ChuckNORRIS4Cup Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 This just came out about an hour ago on TSN, was kind of shocked to see Toronto Maple Leafs as the lead team for this. I would of expected a winning team to be the mimic to Manchester United, not the Leafs. Also Stephan Harper is in China as of right now. Canada's largest sports company wants the Maple Leafs to become China's favourite hockey team, in much the same way Manchester United is the most popular soccer team in the world's most populous country. At the same time as Chinese government officials have asked the NHL to stage a regular-season game in China as early as next season, TSN has learned four executives with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment are scheduled to leave Friday for Beijing for meetings to help grow hockey in China, an untapped frontier for many sports leagues around the world. MLSE chief commercial officer Dave Hopkinson, Bo Hu, MLSE's executive in charge of Chinese business, and two colleagues will attend meetings in Beijing with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, his staff, and Chinese government officials. Maple Leafs President Brendan Shanahan was scheduled to participate but canceled at the last minute, a team spokesperson said. (The NHL and NHLPA announced forward Carter Ashton was suspended for 20 games on Thursday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug. Ashton said he borrowed another athlete's asthma inhaler.) MLSE executives, the 27-year-old Hu in particular, have quietly laid the groundwork for building the company's profile in China over the past three years. Because basketball is so popular in China, MLSE staff first established relationships with companies interested in sponsorship agreements with the Raptors. The basketball team now has sponsorships with Chinese auto tire maker Aeolus Tires and Asus, a laptop maker. MLSE has also partnered with I.T. company Huawei on music-industry projects. It's believed that MLSE garners more than $300,000 from each of those sponsorships. Company officials declined to say how much sponsorship revenue they make from China-based companies. As MLSE's relationships in China matured, the company landed meetings with the Chinese government - meetings where MLSE received an attractive offer. China is competing with Kazakhstan to host the 2022 Winter Olympics. China wants to have hockey teams that are competitive. But with a men's national team that's ranked No. 38 — behind New Zealand, Belgium and Iceland — China needs help getting to that point. "China wasn't a sports nation before the Beijing Olympics in 2008, but it is now," Hopkinson said in an interview. "The president of the country attended the Team Canada men's hockey games in Sochi and said he fell in love with hockey. What's important to the president of China is important to China." Chinese officials said in exchange for helping to develop grass-roots hockey programs in China, the government would help MLSE promote the Maple Leafs' brand there. "This is the most storied and established brand in the game," Hopkinson said. "We were told that if they were going to partner in the NFL, it would be with the Dallas Cowboys. If they were doing a baseball deal, it would be with the New York Yankees. And if there's a partnership in the NHL, it's going to be with the Maple Leafs." It doesn't hurt that the Leafs are based in Canada. Tensions might appear if a U.S.-based team tried to do what the Leafs hope to do. "The Chinese have told us they really appreciate what we are doing, boots on the ground, helping them to develop a hockey competency," said Hopkinson, who has made four previous trips to China. In March, the Leafs converted all of their rink boards to Chinese to "welcome Chinese viewers." In August, the team sent staff to Beijing and Shanghai to stage hockey camps for young amateur players. In coming weeks, the Leafs will aid in the production of a 10-part "Hockey 101" series to be included in NHL broadcasts on CCTV in China to educate viewers. "We aren't the only team in China," Hu said. "The Canucks and Islanders are there, too, but we really have a plan to become the biggest hockey brand there. We want to keep holding camps for kids, building grass roots interest, and eventually take our Maple Leafs players there. This is the Manchester United model." Continue reading -> http://www.tsn.ca/talent/westhead-maple-leafs-go-to-china-hoping-to-mimic-manchester-united-s-success-1.127203 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoGuitar Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Didn't the Canucks already start this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BanTSN Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 China watches Leafs one time. WW3 starts soon after. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckNORRIS4Cup Posted November 7, 2014 Author Share Posted November 7, 2014 Didn't the Canucks already start this? If you read the last paragraph in the post it talks about the Canucks and Islanders, but Maple Leafs want to be the biggest brand there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazmanian Devil Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 This just came out about an hour ago on TSN, was kind of shocked to see Toronto Maple Leafs as the lead team for this. I would of expected a winning team to be the mimic to Manchester United, not the Leafs. Also Stephan Harper is in China as of right now. Why would you expect that...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McBackup Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Considering how many Chinese immigrants are in Vancouver, you'd think the Canucks would be China's team. The last thing I want is a bunch of Leafs fans moving here en mass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckNORRIS4Cup Posted November 7, 2014 Author Share Posted November 7, 2014 Why would you expect that...? Well normally anyone who does business with someone, they prefer to do it with someone who dominates what they do, rather then someone who is a laughing stock in that business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil_314 Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 China is competing with Kazakhstan to host the 2022 Winter Olympics. China wants to have hockey teams that are competitive. But with a men's national team that's ranked No. 38 — behind New Zealand, Belgium and Iceland — China needs help getting to that point. Yeah it makes sense. Send "Canada's" crappiest team for China to "train with" (beat up) and increase China's viewership for the NHL. Win-win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
24K PureCool Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Toronto can try all it wants but at the end of the day if any team in Canada is going to be China's team, it is going to be Vancouver. You cannot beat the team situated in the gateway to Asia. Plus who want to cheer for the laughs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Building Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 The Leafs just wanted to visit the factories where all the counterfeit jerseys are made. After all, kids play a large role in sports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amish Rake Fighter Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Well normally anyone who does business with someone, they prefer to do it with someone who dominates what they do, rather then someone who is a laughing stock in that business. Maybe the Leafs want to be popular in China in the same way that Jerry Lewis is popular in France Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckNORRIS4Cup Posted November 7, 2014 Author Share Posted November 7, 2014 The Leafs just wanted to visit the factories where all the counterfeit jerseys are made. After all, kids play a large role in sports. Just wanted to make sure they have the right ads to put on them, once it's in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twilight Sparkle Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 sounds nice and all, but the leafs need a team first Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apollo Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 Canucks been there done that. Leafs suck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jovocop55 Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 lots of canucks fans already in hong kong (a few bars open for canucks games in the playoff)... some parts of china are starting too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caboose Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 If you read the last paragraph in the post it talks about the Canucks and Islanders, but Maple Leafs want to be the biggest brand there. It makes sense IMO. United are the biggest team in English football, the Leafs are the biggest team in the NHL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 It makes sense IMO. United are the biggest team in English football, the Leafs are the biggest team in the NHL. What? They're not even the biggest team in Canada. The Habs are more popular than TO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2SKATES1STICK Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 pretty sure vancouver is asia's hockey team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McBackup Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 What? They're not even the biggest team in Canada. The Habs are more popular than TO. I hate the leafs with a fiery passion, but they are by far the biggest team in the NHL. Just look how many come out of the woodwork when they come to town without even icing a half decent team Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyCuddles Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 What? They're not even the biggest team in Canada. The Habs are more popular than TO. Just not true. The Leafs are more popular. They've iced one of the worst teams consistently and still have a large fan base. I hate the Leafs as much as the next guy but they take the cake as Canadas top team in the popularity contest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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