Lionbackers.com

hunsperger wrote:

No city has ever had both the Grey Cup and the Stanley Cup Champions in the same season.

Factually incorrect, but typical of the center of the universe mentallity.

You are also factually incorrect, because So Cal Lion is not in Vancouver OR Toronto, but in Southern California, hence his user name. Also not necessary to criticize in that manner. Hambone pointed out the same inaccuracy you did, but backed it up with examples, and didn't personally criticize the poster.

Also not necessary to criticize in that manner.

Your right, I apologize.

That said, although he is not IN Vancouver, we do not know where he is from, and besides, I was commenting in general terms not personally.

hunsperger wrote:Vancouver, in a city of over 1 million people they can't even put 30,000 people into BC Place unless the Lions are winning. Of course, if the Lions are winning they are trendy and than all of a sudden it becomes cool to be seen and a Lions game. I could expound on this, but time doesn't permit.

So, if we get 33,000 to a lions game, and gm place sells out, how many MORE people will go to the lions game? Would you say that its a different type of fan that goes to the Lions games? If not, do they act different, and why?

Sharpo wrote:

hunsperger wrote:Vancouver, in a city of over 1 million people they can't even put 30,000 people into BC Place unless the Lions are winning. Of course, if the Lions are winning they are trendy and than all of a sudden it becomes cool to be seen and a Lions game. I could expound on this, but time doesn't permit.

So, if we get 33,000 to a lions game, and gm place sells out, how many MORE people will go to the lions game? Would you say that its a different type of fan that goes to the Lions games? If not, do they act different, and why?

The lions would have sold out, or nearly sold out, every home game in 2006 if they played in any other stadium other than BC Place, Commonwealth, or Skydome. You can't fault the Lions for playing in a 60,000 seat stadium in a 30,000 seat league.

The Lions average attendance (including the WDF) was 33,079 in 2006. Almost double what the Canucks draw.

I don't want to get into a debate over number of games, ticket prices, etc. My point is that if the Lions played in a 32,000 stadium every game would have been a sellout and no one would be questioning the level of support Vancouver has for the Lions.

Sharpo wrote:So, if we get 33,000 to a lions game, and gm place sells out, how many MORE people will go to the lions game? Would you say that its a different type of fan that goes to the Lions games? If not, do they act different, and why?

IMO it is on average a more casual, less sophisticated fan that goes to Lions games. This is beginning to change and we do have a very loyal, hardcore fan base, but to D's point earlier, it really comes down to how the two teams are marketed. The Canucks slogan this year was "We Are All Canucks." It was omnipresent - on TV, radio, internet and splashed all over transit buses and bus shelters. They even conducted an extrememely successful "Ultimate Fan" search. Now quickly and without looking, what was the Lions slogan last year?......I'm waiting.....

See what I mean?

To their credit, the well-oiled Orca Bay Marketing Machine has managed to make Canucks players "stars" in the eyes of the Vancouver sporting public and instantly recognizable in the community (although any one of them could walk down the street in Los Angeles or Pittsburgh or St. Louis or Nashville and people wouldn't have a clue what they do for a living). Further, they're identified on a first or nickname basis locally which makes being a rabid fan a lot easier when one can make this connection (yes, it doesn't hurt when you're on TV 3-4 nights a week either).

In defence of the Lions, they have a much smaller budget with which to work and probably one-tenth of the staff of the Canucks. But I would still like to see a better effort to bring the Lions' star players front and center in their marketing plans.

DH 8)

David wrote: IMO it is on average a more casual, less sophisticated fan that goes to Lions games. DH 8)

One only needs wander around the respective concourses during a game and see how the football crowd is attired compared to the hockey crowd to get a general sense of that. I don't recall seeing many suits and dresses and high heels in BC Place, but there sure are a lot at a Canuck game.

I was actually referring to knowledge/interest in their respective sports as opposed to the way they're attired. But since you mention it, there are far more Vancouverites that attend Canucks games (west side especially) and tend to be better dressed (although 7:00pm weeknight games account for part of this).

Last time I went, I was surprised by the number of "Surrey" types at the Canucks game, something for which B.C. Place has been traditionally mocked by people who don't attend Lions games.

DH 8)

what is a "surrey" type?

