Maple Leafs and Marlies I think tend to steal the spotlight
Marlies not so much, though anyone that goes to the Marlies isn't driving to Mississauga for a game, the traffic is one thing and not many people follow both leagues. The arena is a you know what to get to for many people living in Mississauga, especially if they work in Toronto proper and are taking the highways home. I've easily had that commute take well over a hour and a half and often just drove straight to the rink, imagine a family and picking up the kids. Who needs that stress and it is stressfull.
Two other things, the O may be a big deal in most of it's markets but hardly makes a dent in the GTA. Think about how many sports stations there are and they have no time or oxygen for the Argos, let alone the O. Even their MLS soccer team which draws well aren't in for general discussion. At least they are professional, not as big as the NFL and European soccer, but silence here. A major Jr A hockey team based in the suburbs ain't drawing a lick of attention in a area that has 3 major league sports franchises.
When I click on CTV news for various cities or even global I find OHL updates, what not. You never see that with the Toronto affiliates, and there isn't a separate entity for Mississauga, we do not have a major daily paper, our AM station is new and destined to be fringe only, swamped by all the media in Toronto itself. The Steelheads only get noticed if you are actually looking for them.
The team should actually have a hard core base and should do well enough but having a franchise flip and a lousy rink location (pain in the neck to get to for most people and NOTHING around it after over 20 years) sure as hell have made a uphill road even tougher. If the rink was part of a build up to Square One Mall they would have had constant exposure and reasonable public transit hub as well. The PFFC, or formerly hershey centre is out off the HWY 403, which BTW has no direct exit to the rink, but you can see it.
