MLS pulls up the rear on most popular followed sport in Canada

[An Observer]

Interesting fact in the recent Angus Reid poll on the popularity of sports in Canada.

"In the rest of Canada, the NHL is the most closely followed league, according to the survey, with the CFL a distant second (40 per cent to 21 per cent). Major League Baseball is third at 18 per cent and at the bottom of the list the NBA edges out Major League Soccer at eight per cent and seven per cent."

I am not too surprised by the results. Cfl is 3 times more popular than Mls but one thing to note was the popularity is really skewed by western Canada and the over 55s.

I assume the nba will grow with the raptors success and all the Canadians playing in the league.

I was surprised by the Mlb numbers. Not that far off the Cfl.

[Barthez-Battalion]

Wonder how, if properly promoted and supported by the networks, a Canadian soccer league would do.

[TFC07]

Wonder how, if properly promoted and supported by the networks, a Canadian soccer league would do.

 

Like CFL, it will get better support than their American rival (MLS/NASL).   

[Gordon]

Interesting fact in the recent Angus Reid poll on the popularity of sports in Canada.

"In the rest of Canada, the NHL is the most closely followed league, according to the survey, with the CFL a distant second (40 per cent to 21 per cent). Major League Baseball is third at 18 per cent and at the bottom of the list the NBA edges out Major League Soccer at eight per cent and seven per cent."

I am not too surprised by the results. Cfl is 3 times more popular than Mls but one thing to note was the popularity is really skewed by western Canada and the over 55s.

I assume the nba will grow with the raptors success and all the Canadians playing in the league.

I was surprised by the Mlb numbers. Not that far off the Cfl.

 

What an interesting thing to add "...skewed by western Canada and the over 55s". Is it a bad thing to be popular with these particular demographics? I sort of of get the bias against the over 55s, because who'd want to be popular with the group with the highest disposable income. But western Canada? is it also a bad thing to be popular with the youngest, fastest growing, and wealthiest demographic in Canada as well? Is it the wealth that is the bad thing? It is the only common denominator. Ok, ok,  that was all tongue in cheek, but there does seem to be some pretty heavy bias implied by your 'note'.

 

[Joe MacCarthy]

Interesting fact in the recent Angus Reid poll on the popularity of sports in Canada.

I am not too surprised by the results. Cfl is 3 times more popular than Mls but one thing to note was the popularity is really skewed by western Canada and the over 55s.

I think it shows how relatively unpopular MLS and NBA are in Canada as they are heavily skewed by the large population block of the GTA

[Joe MacCarthy]

What an interesting thing to add "...skewed by western Canada and the over 55s". Is it a bad thing to be popular with these particular demographics? I sort of of get the bias against the over 55s, because who'd want to be popular with the group with the highest disposable income. But western Canada? is it also a bad thing to be popular with the youngest, fastest growing, and wealthiest demographic in Canada as well? Is it the wealth that is the bad thing? It is the only common denominator. Ok, ok,  that was all tongue in cheek, but there does seem to be some pretty heavy bias implied by your 'note'.

 

I wouldn't take your post as tongue in cheek, the population is skewing westward where the jobs and money are.  I just saw a headline, didn't read the story (but I can look for it) where young people are leaving Ontario and Quebec in droves.

[tmcmurph]

NHL 40, CFL 21, MLB 18, NFL 17, NBA 8, MLS 7.  To be honest I'm quite impressed we are that close to the NBA. I would love to see this survey done again when 3 Canadian MLS teams makes the playoffs in the same year. We wouldn't catch the second group but I think we'd get into the double digit territory. 

[TFC07]

 

NHL 40, CFL 21, MLB 18, NFL 17, NBA 8, MLS 7.  To be honest I'm quite impressed we are that close to the NBA. I would love to see this survey done again when 3 Canadian MLS teams makes the playoffs in the same year. We wouldn't catch the second group but I think we'd get into the double digit territory. 

 

 

Not really since MLS has 3 Canadian teams while NBA only has one Canadian team.   So it's no surprise to see MLS being very close to NBA despite weak TV numbers.   

 

Remember, this survey is based on professional leagues not sport itself.   MLS being behind other leagues doesn't mean soccer isn't popular in this country.   

[TFC07]

What an interesting thing to add "...skewed by western Canada and the over 55s". Is it a bad thing to be popular with these particular demographics? I sort of of get the bias against the over 55s, because who'd want to be popular with the group with the highest disposable income. But western Canada? is it also a bad thing to be popular with the youngest, fastest growing, and wealthiest demographic in Canada as well? Is it the wealth that is the bad thing? It is the only common denominator. Ok, ok,  that was all tongue in cheek, but there does seem to be some pretty heavy bias implied by your 'note'.

