News Article: Ottawa Senators Trying To Prevent Leafs Fans From Attending Games In Ottawa

[jomas]

How the hell are they going to fill their seats now?
Granted, I haven't been to many leafs vs sens games, but it's very easy to tell that they take up a incredibly large portion of the place.

 

[EDDIE20*]

How the hell are they going to fill their seats now?
Granted, I haven't been to many leafs vs sens games, but it's very easy to tell that they take up a incredibly large portion of the place.

Well, Alfie has to get off one way or another. He's even said that he loves being booed at home. Go figure.

 

[Ari91]

Just wondering how credible the Toronto Star usually is? I've asked over five STH if they got this email and they all said no they haven't. This was the first time I've actually heard of the email.

It's not like the Toronto media makes it a habit of talking about the Sens. The Sens don't sell in Toronto, the Leafs do. With a four game win streak, with an injured goalie and now the second best scorer on the team injured, there's a lot of material for the sports writers to work with rather than make up a story. However, I can't say that I consider the Star reputable enough to say that I'm completely convinced that the article is accurate.

Like I said, I don't think the writer made it up, but his article doesn't match up with what Sens STH are saying. Either he has an insider source that leaked this information before it was officially released to Sens STH (he said either the organization declined to comment or didn't get back to him when contacted - don't remember which one) OR he got some bad information from a source.

Considering that this isn't the first time the Sens organization has tried doing stuff like this, it's an easy story to believe as a reader and it's probably an easy story to believe if you'e the writer getting it from your source (though that doesn't justify a writer not following up with information to ensure that it's correct).

 

[EDDIE20*]

It's not like the Toronto media makes it a habit of talking about the Sens. The Sens don't sell in Toronto, the Leafs do. ).

This.

The Ottawa media is obsessed with Toronto. How can you explain the Team1200? Read the Toronto Sun and try to find a review of a Sens game. You won't.

I remeber seeing Garrioch and Brennan at D'Arcy McGee's last year. Guess what they were doing? Badmouthing the Leafs, even though Toronto was playing really well. The Ottawa media has nothing to write about it. It's little brother syndrome, plain and simple.

 

[93gilmour93]

I'll be at the game next Saturday in Ottawa and like always leafs nation will take over SBP. The hate for the leafs here is just hilarious. I was at the game against buffalo last night and the crowd chants leafs suck during a game Toronto isn't even a part of.

 

[MoeMoney]

LOL, they're going to need all the fans they can get to fill the empty seats soon enough. No Karlson, no Spezza, no playoffs. Can't stand everything there is to do with the Ottawa Senators.

 

[colchar]

Just wondering how credible the Toronto Star usually is? I've asked over five STH if they got this email and they all said no they haven't. This was the first time I've actually heard of the email.

They broke the story but other media outlets have picked it up (I included links to some in an earlier post in this thread). The story even made it onto CTV News tonight and they spoke to a Sens season ticket holder (who did nothing but whine about Leafs fans) so this isn't something The Toronto Star made up.

 

[colchar]

Read the Toronto Sun and try to find a review of a Sens game. You won't.

Actually The Sun does cover teams other than the Leafs - but they cover all Canadian teams and do not focus on the Sens.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

Melnyk is such a sad little man.

 

[MoeMoney]

Melnyk is such a sad little man.

He is, I can't stand that guy. Too bad he's from Mississauga, cause he can't compete with the Leafs and he knows it. LOL at him for thinking by owning the Sens he can come back to his home town and stick it to the Leafs. Sens will never ever no matter what happens, be ahead of the Leafs in anything except maybe points in the regular season.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

He is, I can't stand that guy. Too bad he's from Mississauga, cause he can't compete with the Leafs and he knows it. LOL at him for thinking by owning the Sens he can come back to his home town and stick it to the Leafs. Sens will never ever no matter what happens, be ahead of the Leafs in anything except maybe points in the regular season.

It was awesome seeing how crushed he was when the Leafs would destroy the Sens in the playoffs. He's obsessed with the Leafs.

 

[EDDIE20*]

He is, I can't stand that guy. Too bad he's from Mississauga, cause he can't compete with the Leafs and he knows it. LOL at him for thinking by owning the Sens he can come back to his home town and stick it to the Leafs. Sens will never ever no matter what happens, be ahead of the Leafs in anything except maybe points in the regular season.

