Canada could support the Toronto Raptors and a second franchise
By Jeff Borsuk
Who might be interested in buying an NBA team
Finding an owner or ownership group shouldn’t be difficult. There are many incredibly rich people in Southern Ontario who have an interest in sports. If ever the NBA demonstrated that they were interested in expanding, there would surely be Canadians vying to be involved. Some of whom may even be Toronto based.
Mitchell Goldhar is a Toronto born real estate tycoon. He made a fortune with his ownership of SmartCenters. He currently owns Maccabi Tel Aviv football club and is on the Advisory Board for the Canadian Sports Concussion Project.
Carlo Fidani is another Toronto based multi-billionaire who has earned his wealth primarily through real estate. He is a part of the ownership group that purchased Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in 2011, partnering with the hall-of-fame race car driver, Ron Fellows.
Jim Balsillie, the owner of Research in Motion, attempted to bring an NHL team to Southern Ontario. He failed on three attempts. Though his passion was hockey based, he has the means to buy a team should one ever be made available.
David Thomson is a part of the richest family in Canada. They already own the Winnipeg Jets along with many other assets. If there was to be another NBA team in Canada, Thomson might be the ideal candidate to be the primary owner. With roots in Toronto, getting a basketball team might be the right fit for Thomson’s extensive portfolio.
Even rock star Jon Bon Jovi was at one time trying to bring an NFL team to Toronto. Though he later denied wanting to move the Buffalo Bills, Bon Jovi paired with Raptors owners Larry Tanenbaum and Edward Rogers to try to buy the team.
At the moment, there is little indication that the NBA is looking to expand. However, the league is seemingly more popular than ever and there is always the possibility of a franchise sale/relocation. If either were to occur, a Canadian location should be heavily considered.
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The idea of growing the number of franchises in Canada remains intriguing. Hopefully, when the time comes, the country will get another chance to have multiple teams.