 

 

When comes to sports, 18-35 male is main target.   They're most likely group to buy tickets, jerseys and follow sports more religiously than older crowd who might not have time (example: due to having a family to take care of)

 

Despite CFL high TV ratings, they struggle to attract big sponsorship compare to other leagues because they're not popular with younger crowd.  There's a reason why CFL doesn't have a beer sponsor.    

 

As for Western Canada, how many people live there?  

[Joe MacCarthy]

Despite CFL high TV ratings, they struggle to attract big sponsorship compare to other leagues because they're not popular with younger crowd. There's a reason why CFL doesn't have a beer sponsor.   

I know you're jealous of the CFL but get real.  General Motors, Nissan, Wendy's, and they are the main tenants in stadiums sponsored by TD Bank and Tim Hortons.

 

From Broadcaster Magazine (the bible of TV stations)

As the Canadian Football League gets ready to hit the gridiron, some of the country’s biggest brands have signed on as key sponsors of TSN’s exclusive CFL coverage. Major sponsors of the 2014 CFL ON TSN broadcast campaign include General Motors, Moores, Nissan, Purolator, and Safeway.

 

I think Great Western Brewing Company is still the official beer of the CFL and what are all those booze commercials I see with all the "kids" in bars.  Gibsons?

[Gordon]

When comes to sports, 18-35 male is main target.   They're most likely group to buy tickets, jerseys and follow sports more religiously than older crowd who might not have time (example: due to having a family to take care of)

 

Despite CFL high TV ratings, they struggle to attract big sponsorship compare to other leagues because they're not popular with younger crowd.  There's a reason why CFL doesn't have a beer sponsor.    

 

As for Western Canada, how many people live there?

I am sorry, but the 18-35 target demographic is a legacy of when baby boomers (now 50+) were in that age range. It is still an important demographic for technology as they are they early adopters, but that is about it. It is simply a myth. It's why the little old CFL has a better TV deal than MLS (and no, it is not $90 million for MLS).

As for western Canada, population is about 11 million, so only a couple of million less than Ontario. I am pretty sure the GDP of western Canada is larger than Ontario, and certain that average household income is.

So, to sum up, the desireability of 18-35 is grossly overstated (and if you think about who has family responsibilities - the parents <18-35 year olds> or the grandparents <55+ year olds>. And western Canada is a younger richer Ontario.

[Joe MacCarthy]

I am sorry, but the 18-35 target demographic is a legacy of when baby boomers (now 50+) were in that age range. It is still an important demographic for technology as they are they early adopters, but that is about it. It is simply a myth. It's why the little old CFL has a better TV deal than MLS (and no, it is not $90 million for MLS).

As for western Canada, population is about 11 million, so only a couple of million less than Ontario. I am pretty sure the GDP of western Canada is larger than Ontario, and certain that average household income is.

So, to sum up, the desireability of 18-35 is grossly overstated (and if you think about who has family responsibilities - the parents <18-35 year olds> or the grandparents <55+ year olds>. And western Canada is a younger richer Ontario.

As a former marketer (many moons ago), I agree with you. 

 

Speaking of CFL,TV and MLS.  The word going around Grey Cup week is two day old CFL games are outdrawing live MLS on ESPN.  Can't confirm that for this year but it was definitely true last year.  It's being tweeted now but I haven't seen the actual ESPN numbers for this year.

[TFC07]

I know you're jealous of the CFL but get real.  General Motors, Nissan, Wendy's, and they are the main tenants in stadiums sponsored by TD Bank and Tim Hortons.

 

From Broadcaster Magazine (the bible of TV stations)

As the Canadian Football League gets ready to hit the gridiron, some of the country’s biggest brands have signed on as key sponsors of TSN’s exclusive CFL coverage. Major sponsors of the 2014 CFL ON TSN broadcast campaign include General Motors, Moores, Nissan, Purolator, and Safeway.

 

I think Great Western Brewing Company is still the official beer of the CFL and what are all those booze commercials I see with all the "kids" in bars.  Gibsons?

 

I am not jealous, I am just being honest.  

 

Great Western Brewing Company?  Isn't that Saskatchewan based company that only sale their beer in Western Canada?  After losing Molson Canadian, no other major beer company steps up.   What does say to you?  

 

Also, isn't Safeway a Western Canadian company that only have stores in Western Canada? 

 

How can you claim these are national sponsors?  

[Joe MacCarthy]

How can you claim these are national sponsors?  

General Motors, Nissan, Wendy's, Mark's, TD Bank and Tim Hortons.  Now run off to google for your response.

