The Toronto Raptors rebuilt their fan base

Yungstar · Post #61 » by **Yungstar** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 3:39 pm

Square has been ROCKING. Everytime I don't think it can get louder, it does, lol.

See ya'll at game 5.

LeetGoose · Post #62 » by **LeetGoose** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 3:44 pm

I wonder though, how many of these new fans stick around next season? Are these new fans genuine, or are they just here because playoffs?

IMAN5 · Post #63 » by **IMAN5** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 3:51 pm

best mother effin fanbase in the world.

TheRaptor! · Post #64 » by **TheRaptor!** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 3:57 pm

chuckdevlin wrote:
xAIRNESSx wrote:
Risk101 wrote:

Nets crowds look all the same.

They can't compare to ours

Pretty sure that's a video game...

No, sir. I think thats real life. Brooklyn residents dont have eyes

I love your AVI

Young_Buc · Post #65 » by **Young_Buc** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 4:03 pm

Couple things:

1. When people say minorities support the Raptors it's more in relation to the Leafs. The Raptors more accurately represent the demographics of the city where the leaf crowds are 90% (or above) white.

2. Just like we are seeing an influx of talent from Toronto in the NBA. The people who grew up watching Vince are also now in their 20's and 30's and have joined the workforce. They are paying customers.

If the Raptors re-brand goes the way they have started (with the we the north) the sport is going to SKYROCKET here. It's what we've been saying all along. PROMOTE THE BRAND and it will appeal to this city.

What has occurred here is INFINITELY more important than another lottery pick. I think even the MOST optimistic anti tankers didn't envision the impact of these playoffs.

wtcantfw · Post #66 » by **wtcantfw** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 4:50 pm

Young_Buc wrote:1. When people say minorities support the Raptors it's more in relation to the Leafs. The Raptors more accurately represent the demographics of the city where the leaf crowds are 90% (or above) white.

Same can be said about Toronto's other professional team, the Blue Jays. I was at the game yesterday and I can comfortably say that the crowd was 80-90% white.

IMAN5 · Post #67 » by **IMAN5** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 5:06 pm

xAIRNESSx wrote:
Risk101 wrote:

Nets crowds look all the same.

They can't compare to ours

Pretty sure that's a video game...

ballercb4 · Post #68 » by **ballercb4** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 5:27 pm

justinmacd wrote:This city is so diverse. The Raps will never be the #1 team in town but they could still be a massive draw.

Immigrants from India, China, etc don't give a **** about the Leafs... But a lot of them could become Raps fans. I know all sorts of Pakistanis, Indians, Chinese, etc. from work that have converted to Raps fans since the playoffs began.

REAL TALK RIGHT HERE...my ppls been down when the Raptors since day one :lol:

growing up as a urban youth basketball was our priority we connected to it , it kept us out of trouble, it was a game for the masses not just the rich ( you just need a ball and a hoop no helmet, pads, sticks etc.), plus it was under-represented kind like us

= match made in heaven...Now its our time shine LETS GO RAPTORS!!!!

ballercb4 · Post #69 » by **ballercb4** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 5:30 pm

lolwut wrote:
UnRealGM wrote:surprisingly it's mostly made up of visible minorities.

Are they still visible "minorities" if they outnumber the "majority"?

LOL yes when you compare them to the population of Ontario and Canada...and even Toronto :lol:

Macho · Post #70 » by **Macho** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 5:31 pm

Serbian community holds it down hard for the Raptors.

Mohanad · Post #71 » by **Mohanad** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 5:44 pm

Raps Maniac wrote:Fans built the fan base. The team has given us very little, so they absolutely do not deserve credit. We always had this fan base.

Exactly. Always been a Raptors fan and watched since day one but couldn't justify purchasing their merchandise or shelling out hundreds of dollars to see the crap Colangelo put on the court over those dreadful seasons.