I remember there was a rumour some time ago of him wanting to buy the team. Thank the Lord it never happened.

 

[Ari91]

Apparently Leafs vs Sens game in Ottawa get really rowdy between fans quite often and this plea is more in line to cut down on that and create a more family friendly environment. Honestly, that's understandable. If Leafs fans are going into the Sens barn and getting rowdy, I can see why they would want to take what measures they can to minimize the amount of Leafs fans in attendance. I know things can get rowdy but it seems like the rowdiness is a very constant fixture during these match ups. The interesting thing is that it seems ALL the blame is falling at the feet of Leafs fans. I have friends who have been to those games in Ottawa and were constantly harassed in two of the games they attended (even had beer thrown on them) because the Leafs were losing and Sens fans decided to rub it in. Mind you, it wasn't like a big group of Sens fans bullying them. He was in a group of 5 and it was only two Sens fans in the area that were hassling them. It's happened on two occasions (they've been there several times though) and if my friends had retaliated, surely both parties would have been escorted out of the building. Surely my friends couldn't have had the only experience in SBP where it was the Sens fans that were instigating rowdiness? And further, if things are escalating during those games between fans, it's likely because both sides are making the decision to engage in that kind of behaviour. Despite what Sens fans describe, I find it hard to believe that it's ALWAYS AND ONLY Leafs fans that are being rowdy and I find it hard to believe that Leafs fans are assaulting Sens fans and forcing Sens fans to act in self defense and then get kicked out as a result.

You can't control what others do, but you sure as hell can control what you do and how you react. Not like I haven't seen rowdy people at sporting events. People usually don't retaliate and if you do retaliate then your behaviour should be called into question just as much as the other guy.

So while I can understand wanting to address the issue, they should also serve a reminder to their own fanbase that they're just as much accountable for their own behaviour in the arena.

 

[EDDIE20*]

Well said.

I love the fact that our fanbase is blamed for causing trouble. A friend of mine was attending a game in their barn and had candy wrappers and such thrown at him, was heckled and so on. I'm not saying fans at the ACC don't act this way sometimes but I can't stand that hollier than thou attitude from the Sens office. They're as rowdy and misbehaved as anyone else.

 

[satyr9]

There is very little to be done about this and one would think the people who run the Sens would know that.

I can fully understand wanting to curtail drunken aggressive stuff at games between Leafs and Sens fans, but they can't honestly think they'll keep those guys out of the arena, nor can they honestly think it's a one-sided problem. They might keep a few Leafs fans out of the building, but it'll be the business guy on travel or the Leafs fan from an hour away that begs off by any extra hoops, not the 18-25 year-olds going on a road trip that includes getting wasted and making ***** of themselves.

With any kind of a rivalry (although personally I hesitate to use that word, but I guess it counts) you get extra emotion and with that comes the 5% stupid group that take it to a ridiculous level.

It takes two to do the drunken fool dance. If they want a less hostile environment during Leafs games, then try hiring some extra security and making some new rules about beer purchasing during the game. Would Sends fans be happy if the curtailed alcohol sales during Leafs games as an experiment? I bet that'd have a higher likelihood of success than anything to try and stop tickets getting into the hands of Leafs fans.

 

[colchar]

They broke the story but other media outlets have picked it up (I included links to some in an earlier post in this thread). The story even made it onto CTV News tonight and they spoke to a Sens season ticket holder (who did nothing but whine about Leafs fans) so this isn't something The Toronto Star made up.

Just to add to the above post.

For anyone still doubting whether this story is real (those who have said STH have told them they received no such letter), this article from the Toronto Sun (actually written by someone from the Ottawa Sun) contains an image of a letter sent out by the Sens in which they mention rivals having large numbers of fans at the games. If you click the link immediately above the image of the letter you will be taken to a page where the letter is readable.

http://www.torontosun.com/2013/02/13/keep-toronto-maple-leafs-fan-out-of-the-bank

 

[leburn98]

Well said.

I love the fact that our fanbase is blamed for causing trouble. A friend of mine was attending a game in their barn and had candy wrappers and such thrown at him, was heckled and so on. I'm not saying fans at the ACC don't act this way sometimes but I can't stand that hollier than thou attitude from the Sens office. They're as rowdy and misbehaved as anyone else.

