News Article: Lebreton project

[Tnuoc Alucard]

You're arguing that Melnyck is not running a successful business, because fans aren't showing up

So far, the attendance is averaging 15,045 per game, or an average of 3,607 empty seats per game.

Work to do, to improve those numbers.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

So far, the attendance is averaging 15,045 per game, or an average of 3,607 empty seats per game.

Work to do, to improve those numbers.

15045 paid attendance?

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

@coladin

I can't agree totally with you there.

Bob McKenzie said it best when he recently stated more "real fans" have attended NHL games in the past in Ottawa than any other city in Canada. It's the corporate world in Ottawa that lags behind in buying tickets and I don't believe the SENS are close to even Winnipeg in corporate ticket sales. And it's not entirely the corporate world's fault in Ottawa . .

Lets remember that when you're talking "corporate ticket sales" you're talking about the private sector.

As you know, approximately 40% of the workforce in Ottawa works in the Public sector, either directly or indirectly, and there is ZERO corporate support from this 40%, for good reason.

Ottawa probably has the smallest private sector corporate base from which to draw from, than all other Canadian franchises.

 

[SanderSen]

@coladin

I can't agree totally with you there.

Bob McKenzie said it best when he recently stated more "real fans" have attended NHL games in the past in Ottawa than any other city in Canada. It's the corporate world in Ottawa that lags behind in buying tickets and I don't believe the SENS are close to even Winnipeg in corporate ticket sales. And it's not entirely the corporate world's fault in Ottawa . If Melnyk had a proper marketing team and didn't make himself the face of the franchise, he might be able to attract more corporate tickets. But, Melnyk being Melnyk, an 'eff up of major league proportions in everything he's touched, has also managed to alienate the business world. Not surprising.

Below is an article from a couple years ago, and a few quotes:

Do the Sens have it tough here in Ottawa?

"the team is almost dead last in the NHL when it comes to attracting corporate cash"

"Ottawa’s once vibrant technology industry is beginning to bustle again, the small and medium sized startups that make up that industry aren’t spending on the Sens"

So blaming the "real fans" who have spent their hard-earned cash over the years to support the SENS is misguided. The corporate world has turned a blind-eye on Melnyk and that's where the real money is, it's not the guy spending $50 per ticket on upper bowl seats to bring his family.

Great post about the corporate side, and I will leave the Melnyk comments out of this. I attended 5-6 games per year with my kids, and relatives in "big" cities with full buildings at higher prices never attended a single game in a year. I had limited funds for stuff like this and when they got into downhill skiing the number of Sens games attended decreased. The Sens really need to work at on the ground guerilla marketing to the medium size businesses in town.

The pounding on and moping about regular folks not showing up for games is a major turn off. I remember a home opener where Bryden ruined it all with his whining at center ice instead of just thanking everyone that was there, telling them he looked forward to seeing them a lot more during the year and to have a h*ll of a good time. It seems all owners have forgotten that fans do not have an obligation and when they show up, they should have a good experience.

 

[coladin]

@coladin

I can't agree totally with you there.

Bob McKenzie said it best when he recently stated more "real fans" have attended NHL games in the past in Ottawa than any other city in Canada. It's the corporate world in Ottawa that lags behind in buying tickets and I don't believe the SENS are close to even Winnipeg in corporate ticket sales. And it's not entirely the corporate world's fault in Ottawa . If Melnyk had a proper marketing team and didn't make himself the face of the franchise, he might be able to attract more corporate tickets. But, Melnyk being Melnyk, an 'eff up of major league proportions in everything he's touched, has also managed to alienate the business world. Not surprising.

Below is an article from a couple years ago, and a few quotes:

Do the Sens have it tough here in Ottawa?

"the team is almost dead last in the NHL when it comes to attracting corporate cash"

"Ottawa’s once vibrant technology industry is beginning to bustle again, the small and medium sized startups that make up that industry aren’t spending on the Sens"

So blaming the "real fans" who have spent their hard-earned cash over the years to support the SENS is misguided. The corporate world has turned a blind-eye on Melnyk and that's where the real money is, it's not the guy spending $50 per ticket on upper bowl seats to bring his family.

The lower bowls is where corporations buy...and they have always been decent. Upper bowl, the cheap seats are not being purchased. And corporate clients do not buy those. Not too impressive, is it?

I think this market can do better and be more supportive. And I think the owner can do better.

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

Today is Election Day, in Ottawa.

The future of LeBreton Flats might be the biggest thing the Mayor and new council will have to deal with, in the near future.