Majority of BC season ticket holders are your average working fan. A lot of the season ticket holders for the Canucks are owned by companies and corporation which they can write off as a business expense.

Balraj wrote:what is a "surrey" type?

I think he was referring to someone who appears to be lower on the socioeconomic scale (i.e. income, education, social status) as suggested by their appearance and behavior. Different geographic regions tend to have different proportions of people who fall somewhere on the theoretical scale. In the past, Surrey residents tended to cluster around the lower end compared to say the west side of Vancouver and the North Shore. If you don't live here or you haven't lived here for long, the "Surrey type" reference is an artifact of its past demographic representation, which is much more diverse now.

pinkfreud wrote:

Balraj wrote:what is a "surrey" type?

I think he was referring to someone who appears to be lower on the socioeconomic scale (i.e. income, education, social status) as suggested by their appearance and behavior. Different geographic regions tend to have different proportions of people who fall somewhere on the theoretical scale. In the past, Surrey residents tended to cluster around the lower end compared to say the west side of Vancouver and the North Shore. If you don't live here or you haven't lived here for long, the "Surrey type" reference is an artifact of its past demographic representation, which is much more diverse now.

Who was that politician who coined the phrase "Living in Richmond means never have to say you're Surrey"?

Who was that politician who coined the phrase "Living in Richmond means never have to say you're Surrey"?

I think it was a Richmond Alderman. I think a realty co also used the phrase once.

I just want to say that I am in no way disrespecting the BC Lions. I grew up watching the BC Lions and I continue to remain a fan. My comment was directed more towards the sports culture of cities like Vancouver and Toronto. The fact that they can't draw more than 30,000 fans to a game unless they are winning is more a reflection of the city than the team. I guarantee you, if the BC Lions were an NFL team playing out of BC Place they would sell out every game, even if they were 0-16. Do you know why? Because the NFL is cool and trendy and cities like Vancouver and Toronto are only interested if it is cool, trendy and corporate. The only time either city goes against form is when their CFL team wins, but than again, winning is cool and trendy. When it comes to their hockey teams, I find both cities to be equally smug. Have a great day.

P.S.

By the way, the fact that the BC Lions would sell out if they were playing in a smaller stadium is a moot point. They are only drawing larger crowds because they are winning. If they were not winning they couldn't sell out McMahon stadium. More about the city than the team.

Lionut wrote:

First off, this is Canada, and hockey is the proverbial 400 pound gorilla on the sports scene. It has always been that way, and I think we all accept that, some with more enthusiasm than others.

"Professional" hockey is the 400 pound gorilla you refer to. In Vancouver,
there is another hocky team that is currently making a run for their
championship, the Memorial Cup. What's more, all the games of the
championship round will be played in Vancouver this spring. Where are the Giants' car flags? Why doesn't this tremendous powerhouse of a
hocky team get more than a bare mention in the media?

Interesting.

I have to smile at the odd comment expressing some anger that the Lions are not as loved as the Canucks. I personally don't care what other people like or don't like. It's their choice. They like hockey. I like the CFL. Who's to say who's "right"? As long as derive enjoyment from attending Lions games, or watching on TV, I'm happy. I also enjoy watching the Canucks, but I'm not as committed to them as I am to the Lions. Maybe if they played 40 or 50 games I might, but I'm not devoting up to a third of my year for any team. I mean it's a sport. It's not a family or a career.

While I'm at it, I also get a kick out of the term "bandwagon" fan. What is that? Some lower form of life? A guy gets interested in something because there's a big game or playoff going on and now he's somehow "less" that someone else who has nothing better to do for the bulk of the year?

I go to the movies once a year. Am I a "bandwagon" movie-goer because I'm not there every other week?

If you haven't guessed, I don't "bleed" orange and black. I enjoy the Lions moreso than any other organized team, but I'm not a fanatic. If 20,000 people get excited about the Lions that otherwise don't, I'm happy to see them at BC Place. It makes the atmosphere just that much better. But regardless, my enjoyment of the game will be the same. My only self interest is that the team remains viable so that I can enjoy them.

I would also like to say that I'm from Surrey, and quite happy about it too. Not only that, I'm from Whalley, the tough part of Surrey. You know, where the Lions hang out.

Okay. That's it for now. I'm on the Canucks bandwagon, and the game is about to start.

Go Canucks!!