[PiuYi]

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- The Toronto Raptors will face Steve Nash and Phoenix in an exhibition game at Rogers Arena, and also plan to hold part of their training camp in Vancouver.

The game against the Suns will be Oct. 6, the Raptors announced Monday. Nash, the two-time NBA MVP, grew up in nearby Victoria and played here last preseason, when Phoenix and Portland sold out an exhibition game.

This will be the first time the Raptors have come to Vancouver since the NBA left in 2001. Coach Jay Triano indicated that the team also plans to hold at least part of its training camp in Vancouver, but said the team was still finalizing details.

http://www.nba.com/2010/news/07/19/suns.vancouver.ap/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt2

wasn't here for last year's, GOING TO THIS ONE FOR SURE!!!

[MR_BIGGS]

Definately going. Basketball vibe is awesome at GM Place.

[Mugen EvOlutioN]

sounds good

[roflwaffle604]

GM Place.

*ahem* Roger's Arena :D ;)

[orange7]

now alll we need is an overwhelming show up to this event, then maybe we will get back a basketball team.


hockey is just not enough...

[MR_BIGGS]

now alll we need is an overwhelming show up to this event, then maybe we will get back a basketball team.


hockey is just not enough...

The support is always there.

Steve Nash's charity games are always 15,500+. The way the NBA is going right now, they are either going to have to have contraction or relocation to cities that are NBA ready (i.e. Brooklyn, Pittsburgh, Vancouver) etc.

[k3lv]

Tickets going through ticketmaster I'm guessing?

[sexyaccord]

Nice
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

[Tapioca]

David Stern basically did admit that he regretted that Vancouver lost the team on his watch, but he would never allow a franchise to come back to Vancouver.

Again, as a fan of the Grizz back in the day, the whole NBA experience left a bitter taste in my mouth.

[Jermyzy]

not going...went to the previous pre-season game between Portland and Phoenix. While it's nice to have professional basketball in Vancouver again, the game was a joke. I used to go to Seattle to watch the Sonics regular season games, I should make a trip out to Portland to watch a regular season game sometime.

[carisear]

Now i was never a big bball fan to begin with or anything, but i'll say what i have said many times over and over again.

FUCK YOU STU JACKSON.

[Not really racist!]

Now i was never a big bball fan to begin with or anything, but i'll say what i have said many times over and over again.

FUCK YOU STU JACKSON.

+1

FUCK STU JACKSON

[bigG]

Go! Canada's only team! Go!

[jigga250]

not going...went to the previous pre-season game between Portland and Phoenix. While it's nice to have professional basketball in Vancouver again, the game was a joke. I used to go to Seattle to watch the Sonics regular season games, I should make a trip out to Portland to watch a regular season game sometime.

well really, did you expect playoff intensity in a preseason game? Its basically going to have the compete level of an all-star game...

[shawn79]

You need a black population market to run NBA teams.


Given another chance, NBA commissioner David Stern would have handled the league's foray into Vancouver differently.

In a podcast interview with ESPN.com, Stern was asked what decisions he would take a mulligan on over the course of his 24 years on the job.

"I wish we hadn't had the Vancouver experience," Stern replied. "Great city, and we disappointed them, and we disappointed ourselves."

The league expanded into Toronto and Vancouver in 1995. The Vancouver Grizzlies amassed a 101-359 record in six seasons before moving to Memphis in 2001.

Stern said he thought the league might have mishandled the expansion.

"Maybe we shouldn't have done it there, maybe we should have only expanded into Toronto ... but that was a great disappointment to me," he said.

Stern added that he didn't think the league could return to Vancouver.

"I don't think we can go back," Stern said. "I think that was a great city, and I think we just didn't take advantage of the opportunity."

[ImportXxX]

it was good last year. Bunch of the canucks was there too...it's pretty cool

[hotjoint]

when do tickets go on sale?

[TRDood]

where's Rogers Arena? i only know GM Place.

[MoBettah]

+2

FUCK STU JACKSON

[MR_BIGGS]

You need a black population market to run NBA teams.