You don't even need to be a fan of the other team, Sens fans fight themselves. I was at the Columbus game last season (in October I think, it was the one where the Sens score back to back goals in the final minute of the 3rd period to win 4-3) and a Sens fan was confronting another Sens fan and his girlfriend. I can't remember what the whole thing was about other than a bunch of shoving was going on and the couple was yelling at the other guy calling him immature. The couple left shortly after in the 2nd period.

Point is, while yes a Habs/Leafs vs Sens game may be more rowdy (and rightfully so), Sens fans are not as innocent as they try to make themselves out to be.

Also, what I find hilarious is that the management supposively wants to curb this stuff, yet they embrace it by the constant Leaf bashing on the big screen, both during Leaf games and even when not playing them.

 

[Ryancoke13]

Did this loser team not go threw bankruptcy a while back. I vaguely remember seeing on sports centre that the Senators organization didn't have enough money to pay their bills and players.

Rogers and Bell should buy the Sens, and fold em like a bad poker hand

 

[EDDIE20*]

You don't even need to be a fan of the other team, Sens fans fight themselves. I was at the Columbus game last season (in October I think, it was the one where the Sens score back to back goals in the final minute of the 3rd period to win 4-3) and a Sens fan was confronting another Sens fan and his girlfriend. I can't remember what the whole thing was about other than a bunch of shoving was going on and the couple was yelling at the other guy calling him immature. The couple left shortly after in the 2nd period.

Point is, while yes a Habs/Leafs vs Sens game may be more rowdy (and rightfully so), Sens fans are not as innocent as they try to make themselves out to be.

Also, what I find hilarious is that the management supposively wants to curb this stuff, yet they embrace it by the constant Leaf bashing on the big screen, both during Leaf games and even when not playing them.

I've got a good one for you.

A buddy of mine is in the construction business for a very big company. He gets courted by other businesses and taken to sporting events and high end restaurants all the time.

He was brought to a Sens game at SBP in about 2008 or so and witnessed this:

There was a Sens fan who had rinkside tickets right at the boards. This guy was incredibly negative and obnoxious, screaming at the Sens at the top of his lungs all night. Well, someone from a few rows up yells out "Hey, why don't you shut the **** up?". Well, pissed-off Sens fan turns around, spots the guy and yells back "When you can afford the seats I have, you'll be allowed to scream all you want". He just tore into the guy. It was so bad that security came in and escorted him out of the building.

 

[Penalty Kill Icing*]

The battle is on *****es!! Grabbed this off official TML twitter feed

 

[EDDIE20*]

The battle is on *****es!! Grabbed this off official TML twitter feed

That's gold!

 

[garce]

Live around a hour from Scotiabank have had a rule about Sens games, I don't go unless it's free. Since this nonsense came out a relative has organized a March 30 trip for the game 16 signed up in less than 24 hrs and growing, tickets bought all sporting blue and white. Gonna be fun!

 

[Pilky01]

My brother is a Sens fan who bought four tickets to the March 30 game.

He is bringing three Leaf fans with him.

 

[nazembiggs*]

Scotia bank place is our house. The sens leaf games at the bank actually show our true fan base and not those suits you see at the acc

 

[green lantern]

Scotia bank place is our house. The sens leaf games at the bank actually show our true fan base and not those suits you see at the acc

Bingo. Anyone who uses the 'suits' at the ACC as a representation of leafs nation need only see the amount of support at leafs road games in any city within 1000 km including Montreal, Ottawa, Buffalo Long Island, Jersey, or Detroit.

And yes I've been to leaf games in Ottawa and Buffalo and it's a world of difference; Sabres nation doesn't feel threatened by leaf fans, they get motivated to 'step up their game', sens nation whines and comes up with ludicrous ways that will undoubtedly result in more empty seats.


The sad thing is that 24 hours ago I hated the senators less than any point since the leafs joined the east. I like the current team quite a bit, Karlsson and Turris are 2 of my favourite players, the only player I dislike is Alfie and even that is based on things he did 9-10 years ago, I do like Paul Maclean and find him both classy and astute.

But yet here comes inferiority complex over a team which hasn't made the playoffs since Joe Niewendyk and Ron Francis were in the NHL. I'd miss the rivalry if they leave but if that ever happens I wouldn't shed one tear for Eugene who brought it on himself.

And yes I'd be surprised if this even works. I see it doing two things; either causing more seats to be empty or motivating leaf fans to make the effort to make it in even more.