Since the Toronto Raptors were founded in Ontario, Canada basketball teams have experienced a huge transformation. What began as a risky move and several years of frustration turned into a solid success story: The Raptors won the NBA championship in 2019 after an exciting final series and became a symbol of national pride. But will there be an opportunity for a second Canadian basketball team? Take a closer look at all the possibilities.
The Vancouver Grizzlies Case
In 1995, the Vancouver Grizzlies were founded as part of the same NBA expansion plan as the Toronto Raptors in Ontario; expectations were high. It was an opportunity to establish the NBA in Western Canada and reproduce the Raptors' success. Yet, the outcome was far from being good. From 1995 to 2001, in their six seasons, the Vancouver Grizzlies won a maximum of 23 games in a season, struggling to succeed time after time. But what was the problem? What went wrong?
🏀 Significant sports losses
Since joining the NBA in the 1995–96 season, the Grizzlies quickly became synonymous with defeat, game after game. In their six years in Vancouver, the team never won more than 23 games in a season, accumulating over 350 losses and becoming one of the weakest teams in the entire league during that time.
The team's poor performance was the result of multiple factors: poor draft picks, a lack of tactical cohesion, coaches without solid experience, national-level senior management that left much to be desired, and the inability to move the team forward.
🌟 Absence of a star player
The Vancouver Grizzlies lacked a franchise player who bossed the locals or led the team to an NBA championship, unlike the Toronto Raptors. The most notable Grizzlies' players were Shareef Abdur-Rahim (power forward), Mike Bibby (point guard), and Pau Gasol (power forward). Although all these young men were talented, the team lacked the necessary strength & a visionary coach to become icons at the time.
💸 Financial problems
The economic climate of the 1990s also played against them. The value of the Canadian dollar was low against the US dollar, which made the team's salary costs higher in relative terms. In addition, Vancouver did not have the same sports business infrastructure as Ontario. Major brands did not commit to the franchise at the same level, and sponsorship partnerships were very limited at that time.
🧊 Lack of local connection
Despite being a city with a rich sporting life and passionate fans, especially for hockey, basketball never managed to connect with the local sports culture. Furthermore, at that time, the global NBA boom had not yet exploded as it did in the 2000s thanks to the internet and social media.
Not only did spectators never perceive the Grizzlies as a local product, but no major regional rivalries or partnerships were created, and there was also no aggressive marketing campaign to build a strong basketball foundation in urban communities. Due to all these difficulties, in 2001 the Vancouver Grizzlies were sold and moved to Memphis, Tennessee, putting on hold the dream of making Vancouver an NBA city.
Top Cities in Canada for an NBA Basketball Team
With Toronto's experience now consolidated and Vancouver's nostalgia still present, several Canadian cities have emerged as possible candidates for a future NBA franchise, from Montreal to Ottawa and beyond.
🏀 Montreal
Montreal is Canada's second-largest city, with 4+ million residents. It has a young population with a strong affinity for sports, especially hockey; however, basketball has also been gaining ground. With Montreal's diverse communities, which have strong connections to basketball, the potential fan base could be significant.
Also, Montreal has hosted several events and NBA preseason games. The Bell Centre is a 21,000-seat arena located in Montreal's downtown area and is ideally positioned to host future NBA tournaments & more.
There are also several sports programs in the city, such as CEGEP Vanier and the Dawson College, that develop young players for men's and women's basketball. Plus, their senior coaches have produced top NBA basketball players, including Luguentz Dort.
🐻 Vancouver (A second chance)
Although the Grizzlies' experience left a bad taste in the mouth, much has changed since the 1990s. Today, Vancouver is a much larger, more globalized metropolis with a diverse youth population committed to basketball. Social media, NBA culture, and the sport's growth could have created a solid foundation for reconsideration.
Rogers Arena has a capacity of about 19,000 spectators, where sports events and basketball preseason games have already been played to sold-out crowds, showing local support for the basketball game and why it could be a great NBA basketball centre.
Today's fans are much more connected to basketball; they follow the Raptors, Canadian players in the NBA, and consume content 24/7, from the playoffs to the NBA Finals. The local media ecosystem and access to the NBA have undergone significant changes and could testify a future NBA championship.
Other cities in Canada with NBA potential
🏛️ Ottawa
Canada's capital, Ottawa, in Ontario, enjoys economic stability, excellent education, and a vibrant national cultural setting. Though it is less populated than Vancouver or Montreal, its proximity to Toronto, Ontario, could present an interesting regional rivalry.