Where in the article you posted does it insinuate you need a black population market? Edit*** You need a black population market that isn't below the poverty line. Memphis has black people (60+ % of the population).

[Tapioca]

You need a black population market to run NBA teams.

Vancouver is much different city (and market) than it was in the 1990s. You need a market that worships celebrities and the "baller lifestyle" which Vancouver now does.

[Jermyzy]

well really, did you expect playoff intensity in a preseason game? Its basically going to have the compete level of an all-star game...

No, but it was worse than watching even a pickup game. Had no defense (which I expected for a pre-season), but no exciting offensive plays either. Blown dunk by Oden, blown dunk by Richardson, rest were just jumpshots.

Having said that, with Demar Derozan and Sonny Weems for the Raptors, might get a few highlight dunks this time around.

[Mugen EvOlutioN]

+2

FUCK STU JACKSON

for sure man

+3

[!e.lo_]

Definately going. Basketball vibe is awesome at GM Place.

I still call it GM Place too..

[MR_BIGGS]

where's Rogers Arena? i only know GM Place.

Where in the article you posted does it insinuate you need a black population market? Edit*** You need a black population market that isn't below the poverty line. Memphis has black people (60+ % of the population).

TRDood, did you fail my post because I failed yours? :thumbsup:

You guys think at Major Sports League will move to Las Vegas?

[hoking]

anyone have the presale code?

[Harvey Specter]

Vancouver is much different city (and market) than it was in the 1990s. You need a market that worships celebrities and the "baller lifestyle" which Vancouver now does.

+1.

It is way different market now; the population has grown and there's more money to go around compared to the 90's and imo Vancouver could support another professional team in Vancouver. I'm sure any attempts to relocated a existing team to Vancouver will be met with a lot of support locally including from Steve Nash and on top of this exhibition game, the Raptors will be holding their training camps here so it does look like the NBA is interested in returning to Vancouver.

[Jermyzy]

^I can only hope!

[PiuYi]

...now we just gotta wait for David Stern to keel over or retire...

[winson604]

anyone have the presale code?

DETAILS:
DATE: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2010
TIME: 7:00 PM
VENUE: ROGERS ARENA
PRICES: CA $30.00- $375.00, plus applicable service charges & fees

INTERNET ORDER PERIOD:
Start: WEDNESDAY, JULY 21 @ 10:00am
End: FRIDAY, JULY 23 @ 10:00pm

Password: NASH

[Harvey Specter]

Well there were rumors that the Canucks owners were in talks with the Pacers owner to move the team last year. There's several teams that are struggling in the NBA so only way Vancouver will get a team is through a relocate if the NBA allows it but it all comes down to the bucks.

[PiuYi]

^ that was cuz Pacers couldn't re-negotiate a deal with Conseco Fieldhouse to play there next season, but they got it done recently (city of Indiana bailed them out)

however, Canucks owners have openly expressed interest in relocating an NBA team to Vancouver before... so glad we don't have ownership problems this time around

[MR_BIGGS]

+1.

It is way different market now; the population has grown and there's more money to go around compared to the 90's and imo Vancouver could support another professional team in Vancouver. I'm sure any attempts to relocated a existing team to Vancouver will be met with a lot of support locally including from Steve Nash and on top of this exhibition game, the Raptors will be holding their training camps here so it does look like the NBA is interested in returning to Vancouver.

I agree.

I think the NBA is going to bend over backwards for cities that could be a relocate for a current nba team. Some markets right now are brutal. Steve Nash backing such a move with some billionaire would be a welcomed initiative.

[g604]

cavs baby haha we should name the team the notic after the streetball team vancouver notic

[Tapioca]

+1.

It is way different market now; the population has grown and there's more money to go around compared to the 90's and imo Vancouver could support another professional team in Vancouver. I'm sure any attempts to relocated a existing team to Vancouver will be met with a lot of support locally including from Steve Nash and on top of this exhibition game, the Raptors will be holding their training camps here so it does look like the NBA is interested in returning to Vancouver.