Masi is bringing the crowds back to the arena.

pbj · Post #72 » by **pbj** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 5:47 pm

Macho wrote:Serbian community holds it down hard for the Raptors.

Mohanad · Post #73 » by **Mohanad** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 5:53 pm

Young_Buc wrote:Couple things:

1. When people say minorities support the Raptors it's more in relation to the Leafs. The Raptors more accurately represent the demographics of the city where the leaf crowds are 90% (or above) white.

Not sure about 90%. I know a lot of non ''white'' Leaf fans that are just as die hard.

SkywalkerAC · Post #74 » by **SkywalkerAC** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 6:01 pm

We said that with the Leafs out it was the Raptors time to shine and the faithful have really brought it. It's hard to overstate the impact this has on the franchise's value, perception domestically and through the States, and potentially our ability to draw free agents, if we can keep it rolling. It doesn't always pay to tank.

pkiskool · Post #75 » by **pkiskool** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 6:07 pm

Been a fan since VC and Jamison traded hats...
And before that, I was a fan of the Bulls, watching MJ, Pips and Rodman do their things (it was the only NBA game that would be played on TV on Sundays, in Korea).

I salute few of those who were there even before me, and still repping here.
I see a lot of toddlers here who don't have respect for elders...
This is why you need to beat your kids.

Mr_NC · Post #76 » by **Mr_NC** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 6:28 pm

vaff87 wrote:
Mr_NC wrote:The fans have always been here, I'VE BEEN HERE, we just didnt have much to cheer for.

As for the ticket prices, in an earlier thread acouple months ago they said that they would raise the ticket by an avg. of $2 lets see if they keep to their word #NOTHOLDINGMYBREATH

No, you haven't. Everyone knows the day you sign-up for RealGM is the day you become a real Raptors fan .

I''ve been lurking realGM for a while before I signed up & when I think bout it you sign your soul away when you open up a RealGM account LOL

This place with its bi-polar posts, negativity & constant "what if..." Scenario posts hahahahaha

beefman · Post #77 » by **beefman** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 6:38 pm

it wouldn't work since the locker rooms are located right next to the court but it would be cool if on the way to the court, they take a de-tour and go through Maple Leaf square on their way to the court

tecumseh18 · Post #78 » by **tecumseh18** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 6:39 pm

ontnut wrote:Raptors have always had a dedicated fan base. Even through the worst years we did ok for attendance, and yes, a lot of that is due to a mix of ethnicities; because Toronto IS a mix of ethnicities. I don't think we've rebuilt, I've think we've retooled

I prefer to call it "organic growth".

snomeister · Post #79 » by **snomeister** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 6:41 pm

Young_Buc wrote:Been on message boards since arguing with dagger (then accfan99) about why we should give McGrady the max without him deserving it. Been around long enough to appreciate Mike_Toronto or to know that mrchristiescookies is guy smiley and that harry palmer is an intelligent misunderstood soul.

I've been here long enough to know that ambercrombie and its male fashion models is the american dream.
That's long.

Easily the best thread I ever read. It's a damn shame that it's lost forever. I actually liked Messiah as a poster, but he really exposed himself there.

I'm a longtime lurker, and not even very active as a poster until recently, but I was responsible for finding the Raptors fanfiction and posting it. Unfortunately, I believe the actual fanfisction itself is lost forever too. I knew I should have saved it.

Courtside · Post #80 » by **Courtside** » Mon Apr 28, 2014 6:42 pm

Macho wrote:Serbian community holds it down hard for the Raptors.

Except Serbs, along with Croats and other Europeans that support the Raps are white. To some posters on here, you don't count and only the visible minorities make up the majority of fans.

Look at the demographics of the city and look at the make up of the crowds and it is simply representative of the GTA's racial and cultural make up.

It's 50% white, 15% asian, 15% brown and 10% black, give or take. It's just like the population here.

So can we please stop with the race based discussion of who supports the team?

WE ALL DO, EQUALLY.