Montreal.vs Ottawa Dec 16th Outdoor Classic

[Habaneros]

With Ottawa currently having attendance issues,with 12,000 showing up for a game recently,and the Montreal Canadiens season ticket holders currently selling tickets for 30 to 50% off face value, Is the outdoor classic set up for a major attendance flop? Is the NHL worrying a bit?

Are both fans bases in the mood right now willing to shell out $130-$499 a ticket????

Click to read more...

 

[DavePeak]

Have you ever been to Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata? It feels like it is in the middle of nowhere, far from Downtown, with an impressive neighborhood of car dealerships. Imagine if the Bell Centre was in St-Basile-le-Grand, but with city-grade parking. I went there a few times for Sens-Habs rivalry and I loved every moment of it, but damn it is a weird place to have a Major League arena. /rant

It is true though, that the price is not right for that type of event this year between these two teams.

 

[beowulf]

Supposedly if the arena had not been built where it is, there would be no team in Ottawa period according to Bruce Firestone

http://www.obj.ca/article/column-why-ottawa-senators-call-kanata-home

 

[lo striver]

Have you ever been to Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata? It feels like it is in the middle of nowhere, far from Downtown, with an impressive neighborhood of car dealerships. Imagine if the Bell Centre was in St-Basile-le-Grand, but with city-grade parking. I went there a few times for Sens-Habs rivalry and I loved every moment of it, but damn it is a weird place to have a Major League arena. /rant

It is true though, that the price is not right for that type of event this year between these two teams.

I went to CTC a few years back. It took us almost an hour to get out of the parking lot before we were able to hit the road after the game. I will never go there again.

 

[le_sean]

They should have scheduled that game for late January. The way the weather is going currently, and has been for a couple of years, I’m seriously thinking this game will be postponed. Dec 16 is not late at all. In fact it’s technically not even winter.

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

The NHL needs to stop with all these outdoor games, they are painful to watch.

I don't mind having one a year on like New Years day, but having 3-4 every year is just pointless.

 

[MXD]

I refuse to attend this game, even if :
- I'm a fan of one of the teams
- It's about a 30-minute walk from where I live
- I can totally afford the tickets

 

[le_sean]

I refuse to attend this game, even if :
- I'm a fan of one of the teams
- It's about a 30-minute walk from where I live
- I can totally afford the tickets

Are you me?

 

[MXD]

Are you me?

LOL.

 

[LeHab]

They should have scheduled that game for late January. The way the weather is going currently, and has been for a couple of years, I’m seriously thinking this game will be postponed. Dec 16 is not late at all. In fact it’s technically not even winter.

Game is part of Canada 150 celebrations. Cant do it next year. Maybe January of last season. There is always strong attendance for habs vs sens in Ottawa. This will be a success no doubt.

 

[Runner77]

We're almost there ...

 

[montreal]

I totally forgot this was even happening. I thought the leafs had the outdoor game this year? Oh well I don't care for the gimmick, wouldn't pay 1 dollar to go.

 

[Tuggy]

Gonna be cold...

 

[Lshap]

I like watching outdoor games on TV, to see fans shivering and players' faces turning pink as they exhale clouds of CO2. It's one of the small ways I validate my own life-choices.

 

[Lshap]

Funny thing about Ottawa... a little sympathy has crept into my feelings about the Sens. They're having an even worse season than us, plus they're being picked on by emboldened Leafs fans and their ever-expanding egos.

 

[Le Tricolore]

When I saw that the Habs were playing in Ottawa on a Saturday I thought about getting tickets. I enjoy seeing the team play on the road. When I saw it was an outdoor game I quickly changed my mind.

The gimmick is silly. It looks kind of cool on TV but no interest whatsoever in going to see the game.

 

[sampollock]

those guys are going to get frost bite

 

[MXD]

To quote Jeremy Gabriel...

"I don't care".

 

[Habs]

zero interest. Will Ron be have a 30 minute pregame speech about the importance of hockey over time, the history of Montreal/Ottawa hockey and slow motion cut scenes with old footage? Puke.

 

[LeHab]

Game is not even sold out and tickets are selling below face value on stubhub. Ok tickets are more expensive than regular and capacity was increased but the "once in a lifetime" experience does not seem to sell so well. Weekend HNIC game, downtown Ottawa, Habs vs Sens...thought there would be more interest.

 

[Uncle Gary]

I totally forgot about this game. It is going to be dead there. Cold and two awful teams. I wouldn't go for free.

 

[lo striver]

zero interest. Will Ron be have a 30 minute pregame speech about the importance of hockey over time, the history of Montreal/Ottawa hockey and slow motion cut scenes with old footage? Puke.

and Don will be wearing one of those pimp fur coats and will go on and on about TML & Bobby Orr

 

[OldCraig71]

Could this game come at a worse time for both franchises? On a positive note, we might see Max Pacioretty hustle but just as a matter of survival. I wonder how many LBI's pop up before this match?

 

[David Suzuki]

I am here to log in and let you guys know: I don't care

see you next time

 

[Tak7]

The reason the league continues to hold these games, is because they are revenue drivers and do extremely well in the markets that they are held, even if the national interest begins to sway.

If you haven't been to one of these though, don't miss out - there's something very WINTER WONDERLANDY about outdoor games. I've been to 4 now, and i wouldn't trade those experiences in for anything.