The NCC & and the RLG, are currently negotiating the re-development plans in secret, with a major progress report due just after the election, in November.

The city’s involved, too, but isn’t in charge.

If the NCC & the RLG can reach a deal, the new city council will have to weigh in on things like the public amenities and services in a development centered around the proposed new NHL arena, and how much municipal tax dollars will be involved, if any.

 

[umma gumma]

The lower bowls is where corporations buy...and they have always been decent. Upper bowl, the cheap seats are not being purchased. And corporate clients do not buy those. Not too impressive, is it?

I think this market can do better and be more supportive. And I think the owner can do better.

Oh yes they do. The company I work for buys seats in each bowl.

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

Oh yes they do. The company I work for buys seats in each bowl.

I know for a fact the BIG bank that my financial advisor works for, use to have their own "luxury suite" a number of years ago, and moved to a "shared suite" for a few years, and now just has a number of seats on the 400 level, in The Ledge".

Their corporate support, over the past decade has declined, and the offers to attend events at the CTC have also.

 

[umma gumma]

I know for a fact the BIG bank that my financial advisor works for, use to have their own "luxury suite" a number of years ago, and moved to a "shared suite" for a few years, and now just has a number of seats on the 400 level, in The Ledge".

Their corporate support, over the past decade has declined, and the offers to attend events at the CTC have also.

I wonder if that has anything to do with not wanting to be associated with 'the noise' that is Eugene Melnyk? He makes a lot of it for the wrong reasons.

 

[BatherSeason]

I know for a fact the BIG bank that my financial advisor works for, use to have their own "luxury suite" a number of years ago, and moved to a "shared suite" for a few years, and now just has a number of seats on the 400 level, in The Ledge".

Their corporate support, over the past decade has declined, and the offers to attend events at the CTC have also.

So what exactly do you think the organization has done to deter this BIG bank from supporting the Ottawa Senators? Are you saying that the organization may have done something to turn off corporate support?? This may be the closest you have been to admitting fault in something the org has done..

 

[coladin]

Oh yes they do. The company I work for buys seats in each bowl.

Fair enough. I should have said the majority of corporations.

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

I wonder if that has anything to do with not wanting to be associated with 'the noise' that is Eugene Melnyk? He makes a lot of it for the wrong reasons.

I doubt that very much.

The Hate EM gang always assume everyone else, even corporate supporters, share their highly elevated level of hate ........ they don't.

Using that twisted logic, would you assume that the Rideau Carleton Raceway Casino who have just struck a partnership deal with the Ottawa Senators ,making them the team’s “official casino” suddnely fell in love with Eugene Melnyk?

No, of course not.

Business ans Corporations who deal with the Senators, or any NHL franchise, don't get bogged down in petty issues like the EM haters are consumed with.

The corporate community uses suites/seats at events held at the CTC, for entertaining their clients.

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

So what exactly do you think the organization has done to deter this BIG bank from supporting the Ottawa Senators? Are you saying that the organization may have done something to trun off corporate support?? This may be the closest you have been to admitting fault in something the org has done..

I don't think the Senators have done anything to deter the BIG bank from supporting them, at all.

I suspect that 10 years ago, there was less competition in the Ottawa market, in the pro area, and now there are more pro teams, in the Ottawa market, that compete for those sponsorship dollars from the corporate community, and some of those dollars are finding their way to these other pro sports teams and their games.

My financial advisor could not offer his clients tickets to an Ottawa Fury, or Redblacks game, ten years ago.


I know the Haters, only want EM to be the reason for everything, but he's not.

 

[BatherSeason]

I don't think the Senators have done anything to deter the BIG bank from supporting them, at all.

I suspect that 10 years ago, there was less competition in the Ottawa market, in the pro area, and now there are more pro teams, in the Ottawa market, that compete for those sponsorship dollars from the corporate community, and some of those dollars are finding their way to these other pro sports teams and their games.

My financial advisor could not offer his clients tickets to an Ottawa Fury, or Redblacks game, ten years ago.


I know the Haters, only want EM to be the reason for everything, but he's not.

So, what do you think the reasoning is then, that was my question?? Why would a BIG bank decide to scrap their ties with a major sports league (the Ottawa Senators) and settle for the Canadian Football League team that only plays 8 home games and a glorified men's rec league soccer team?

Funny how no banks want to be associated with Eugene Melnyk and the Ottawa Senators. I wonder why?

Serious question here, are the Ottawa Senators affiliated with any major banks anymore?

