One-third of local NBA fans would switch sides for new Vancouver franchise, poll finds

Nearly 23 years ago the Vancouver Grizzlies departed from the West Coast, leaving a gap in professional basketball in the Pacific Northwest.

The sport's popularity has only grown over the years and memories of the Grizzlies remain vivid, leaving hope that one day a team will return.

The NFL has 32 teams, and so does the NHL, but the NBA and MLB remain at 30 teams and neither league has added a franchise in two decades, creating conversations of potential expansion cities.

One city that is always in the conversation for NBA expansion is Seattle (rightfully so, as the Supersonics were a storied franchise), but almost always, Vancouver is mentioned and according to a recent poll conducted by Research Co., British Columbians are open to the idea.

“More than three in five residents of northern BC (63%), Metro Vancouver (62%) and the Fraser Valley (also 62%) would welcome having an NBA franchise in Vancouver,” reads a news release.

“Support is lower in Vancouver Island (52%) and southern BC (50%).”

Some of the respondents to the poll were unsure (34%) and 6% thought it was a bad idea.

“In Metro Vancouver, about one in four residents (24%) are very likely to go to at least one home game if an NBA franchise is established in Vancouver,” says Mario Canseco, president of Research Co.

The remains of the Grizzlies are still quite visible in homes across British Columbia, as 14% of poll respondents own Toronto Raptors gear and 12% own Vancouver memorabilia.

One-third of NBA fans in BC who answered the poll (32%) said they are “very likely” to stop rooting for their current team and cheer for a Vancouver franchise.

The possibility of an NBA team returning to Vancouver is still years away, but BC fans seem to be ready for a second chance.