Ottawa has also experience in hosting sporting events. The Canadian Tire Centre holds over 18,000 spectators. It has hosted elite national events, including Olympic basketball and other tournaments, the NHL Cup, CFL Cup, FIBA Cup, Red Bull, and Athletics Canada events. The TD Place Stadium in Ottawa has hosted events like the CFL Grey Cup, FIFA Women's World Cup 2015, and international rugby matches, so it could be an ideal basketball centre.
🏔️ Calgary
With a metropolitan population of over 1.5 million, Calgary is one of Canada's fastest-growing cities with a solid sports infrastructure (Saddledome, future Event Centre) and a competitive sports climate thanks to its NHL (National Hockey League) and CFL (Canadian Football League) teams.
🌉 Edmonton
Edmonton is Alberta province's largest city, with over 1.5 million residents, and has already hosted NBA preseason games. For example, in 2016, the Raptors played against the Denver Nuggets at the Scotiabank Saddledome. In addition, Edmonton has a diverse community and universities that develop local talent. And last but not least, Rogers Place is a modern stadium that could surely be adapted as a sports centre for basketball.
Challenges to NBA Expansion in Canada
Although the idea of a second Canadian NBA basketball team generates tons of excitement among fans and sports analysts, it could pose multiple challenges. Let's take a closer look below:
💱 CAD vs. USD
One of the most critical variables is the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar (CAD) and the US dollar (USD). Most NBA players are paid in US dollars. However, a Canadian team earns most of its revenue, in terms of ticket sales, local merchandise sales, national advertising sponsorships, & concessions, in Canadian dollars (CAD). When the Canadian dollar declines in value, as it has several times since 2000, operating expenses rise significantly, since wages must be paid in the stronger currency. The fluctuating exchange rate was one of the key factors prompting the Grizzlies team to leave Vancouver.
📺 Obstacles related to television and media rights
Much of the NBA's international revenue comes from television rights and streaming outlets, both within and outside the United States. Within the U.S., multi-billion-dollar TV deals with ESPN, ABC, TNT, and NBA League Pass are the foundation of much of the league's business model. In Canada, however, the picture is different, with the leading NBA networks being TSN, Sportsnet, and RDS.
In addition, coverage in Canada is currently focused on Ontario-based networks due to the Toronto Raptors team, who dominate much of the local and national programming and broadcast packages. Expanding media presence to a second city would be a significant step forward for the NBA's growth in Canada, and would require new partnerships led by senior media executives, dividing regional rights, and ensuring that both franchises receive visibility.
Although the idea of a second Canadian NBA basketball team generates tons of excitement among fans and sports analysts, it could pose multiple structural, economic, and logistical challenges.
✈️ Travel logistics and schedule adjustments
International expansion involves significant changes to the league's logistics planning. Adding a Canadian city, such as Montreal or Vancouver, to the schedule consists of crossing an international border for each game, which includes additional immigration procedures, customs declaration forms, and longer travel times.
Apart from that, if a new basketball franchise were to be based in Vancouver, eastern teams would have to cover longer transcontinental distances. A possible reorganization of divisions and conferences must also be considered. This means that the NBA would likely need to adjust geographical divisions to maintain competitive balance.
💸 Attracting free agents
Despite the growth of basketball in Canada, a new basketball team may struggle to attract NBA stars, high-profile free agents, and senior coaches, at least during its early years. This could be because Canada has higher tax rates than most US states, which could reduce players' and coaches' net income.
Also, the new franchise would not receive the same visibility as established teams like the Lakers, Celtics, or Warriors. And visibility would be crucial for many players to secure their advertising contracts and build their individual brand.
Is a second Canadian team in the NBA possible?
Canada has been a rising market with a passion for basketball. The Toronto Raptors' achievement, the development of homegrown talent such as Jamal Murray (guard), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (guard), and Andrew Wiggins (small forward/shooting guard), and proper urban infrastructure in cities like Montreal & Vancouver make expansion an increasingly viable possibility. While the obstacles are numerous, so are the hopes and rewards, such as winning an NBA championship in Canada someday.
A new basketball team in Canada would not only expand the NBA's international reach but also strengthen its national presence in a country where the love for basketball will continue growing, game after game.
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