile of the team. But really if they raised that grammatically incorrect banner when they were winning .356 would it mean anything? To me anyhow, it meant nothing, since most of the players were from the US, southern states at that, just a guess I don't really care. That abomination of language did nothing for me, if not turn me off. But I know I'm now in the minority for "unimportant" things like that.

I am with you.. That slogan drives me crazy, it's such bad grammar. Also we are not the most northern team geographically.

[PullTogether73]

We the North, which as you pointed out is so grammatically wrong, was only created after they made the playoffs. I guess you are right that it did something to raise the profile of the team. But really if they raised that grammatically incorrect banner when they were winning .356 would it mean anything? To me anyhow, it meant nothing, since most of the players were from the US, southern states at that, just a guess I don't really care. That abomination of language did nothing for me, if not turn me off. But I know I'm now in the minority for "unimportant" things like that.

I am with you.. That slogan drives me crazy, it's such bad grammar. Also we are not the most northern team geographically.

For consistency, I trust that you two refer to the NHL team as the "Toronto Maple Leaves"?

[BorisToronto]

For consistency, I trust that you two refer to the NHL team as the "Toronto Maple Leaves"?

For sake of consistency I try to not refer to them at all.

[ArgoRavi]

Fair points. I have to give them credit for the We the North thing... I personally hate it.. The teacher in me knows it's both grammatically and factually incorrect but it did take off for them. I'd say they did have something to do with the presence of the team increasing in this town. I remember I time when they were pretty much an afterthought. But that could also have to do with actually being a contender as well.

The Raptors were popular in 2001 when they had their little playoff run too. They are popular as long as they are winning. If they have three losing seasons in a row, nobody will be running around saying, "We The North."

[ArgoZ]

Fair points. I have to give them credit for the We the North thing... I personally hate it.. The teacher in me knows it's both grammatically and factually incorrect but it did take off for them. I'd say they did have something to do with the presence of the team increasing in this town. I remember I time when they were pretty much an afterthought. But that could also have to do with actually being a contender as well.

As a teacher, do you recall the famous Shakespeare battle speech: "But we in it shall be remembered; We few, we happy few, we band of brothers."? By dropping the verb and making just the noun phrase, it's grammatically correct in Early Modern English, which we speak today. (Used from Raptors Republic)

The "We" probably should have a comma after it. With today's hashtag and Twitter trends, the comma would be lost and confusing. In fact, much grammar is getting destroyed by online language nowadays.

The Raptors are Canada's team, the most Northern Country. The Great White North. Nothing about it is un factual, even if a few city's might be more Northern than Toronto.

[ArgoGabe22]

As a teacher, do you recall the famous Shakespeare battle speech: "But we in it shall be remembered; We few, we happy few, we band of brothers."? By dropping the verb and making just the noun phrase, it's grammatically correct in Early Modern English, which we speak today. (Used from Raptors Republic)

The "We" probably should have a comma after it. With today's hashtag and Twitter trends, the comma would be lost and confusing. In fact, much grammar is getting destroyed by online language nowadays.

The Raptors are Canada's team, the most Northern Country. The Great White North. Nothing about it is un factual, even if a few city's might be more Northern than Toronto.

Portland is even more North and kinda played with the We the Northerner slogan. I get that it's the only NBA team in Canada but I would still say that the Blue Jays is not "Canada's" teameven if it's the only MLB team left.

[BorisToronto]

The Raptors are Canada's team, the most Northern Country. The Great White North. Nothing about it is un factual, even if a few city's might be more Northern than Toronto.

Are they Canada's team? They're the only one in Canada, that for sure. Like I said I find it slogan very unappealing. Granted am I very very casual Raptors/NBA/Basketball fan.

[Deerkeeper]

Are they Canada's team? They're the only one in Canada, that for sure. Like I said I find it slogan very unappealing. Granted am I very very casual Raptors/NBA/Basketball fan.

No, they are an American basketball team that plays In Canada. They are not Canadian. Lets not pretend they are by calling them Canadian anything.

[Will]

Are they Canada's team? They're the only one in Canada, that for sure. Like I said I find it slogan very unappealing. Granted am I very very casual Raptors/NBA/Basketball fan.

It's a marketing tactic, and one I cannot blame the Raptors for trying to push.

[BorisToronto]

No, they are an American basketball team that plays In Canada. They are not Canadian. Lets not pretend they are by calling them Canadian anything.

My reference was in terms of do they represent the nation vs. the city. Not so much the nationality of the players or the league. I have to say the whole Toronto teams represent Canada thing is very annoying and I'm a Torontonian.

It's a marketing tactic, and one I cannot blame the Raptors for trying to push.

No you can't but I can certainly be annoyed with the MLSE for pushing that angle.