The Raptors are interested in promoting their "brand" and nothing more. They do refer to themselves as "Canada's Team".

Canucks Sports and Entertainment have good marketing people working for them. They have the money, but David Stern is a stubborn mule. I would bet that Seattle or San Diego get a team before Vancouver does.

[shawn79]

sucks for seattle fans, after they draft a franchise mvp type player they get relocated

[hotjoint]

sucks for seattle fans, after they draft a franchise mvp type player they get relocated

totally agree with you. OKC has a great young team

[taylor192]

The Suns game last year was fun, looking forward to repeating this:

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f18/taylor192/Hotties/8732_207388585960_576925960_4369761.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f18/taylor192/Hotties/9120_207389000960_576925960_4369763.jpg

[shawn79]

so whos got tickets

[shawn79]

.........

[shawn79]

wtf all the seats left for promo code are section 120 119

[FatalCloud]

meh..went last yr. too bad it's not the miami heat or my man kobe coming to town.

[jigga250]

You need a black population market to run NBA teams.

Not true AT ALL. Have you ever been to Portland? Salt Lake City? SacramentO?

[bigG]

Is there a specific location to get autographs or pictures from the players before or after the game?

[lundyt]

there will never be another team in vancouver, how do you hand an expansion team over to a guy, like stu jackson, who has never ran any team? who drafts steve francis when he was on full on drama queen mode and told them he didnt want to play in vancouver. passing on great players in that same draft class. if the grizzlies had a do over and drafted properly they would have a stack team. and another thing who the fuck gives a country ass hillbill that monsterous of a contract? the grizzlies were conspired against since day one. aside from bibby, shareef, n othella harrington, antonio daniels everyone that ever played for the grizzlies disappeared just goes to show you how well the expansion draft went for the grizzlies. im out like michael dickerson's knees

[PiuYi]

DETAILS:
DATE: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2010
TIME: 7:00 PM
VENUE: ROGERS ARENA
PRICES: CA $30.00- $375.00, plus applicable service charges & fees

INTERNET ORDER PERIOD:
Start: WEDNESDAY, JULY 21 @ 10:00am
End: FRIDAY, JULY 23 @ 10:00pm

Password: NASH

we can only buy 1 at a time? i want to buy a few so i can sit with frnds but it wont let me...

[TRDood]

TRDood, did you fail my post because I failed yours? :thumbsup:

You guys think at Major Sports League will move to Las Vegas?

Obviously you and 4 others didn't get what I was trying to say. So I fired back a fail :)

[PiuYi]

anyone go? fck i couldn't get pics with cheerleaders!!!

[mike313]

it was alright, but the incident with grant hill was funny tho

[sp00n]

anybody see the three fights that happened in the lower bowl?

[will068]

anybody see the three fights that happened in the lower bowl?

so that's why I saw a couple of cops walking by the floor seats

It's cool to see a lot of the Canucks there. Kes, Burrows, Edler, Samuelson, Hamuis, Malhorta.....

[hotjoint]

raps smoked the suns

[Tapioca]

From today's Globe and Mail:


Grizzlies country once more?

HAYLEY MICK

VANCOUVER— From Thursday's Globe and Mail
Published Wednesday, Oct. 06, 2010 9:24PM EDT
Last updated Thursday, Oct. 07, 2010 10:23AM EDT

On Wednesday night, nine years after the Grizzlies skipped town, Vancouverites sold out Rogers Arena for a rare, live glimpse of NBA preseason action.

They roared for local hero Steve Nash and his Pheonix Suns, cheered the opposing Toronto Raptors, and generally looked ecstatic for the chance to see basketball up close.

It sure looked like an NBA city. But could the love affair last long enough for a team to permanently set up shop?

“I hope so,” Nash told a crowd of reporters before tipoff. “I don’t know how politically that would go down … but I think it’d be a great opportunity to correct maybe a misstep.”

Business analysts say Vancouver has come a long way since a terrible exchange rate, poor attendance numbers, and a towering disappointment known as Big Country all conspired to rob basketball fans of their NBA franchise.