 

[BatherSeason]

Sponsorship and the NHL is a very interesting topic, especially when discussing how poor the Ottawa Senators as an organization are at doing everything. For fun, have a look at how the Ottawa Senators attempt to sell sponsorship vs other teams:

Corporate Sponsorships - Canadian Tire Centre

Calgary Sports & Entertainment Digideck

Edmonton Oilers

Corporate Partnerships

Heck, the Edmonton Oilers have a whole team that deals with this aspect while the Ottawa Senators have Bill. "You wanna throw big money at us, just give Bill a call"

Maybe I am missing something, but the Ottawa Senators seem to be their own worst enemy when it comes to attracting corporate sponsorship. This is the big leagues Mr Melnyk.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

Sponsorship and the NHL is a very interesting topic, especially when discussing how poor the Ottawa Senators as an organization are at doing everything. For fun, have a look at how the Ottawa Senators attempt to sell sponsorship vs other teams:

Corporate Sponsorships - Canadian Tire Centre

Calgary Sports & Entertainment Digideck

Edmonton Oilers

Corporate Partnerships

Heck, the Edmonton Oilers have a whole team that deals with this aspect while the Ottawa Senators have Bill. Maybe I am missing something, but the Ottawa Senators seem to be their own worst enemy when it comes to attracting corporate sponsorship.

We also have the fewest potential corporate client base so while it is very likely that we are understaffed and underfunded at that position, there is the reality of the market to take into consideration when estimating how much time and effort should be put in that area.

 

[BatherSeason]

We also have the fewest potential corporate client base so while it is very likely that we are understaffed and underfunded at that position, there is the reality of the market to take into consideration when estimating how much time and effort should be put in that area.

Are you saying that Edmonton, Winnipeg and Calgary have a better corporate client base?

If you aren't doing something well, find a way to do it better or stop crying poor.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

Are you saying that Edmonton, Winnipeg and Calgary have a better corporate client base?

Of course they do, the biggest employer in those cities is not the GoC.

 

[umma gumma]

I doubt that very much.

Of course you would. And for the record, I'm not hater so much as I am sick and tired of his shtick.

 

[stempniaksen]

Are you saying that Edmonton, Winnipeg and Calgary have a better corporate client base?

If you aren't doing something well, find a way to do it better or stop crying poor.

By a country mile.

Ottawa has the lowest corporate client base in the league, and as much as I love to blame ownership for the state of the franchise, the low corporate support has (almost) nothing to do with EM and everything to do with the (federal and municipal) government being the number one employer in the city. It's why the threats of moving the team to Quebec don't scare me in the least, but it's also a major reason Ottawa is a small market team.

 

[BatherSeason]

Of course they do, the biggest employer in those cities is not the GoC.

Still doesn't excuse the team for barely trying.

 

[BatherSeason]

By a country mile.

Ottawa has the lowest corporate client base in the league, and as much as I love to blame ownership for the state of the franchise, the low corporate support has (almost) nothing to do with EM and everything to do with the (federal and municipal) government being the number one employer in the city. It's why the threats of moving the team to Quebec don't scare me in the least, but it's also a major reason Ottawa is a small market team.

OK, so aside from me being dumb to the fact then, looking at the three team's corporate sponsorship pitch, are you content with info provided by the Ottawa Senators alluding to the benefits of corporate sponsorship? Can they do more? Should they be doing more?

 

[stempniaksen]

OK, so aside from me being dumb to the fact then, looking at the three team's corporate sponsorship pitch, are you content with info provided by the Ottawa Senators alluding to the benefits of corporate sponsorship?

Well no, I'm not completely absolving the organization, as the "bare bones" front office is well documented. The point remains though, that the single biggest issue with the Ottawa market and low corporate support is that the (overwhelmingly) largest (and I believe 2nd largest) employer(s) can't buy tickets. There would be no need for the Senators to dedicate the same resources to corporate support that a team like Calgary/Edmonton would.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

Still doesn't excuse the team for barely trying.

That's called moving the goalpost.

You said they don't try to which I said "yeah they don't but you also have to consider the size of the market, the payoffs for spending a lot on attracting corporate customers is likely much lower than everywhere else".

 

[topshelf15]

Corporate support doesnt have to be the cities biggest employer,most Corporate companies are global and will put their Ad dollars in highly visible and desirable areas..The CTC was covered in add,s when the team was doing well...As EM has stopped trying to invest in being anything else but a crybaby ,and blaming everybody including lack of corporate support ,the CTC doesnt have nearly as many Ad,s on its building ....

Think EM has gotten lazy and forgotten how to work ,and hustle for a dollar...He would rather whine and cry about what he thinks he should have