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- Feb 15, 2003
It wasn't a major fail, people just got tired of all the !%#+ going down. The economy was a different deal at the time and once attendance dipped a little after three terrible seasons, the ownership tried to unload the team with the intention of keeping it in Vancouver. However, all potential buyers wanted to move the team (such as Bill Laurie - St Louis) so the situation dragged out forever and fans stopped wanting to support a horrendous team that was going to move. When Michael Heisley bought the team he claimed it was going to stay in Vancouver and attendance shot back up, even with an awful team. Then Heisley began turning down sponsorship money and reported inflated loses so he could do what he originally intended, move the team out of Vancouver. Attendance plummeted from about January on, I remember going to games that weren't even reaching 10,000. A lot of people wanted to drive the team out of the city by that point.
Although, I'm not sure if a Vancouver NBA team could be successful in the long run. I mean, how many American players are happy playing in the Pacific Northwest, let alone Canada? Not to mention American television networks do not like it. Vancouver has a lot of basketball fans, but they won't support a Cleveland Cavaliers type team for a decade.
Although, I'm not sure if a Vancouver NBA team could be successful in the long run. I mean, how many American players are happy playing in the Pacific Northwest, let alone Canada? Not to mention American television networks do not like it. Vancouver has a lot of basketball fans, but they won't support a Cleveland Cavaliers type team for a decade.