[TFC07]

I am sorry, but the 18-35 target demographic is a legacy of when baby boomers (now 50+) were in that age range. It is still an important demographic for technology as they are they early adopters, but that is about it. It is simply a myth. It's why the little old CFL has a better TV deal than MLS (and no, it is not $90 million for MLS).

As for western Canada, population is about 11 million, so only a couple of million less than Ontario. I am pretty sure the GDP of western Canada is larger than Ontario, and certain that average household income is.

So, to sum up, the desireability of 18-35 is grossly overstated (and if you think about who has family responsibilities - the parents <18-35 year olds> or the grandparents <55+ year olds>. And western Canada is a younger richer Ontario.

 

Ontario has highest GDP in Canada by large margin and equals all Western Canada province combined.  However that isn't point since demand for pro sport in Western Canada isn't there compare to Ontario (Toronto) which is why you never hear about major American pro sports league talking about expansion in Western Canada like you would in Ontario (NFL Bills, another NHL team in GTA while Toronto being only Canadian city with MLB and NBA team).

 

18-35 male demographic is what people look for these days.  Perfect example is TFC! TFC became instant success in Toronto when they targetted 18-35 group instead of soccer mom and family crowd like old MLS clubs.  Since then, MLS clubs have changed their strategy and started targeting younger crowd which they gain success in terms of attendance.  

 

CFL TV ratings is great, but their value from TV money is weak.  $40 million CAD per year isn't a lot of money when you're averaging between 500-750K.  MLS is getting $90 million USD per year despite weak TV numbers.  So what does that say?   

[TFC07]

General Motors, Nissan, Wendy's, Mark's, TD Bank and Tim Hortons.  Now run off to google for your response.

 

Sorry, but TD Bank aren't CFL national sponsors (they sponsor a building where one of CFL teams play in which is like saying BMO is MLS major sponsor because they sponsor one of MLS team stadium).   But you're missing point here: they don't have much sponsors and don't get much compare to other leagues despite their TV ratings.  So what does that say?  Why don't they have higher profile sponsors compare to others?  Answer is that these companies look at WHO watching not total number itself.  They want to promote their product/service to younger crowd (future customer that they can do business in the long term).  

[Joe MacCarthy]

CFL TV ratings is great, but their value from TV money is weak.  $40 million CAD per year isn't a lot of money when you're averaging between 500-750K.  MLS is getting $90 million USD per year despite weak TV numbers.  So what does that say?   

MLS sucks and people don't want to watch it?  You'll say and google anything to denigrate the CFL.  I saw your posts on RPB and even they don't agree with most of your BS.  But God bless ya, keep at it, if it makes you feel better.  TFC is taking over.

[TFC07]

MLS sucks and people don't want to watch it?

 

But yet, MLS is growing financially and attracting  very rich investors despite their weak TV numbers unlike CFL where they struggle to find investors  despite their great TV numbers. 

[lazlo_80]

how did this somehow turn into another argument?

[Joe MacCarthy]

unlike CFL where they struggle to find investors

Proof?  Sponsors come and sponsors go.  When companies aren't doing as well they tend not to sponsor things.

[Joe MacCarthy]

how did this somehow turn into another argument?

It's my fault, i just like seeing this kid go to google stuff, it amuses me.  I'm sorry. 

 

He just doesn't get the importance of the Argos to the Toronto sports scene and how it would affect TFC if something happened to them. 

[RS]

How would TFC be affected if something happened to the Argos?

[Bertuzzi44]

would be really interested to see a by-province breakdown.

 

My guess for "followed sports" in BC would be:

 

1) NHL

2) NFL

3) CFL

4) MLS

5) WHL

6) MLB

7) NBA

 

The NFL/CFL numbers in BC would be very close I think, with a slight edge to the NFL since Seattle won the Super Bowl.

[A_Gagne]

Interesting fact in the recent Angus Reid poll on the popularity of sports in Canada.

"In the rest of Canada, the NHL is the most closely followed league, according to the survey, with the CFL a distant second (40 per cent to 21 per cent). Major League Baseball is third at 18 per cent and at the bottom of the list the NBA edges out Major League Soccer at eight per cent and seven per cent."

I am not too surprised by the results. Cfl is 3 times more popular than Mls but one thing to note was the popularity is really skewed by western Canada and the over 55s.

I assume the nba will grow with the raptors success and all the Canadians playing in the league.

I was surprised by the Mlb numbers. Not that far off the Cfl.

link please. thanks!

[baulderdash77]

I don't know why MLS fans and CFL fans constantly have to have a pissing match over which league/game is better.

 

It's very possible to be fans of both football and soccer.  It's also very possible to be fans of both CFL and NFL.  Peoples fan allegiance are not mutually exclusive between sports and it's a ridiculous assertion that it somehow has to be a competition between sports.