Raptors Playoff Run Bringing in New Fans…

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Raptors Playoff Run Bringing in New Fans…

…and a lot of them are planning to follow the Raptors next season, too

 Toronto, June 10th, 2019 – In a random sampling of public opinion taken by The Forum Pollamong 1633 Canadians 18 or older, 4 in 10 (38%) say, yes, they have watched the Raptors on television during the 2019 playoffs, while just under two-thirds (62%) say they have not.

 Respondents most likely to say they’ve watched Raptors’ playoff games include those aged 45-54 (42%), males (43%), the most-wealthy (49%), parents (44%), with a post-graduate degree (45%), and living in Ontario (53%).

 Only a quarter said they’d previously watched the Raptors on TV

 The Raptors’ playoff run has inspired new fans to watch the team, as only a quarter (27%) said yes, they’d previously watched any Raptors’ games on television before the 2019 playoffs.

 Three-quarters (73%) said no, they had not.

 Respondents most likely to say that they’d watched a Raptors’ game before the playoffs include those aged 18-34 (32%) or 45-54 (29%), males (33%), the most wealthy (34%), parents (32%), with a post-graduate degree (33%), and living in Ontario (43%).

Some of those new fans plan to stick around next season

 A third (TOP2: 34%) say that, regardless of the outcome of the playoffs, they are likely to follow the Raptors next season. Of those that didn’t watch a playoff game before the 2019 playoffs, one-fifth (TOP2: 18%) say that they’re likely to follow the Raptors next season, too.

Two-thirds (BTM2: 66%) say thy aren’t likely to follow the Raptors.

 Respondents most likely to say they’ll continue to follow the raptors include those aged 45-54 (39%), males (38%), the most-wealthy (41%), parents (39%), and living in Ontario (48%).


“The Raptors’ playoff run has been remarkable and has bolstered support for the team all across the nation,” said Dr. Lorne Bozinoff, President of Forum Research. “Even if they don’t win the final (though we hope they do!) the playoff run has been a success, because it’s drawn new fans to Raptors’ games, and a proportion of those fans are here to stay. Go Raps, Go!”