In my humble opinion nothing the fans can do will make Melnyk sell the team.Then nothing changes.
But i do understand the need for the fans to express their displeasure.
In my humble opinion nothing the fans can do will make Melnyk sell the team.Then nothing changes.
Yeah, I am a little bit weary of a boycott for this reason. But I do think a big empty lower bowl on TV would be a powerful statement. What about something like "don't go to your seats until 5 minutes after puck drop"? It doesn't exactly hurt the Sens since people would still buy tickets and concessions and what not, but it sends a message.
Either Karlsson is gone because of Melnyk or Karlsson will never win anything here because of Melnyk.Why? Because Thompson, Oduya, Phaneuf, Brassard, Didomenico, Dumont and possibly Burrows are gone?
Be patient and get ready to burn the CTC when necessary
I don’t think a couple games with 1,000 unsold seats is the reason we are where we are.I think it would give more ammo to Melnyk to say « I told you so », « see why I have to cut costs? We can’t fill to the arena »
Man if we could have filled the arena during last playoffs, maybe the talk would be very different today... I’m guilty of that, I was supposed to go
I don’t think a couple games with 1,000 unsold seats is the reason we are where we are.
This has to do with Melnyk’s personal finances ore than anything.
This. I don't understand how the fine fans in Ottawa couldn't have gotten off their asses and gone to see a PLAYOFF game. That went completely beyond me. But then again a lot of the things Ottawa fans say, go beyond me. ie: a) The arena is too far. Bloody hell, I lived in Ottawa for 5 years and nothing was far! I lived in the Hunt Club area and I could get to Orleans, downtown or out to Kanata within 15 - 20 minutes. 2) The ticket prices are too high. You're joking, right? You've got the cheapest tickets in Canada. 3) It's too hard getting out of the parking lot. Cry me a river. It's hard getting out of any parking lot after a sporting event or concert. It's not unique to Ottawa. 4) Too much traffic. NOT! Ottawa has very little traffic. Come live in Toronto if you want to see traffic. And it's non-stop. Not only during rush hours . . . anytime of the day/night.I think it would give more ammo to Melnyk to say « I told you so », « see why I have to cut costs? We can’t fill to the arena »
Man if we could have filled the arena during last playoffs, maybe the talk would be very different today... I’m guilty of that, I was supposed to go
Also boycotting or not showing up to games could still feed the narrative of bad fan support in ottawa. I suggested another route in the other thread which was to actually run a parellel season ticket drive (similar to how bidding expansion cities run theirs) to show the commitment of sens fans to become STH IF Melnyk sells the team (i.e. collect deposits). We know this is the only language that the NHL understands, let's NHL and eugene see that he is the problem, and the other owners will prefer anything that means more money in HRR, etc. This type of thing would be unprecedented (I think) whereas Billboards, while are nice to convey a message, will get their 20 seconds of fame and then become old news. This will hit again where it hurts and opens it up to current STHs too
Pffft... yeah, 3rd round of the playoffs is a lame product.Perhaps Melnyk and his employees should do a better job to entice fans to buy tickets.
If you have a product thats lowering in sales, its not the fault of the potential customers.
Not selling out in the playoffs was definitely embarrassing. All 3 games I went to were sold out beyond seating capacity.Pffft... yeah, 3rd round of the playoffs is a lame product.
I live in Toronto and I bought tickets FFS
This is a bad idea.
The billboard thing makes WAY more sense: instead of "hurting the product we like and want to keep" a collective statement was made (and the billboard might not even have to go up, this was noticed) in a much more positive manner.
Thinking the only way to keep the Sens is to hurt them a lot is messed up.
You're clearly part of a small group that thinks the price and effort is worth it.Pffft... yeah, 3rd round of the playoffs is a lame product.
I live in Toronto and I bought tickets FFS
Nothing beats the in arena experience of a playoff game. NothingYou're clearly part of a small group that thinks the price and effort is worth it.
While the opposing group is finding entertainment online for free or significantly cheaper. Or just not interested in hockey.
Personally, I'd never go to a game knowing I can get the same amount of entertainment watching esports/youtube/netflix/gaming for free/cheap from my own home.
I could buy a game with unlimited playability for the price of a good seat that only lasts for 3 hours.
In your opinion.Nothing beats the in arena experience of a playoff game. Nothing
In your opinion.
There were 3 nights last year where something beat it.
Maybe that just means that this isn't really a viable hockey market after all. I don't see how you can make a much more appealing product than cheapest tickets in Canada for the last game before the Stanley Cup Finals... If that's not a sell for you, then what do you want? To be teleported for free there and back with front row seats?
If you rather play video games at home than go see a conference final elimination game, Erik Karlsson vs Sidney Crosby, then go ahead. If you are the majority then this team will die, plain and simple. If you rather do something else, that's fine. If you can't afford it, that's fine. If it's too inconvenient for you, that is also fine... but don't be surprised when this team is no longer the Ottawa Senators.
Think about it like this: Fans stop showing up, the team loses a bunch of money and Melnyk is forced to sell the team. Who is going to buy this product and keep it in Ottawa? If I was a billionaire, why would I waste my money on a fanbase that doesn't even show up to games? Is it on the good faith that they were only doing it to get rid of the "super terrible owner"? Is that not a red flag to potential buyers? Would you buy an apartment building that no one wants to rent? These guys, like it or not, are billionaires for a reason, and it isn't because they throw money at things that are the equivalent of throwing money in the toilet.
I don't live in Ottawa, so I only get to see them play once a year in Vancouver, but I go to every game (barring a rare exception). I pay more than 4x the price of an Ottawa ticket price, but I don't care. I show up, I sing Oh Canada, and it's Go Sens Go for 60 minutes.
You want a better product? You want Melnyk to spend? Lead by example, that's clearly what he's looking for.
"Cheapest tickets in Canada" is irrelevant to a lot of people. Many people can't afford to go to even a regular season game. For a lot of fans the price of a playoff ticket isn't worth it (even if they can afford it) when they have other bills to pay, other things to save for, and can watch the game from home. Don't judge people based on what they are willing to spend just because you are willing to spend more.