“Vancouver has changed a lot in the decade since the Grizzlies left town, and in the 15 since they were established here,” said Tom Mayenknecht, a sports business expert and radio host who was an NBA executive from 1994 to 1996, serving two years with the Grizzlies as vice-president of communications.

“It’s a much bigger market, has more media infrastructure than it did 15 years ago, and it has the Vancouver 2010 [Olympics] experience behind it.”

He says the key would be making it part of a centralized franchise group – so, having Canucks Sports and Entertainment own the team or at least be in partnership with the new owner, thus giving the NBA team instant access to infrastructure that supports things such as ticket sales, marketing, merchandising.

CSE is currently in an expansionist mode. They brought mixed martial arts fighting to town, took a run becoming owner of the city’s new Major League Soccer franchise, and are expected to bid for the B.C. Lions should the CFL club go up for sale. They monitor NBA franchises when they hit the market, and Vancouver Canucks chairman Francesco Aquilini was rumoured to have spoken to the Indiana Pacers owner about his team last year – although head office has declined to comment on the subject publicly.

(“Our primary focus at this point is to continue to deliver on our core business objectives around the hockey team and event business,” Canucks chief operating officer Victor de Bonis said in a statement on Wednesday.)

Arthur Griffiths, whose family at one time owned the Grizzlies and Canucks, says he believes Vancouver is “as solid as it gets” when it comes to NBA potential.

The currency problem that plagued the Grizzlies is now fixed, with the loonie often neck-and-neck with the American dollar. (It had sunk to $0.65 U.S. by the time the Grizzlies left in 2001, relocating to Memphis.)

Vancouver has also been relatively immune to the recent economic woes that have plagued other North American cities, Griffiths says. Statistics Canada has Vancouver ranked fourth in the number of corporate head offices behind Toronto, Calgary, and Montreal – although Vancouver’s on the rise. A recent report showed a 23-per-cent growth rate in head offices between 2000 and 2009 – from 68 to 84.

Still, financial factors don’t address the reality of playing basketball here, says Raptors assistant coach Scott Roth, who was with the Grizzlies during their final season in Vancouver.

The city was beautiful, but sometimes they felt banished to the edge of the Earth. Besides Seattle and Portland, every NBA opponent was at least 2 1/2 hours away – meaning constant jet lag, long flights, and the delays with customs when they finally got home.

“It was a hike to get almost anywhere. It was hard on the players. It was a grind,” he said.

The league, for its part, says it won’t be expanding to Vancouver – or anywhere else – any time soon.

“There are no plans to expand or relocate a team so we don’t discuss any market in those terms,” NBA spokesman Tim Frank said.

If and when a team is up for grabs, Vancouver will face competition from cities such as Las Vegas and Seattle. But at least one person is willing to help bring a team back home.

“To be a part of that movement? For sure,” Nash said. “This city loves NBA basketball. So I would be completely supportive of that.”

With a report from Matthew Sekeres

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/basketball/grizzlies-country-once-more/article1746585

[Qmx323]

^ I'd be stoked to see a team even just in Seattle

[GLOW]

it was alright, but the incident with grant hill was funny tho

as i told my friend when it happened: the refs had a homophobic moment

after that the game went downhill. it became really boring i dozed off in the 3rd

[wasabisashimi]

Did they BOO Hedo , the Turkish michael jordan?

[sonick]

Did they BOO Hedo , the Turkish michael jordan?

I thought they were Luuuuuuuuuu-ing.

Got last minute tix from my boss... Sec 118 row 7, best seats I've ever gotten at a sporting event.

[sonick]

it was alright, but the incident with grant hill was funny tho

lol yea.

Anybody catch that kid mimicing a BJ when he was on the Jumbotron?

[gilly]

^ yeah i saw that. that kid was an idiot. soo many people got kicked out around my area. but anyways, the game was pretty boring. the crowd was confused.

[taylor192]

anyone go? fck i couldn't get pics with cheerleaders!!!

