0°Recent Blog Posts - alex abboud
Football States and Mega Regions: Where the 2012 NFL Players Come From
On Wednesday, I looked at the metro areas that produced the most NFL players at the start of the 2012 season. This post looks at the states and mega-regions that have done so. The Top 10 States Overall Many of the most populous states dominate the top 10, with only one state (Louisiana) ranking b...
Published at alex abboud
On Wednesday, I looked at the metro areas that produced the most NFL players at the start of the 2012 season. This post looks at the states and mega-regions that have done so. The Top 10 States Overall Many of the most populous states dominate the top 10, with only one state (Louisiana) ranking b...
Published at alex abboud
Football Cities: Where the 2012 NFL Players Come From
Miami, Florida, led by Baltimore Ravens defensive stars Ed Reed (pictured) and Ray Lewis, is one of the top producing regions for NFL players. The National Football league regular season kicks off tonight, with two marquee teams – and markets in Dallas and New York – facing off. Last ...
Published at alex abboud
Miami, Florida, led by Baltimore Ravens defensive stars Ed Reed (pictured) and Ray Lewis, is one of the top producing regions for NFL players. The National Football league regular season kicks off tonight, with two marquee teams – and markets in Dallas and New York – facing off. Last ...
Published at alex abboud
America’s State and Regional College Football Factories
This is part 2 of a 2 part post. The first part focused on where the (successful) colleges are. One of the major attractions of college football – for players, schools, and fans alike – is that it serves a launching pad to the pros, particularly the wildly popular National Football Le...
Published at alex abboud
This is part 2 of a 2 part post. The first part focused on where the (successful) colleges are. One of the major attractions of college football – for players, schools, and fans alike – is that it serves a launching pad to the pros, particularly the wildly popular National Football Le...
Published at alex abboud
Where College Football is King
This is part 1 of a 2 part post. The second part will focus on which states, regions, and metros are sending the most players to the NFL. College Football returns tonight, thus beginning a Saturday ritual through the fall for millions of people. The sport is big business, and commands incredible ...
Published at alex abboud
This is part 1 of a 2 part post. The second part will focus on which states, regions, and metros are sending the most players to the NFL. College Football returns tonight, thus beginning a Saturday ritual through the fall for millions of people. The sport is big business, and commands incredible ...
Published at alex abboud
Jasper Ave Blues: What Does $5 Billion Get You These Days?
In Edmonton, the Downtown Business Association released a new report about potential downtown investment. It outlines 36 projects that are approved, proposed, or rumoured to be occurring downtown or in the adjacent Quarters area. Most readers will recognize that not all of these will go ahead ...
Published at alex abboud
In Edmonton, the Downtown Business Association released a new report about potential downtown investment. It outlines 36 projects that are approved, proposed, or rumoured to be occurring downtown or in the adjacent Quarters area. Most readers will recognize that not all of these will go ahead ...
Published at alex abboud
The Inclusive City: On Language and Culture
Last week, I wrote about the importance of urban design in promoting inclusiveness, and helping people change their circumstances for the better. This concept can be expanded to other characteristics as well, in terms of putting forward a message of cultural – and linguistic inclusion. On o...
Published at alex abboud
Last week, I wrote about the importance of urban design in promoting inclusiveness, and helping people change their circumstances for the better. This concept can be expanded to other characteristics as well, in terms of putting forward a message of cultural – and linguistic inclusion. On o...
Published at alex abboud
The Inclusive City: On Homelessness and Urban Design
In the summertime, I’m an early morning runner. As I pass through the streets, the city is still and quiet, making any activity stand out. One recent Saturday morning was oppressively hot. Passing through Ezio Farone Park the first time, I spotted a man sleeping on the park bench. An hour l...
Published at alex abboud
In the summertime, I’m an early morning runner. As I pass through the streets, the city is still and quiet, making any activity stand out. One recent Saturday morning was oppressively hot. Passing through Ezio Farone Park the first time, I spotted a man sleeping on the park bench. An hour l...
Published at alex abboud
Quebec’s Politics is Holding its Cities Back
Amid the heated debate around cultural issues in Quebec’s election, I’ve been thinking about how it will affect the province and its cities. In today’s Globe and Mail, John Ibbitson put many of my thoughts on the immigration issue into words. Political leaders are fighting the t...
