For the record, regarding attendance, the Ottawa 67’s averaged 6381 fans per game the year prior to moving to Kanata for two seasons. Then, when in Kanata, they averaged 5613 and 4305 each of the two season there. When they returned to Lansdowne, they proceeded to average 3500-3700 for each of the first four seasons. The strong performance seasons saw attendance rise to an average of 4400 in each of those two season.
So, even the poor attendance season for the 2nd year in Kanata was relatively equal to the attendance at TD Place for the two League Leading seasons in ‘19 and ‘20.
I haven’t looked at this season but I imagine it is probably back down to the low to mid 3000’s.
Also, the two seasons they were in Kanata, they were above the league average. The first four seasons at TD Place they hovered around 85% of the league average attendance so about 15% less than the average.
If the 67’s were to bring back the Friday night games as their primary home night (20-22 of 34 dates), they’d do much better attendance wise. I think that is evident when you look at the attendance figures for the 10 or so games they do play per year on Friday nights. Unfortunately, it conflicts with the other outlets so there will always be a struggle.
I believe if the 67’s were to move to Kanata in a new multiple pad facility that included a 6000 seat rink with some private boxes, they’d do very well. With the overall quality of the organization and their ability to maintain some consistent form of competitiveness, they’d see a lot more success financially than they do now...at least from a revenue generation standpoint.
The one thing that I am not privy to is their expense side of the ledger. The one advantage the 67’s may have with OSEG is the shared resources running the other sports teams. I’m also unsure what arrangement they have with respect to the cost of the facility. If the 67’s don’t need to pay for “rent” then the overall financial side may be better than most other teams with similar attendance.
The reality is the OSEG development has hurt the 67’s immeasurably from an attendance perspective. Had they kept Lansdowne Park the same, they’d probably still be averaging over 5000 fans per game. The facility would be decrepit and run down and the space would remain an eye sore BUT the 67’s would have made out ok.