Sucka, from last year:

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f18/taylor192/Hotties/8732_207388585960_576925960_4369761.jpg

[Ch28]

Sucka, from last year:

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f18/taylor192/Hotties/8732_207388585960_576925960_4369761.jpg

whoop di doo

you can see hotter ladies on granville during the weekend

[PiuYi]

they all left thru far tunnel as soon as game ended this yr....

[wuuhoo]

the 3rd quarter was long

refs kept calling everything

[KO7]

I loved how they tried to shove the Phoenix Suns down our throats as the home-team but almost everyone cheered for the Raptors.

[JD¹³]

Boring game, almost fell asleep in the 3rd quarter. I'd never been to an NBA game before so I was pretty excited about it. The refs should have called more :rolleyes: Nice of the Suns to play Nash for no more than about 7 mins of the whole game as well.

Like baseball it's just too slow a sport to capture my attention.... outside the playoffs.

[hotshot1]

I heard an interview between with Stern and he said they're never coming back here because of the way they left.

[Sunfighter]

I thought they were Luuuuuuuuuu-ing.

Got last minute tix from my boss... Sec 118 row 7, best seats I've ever gotten at a sporting event.

I was sitting in Section 118, Row 7 too. :)


Guys, here are my photos if you would like to see? I set them so anybody can see.... let me know what you think.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=507683&id=647340639&fbid=10150266633870640&ref=nf

[sonick]

I was sitting in Section 118, Row 7 too. :)


Guys, here are my photos if you would like to see? I set them so anybody can see.... let me know what you think.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=507683&id=647340639&fbid=10150266633870640&ref=nf

lol wtf! Which seats?

Edit: You were 3 seats from the stairs right? Saw your comments and recognized your Camera. I was 3 seats from you with the DLSR.

[GLOW]

Did they BOO Hedo , the Turkish michael jordan?

they boo'd him every time he touched the ball, but cheered shortly after if the ball went in when he scored. the crowd was indeed confused.

not me though, i kept on boo'ing :thumbsup:

i enjoyed watching grant hill play and reggie evans trying to make free throws :rofl:

too bad refs had to ruin it and boot them for patting each other on the ass :(

and i hate david stern almost as much as stu jackson

[wasabisashimi]

Did you enjoy the homoerotic butt slapping between Hill and Evans

they boo'd him every time he touched the ball, but cheered shortly after if the ball went in when he scored. the crowd was indeed confused.

not me though, i kept on boo'ing :thumbsup:

i enjoyed watching grant hill play and reggie evans trying to make free throws :rofl:

too bad refs had to ruin it and boot them for patting each other on the ass :(

and i hate david stern almost as much as stu jackson

[Sunfighter]

lol wtf! Which seats?

Edit: You were 3 seats from the stairs right? Saw your comments and recognized your Camera. I was 3 seats from you with the DLSR.

Yeah, we were seats 103 and 104. :) lol.....

What a small Revscene world. :)

[Alpine50]

The game sucked yet again. Raptors raped which was kinda shooing for me.

Anybody know wtf happened with that fight and the group of Asian's below? One white guy was yellin at looked like he was trying to throw punches he got booted. Then near the end a guy in red I think saw security so tryed yo run and got jumped by like 5 guards lol
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

[sp00n]

^i would be dozing off then all of a sudden i would hear screaming. I look down and some chubby guy with a raptors jersey is pushed down to the ground by 5 guards and hauled off to the back. Repeat this two more times with two other dudes

[bigG]

From what I saw, It was just a bunch of retard fans misbehaving, and I guess another person sent one of those "report a fan" text, thus having them escorted out.

Fun Fact: Mike Bibby is the only remaining Vancouver Grizzly playing in the NBA.

[Nicotine]

goin for sureee

[PiuYi]

on another note, shareef is now assistant GM

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- The Sacramento Kings have moved former assistant coach Shareef Abdur-Rahim to the front office as the team's assistant general manager.

President of basketball operations Geoff Petrie made the announcement Thursday.

Abdur-Rahim spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the Kings. He played 12 years in the NBA with Vancouver, Atlanta, Portland and Sacramento.