Published at alex abboud
Amid the heated debate around cultural issues in Quebec’s election, I’ve been thinking about how it will affect the province and its cities. In today’s Globe and Mail, John Ibbitson put many of my thoughts on the immigration issue into words. Political leaders are fighting the t...
Published at alex abboud
Sport Tourism (Part 2): The Urban Trail Running Frontier
At the end of my post on marathon participation in Western Canada, I noted that trail running is growing in popularity, and that a city like Edmonton – with its large parks and trails system – could be well-positioned to capitalize on this. To examine this further, I searched for urba...
Published at alex abboud
At the end of my post on marathon participation in Western Canada, I noted that trail running is growing in popularity, and that a city like Edmonton – with its large parks and trails system – could be well-positioned to capitalize on this. To examine this further, I searched for urba...
Published at alex abboud
Sport Tourism (Part I): Why Cities Should Subsidize Marathons, Not Stadiums
Few cities in Canada or the United States have been immune from calls to massively subsidize professional sports teams. Over the past two decades, dozens of cities have shelled out 9 figure subsidies, usually in the form of publicly-funded stadiums, in order to keep or attract professional sports...
Published at alex abboud
Few cities in Canada or the United States have been immune from calls to massively subsidize professional sports teams. Over the past two decades, dozens of cities have shelled out 9 figure subsidies, usually in the form of publicly-funded stadiums, in order to keep or attract professional sports...
Published at alex abboud
College Towns and Destinations: Canada’s Small Indie Music Hotspots
Following up on my post on Canada’s indie music hotspots, this post looks at smaller centres in the country where large concentrations of artists are making and sharing original music. Once again, I’ve used artist information from CBC Music and data on Census Agglomerations from Stati...
Published at alex abboud
Following up on my post on Canada’s indie music hotspots, this post looks at smaller centres in the country where large concentrations of artists are making and sharing original music. Once again, I’ve used artist information from CBC Music and data on Census Agglomerations from Stati...
Published at alex abboud
Canada’s Indie Music Hotspots
This is the first part in a series examining Canada’s music scene, with a focus on which cities have thriving scenes and where artists launch and sustain successful careers. This stems from my interest in music, particular Canadian (indie) work, and from many discussions with friends about ...
Published at alex abboud
This is the first part in a series examining Canada’s music scene, with a focus on which cities have thriving scenes and where artists launch and sustain successful careers. This stems from my interest in music, particular Canadian (indie) work, and from many discussions with friends about ...
Published at alex abboud
Folk and the City: Promoting Music and Community in Western Canada
Gallagher Park, home of Edmonton Folk Fest. Thursday is the kickoff of Edmonton Folk Festival, a four-day event that counts itself among the most popular of the city’s many summer festivals. The event routinely sell-out, happening within mere hours this year. Beloved by many ‘folkies&...
Published at alex abboud
Gallagher Park, home of Edmonton Folk Fest. Thursday is the kickoff of Edmonton Folk Festival, a four-day event that counts itself among the most popular of the city’s many summer festivals. The event routinely sell-out, happening within mere hours this year. Beloved by many ‘folkies&...
Published at alex abboud
American Futbol: How Soccer is Breaking Through in America, and What We Can All Learn from It
Tonight, Major League Soccer holds its All-Star Game in suburban Philadelphia. A team of MLS stars team up to take on Chelsea, the reigning European Champions. The proverbial sport of the future in America (and Canada) has started to see significant breakthroughs in recent years. MLS is experienc...
Published at alex abboud
Tonight, Major League Soccer holds its All-Star Game in suburban Philadelphia. A team of MLS stars team up to take on Chelsea, the reigning European Champions. The proverbial sport of the future in America (and Canada) has started to see significant breakthroughs in recent years. MLS is experienc...
Published at alex abboud
Racing in the Streets: Does the Indy Do Anything for Edmonton?
The Edmonton Indy, one of 15 stops on the IndyCar Series tour, was held this past weekend. Before the temporary track and stands could be disassembled, calls had already begun for greater corporate and community support, in order to keep the race viable. Edmontonians are no strangers to calls for...
Published at alex abboud
The Edmonton Indy, one of 15 stops on the IndyCar Series tour, was held this past weekend. Before the temporary track and stands could be disassembled, calls had already begun for greater corporate and community support, in order to keep the race viable. Edmontonians are no strangers to calls for...
Published at alex abboud
