Ian, I thought your piece on the attendance issue was by far the most objective and knowledgeable one so far. I find many fans don't want to touch on the uncomfortable aspects of the issue, and they definitely have to be considered to give a full picture.
The Official Ottawa Sports Radio Thread #5
- Thread starter DrunkUncleDenis
- Start date
- Status
Ian, I thought your piece on the attendance issue was by far the most objective and knowledgeable one so far. I find many fans don't want to touch on the uncomfortable aspects of the issue, and they definitely have to be considered to give a full picture.
Pierre from Orleans
Registered User
- May 9, 2007
- 26,276
- 17,604
We have as passionate a fanbase as others. The amount of passionate fans however is not as high as other Canadian cities.
coladin
Registered User
- Sep 18, 2009
- 11,813
- 4,500
It was a tired, stupid lazy article. Just feeds all the ******** fans who need more validation of being a lousy fan
coladin
Registered User
- Sep 18, 2009
- 11,813
- 4,500
I hear what you are saying, but I honestly don't agree . I think that there are the numbers here. Certainly adequate enough to support this team as it deserves. I guess we will see if the Sens win tonight.
Either way, the season ticket base HAS to be improved for next year. I know for a fact that people are singing up for next year. They are getting playoff tickets at the regular season rate to do so.
DrunkUncleDenis
Condra Fan
- Mar 27, 2012
- 11,820
- 1,682
It's a simple numbers game. Edmonton has around a million locals to draw from to support the Oilers. Imagine Red Deer was the size of Ottawa, and they put a team there? Good luck converting Calgary and Oilers fans.
All the other excuses of arena location etc. are fluff. It is excuses for fans, no matter how casual or hardcore, not to show up. But the main issue is the Ottawa has the smallest per-head fanbase of any canadian team, and it's not close. There are things to mitigate this, the largest being the new arena location to draw in more on-the-fence casuals. That will help a lot. People seem to not be "bothering with going" until the move happens, which sucks. Overall, it is a tremendously frustrating position to be in as a fan of the team. I was indeed embarrassed by the non-sellouts. I was at the 16.5k game vs NYR and it was major sadness.
The issue is tremendously complex. I guess this is the radio thread though. Looking forward to the wall-to-wall programming while I drive to Arnprior and back to pick up my canoe from being stored inside a barn. Sigh, apartment living.
Masked
(Super/star)
It isn't actually. Toronto, Montreal & Vancouver are all bigger markets. The Alberta cities have seen people generate enormous wealth due to their oil boom and tickets are 8% cheaper due to no PST. Winnipeg plays in an AHL sized arena.
The Alberta markets have never had playoff attendance issues at any point of their existence. The oil boom (which has worn off anyway- look at unemployment rates in Alberta) has very little to do with their attendance history.
The passion definitely isn't the same as here in Alberta, and I don't mean that in a negative way. The way Flames and Oilers fans follow their teams here is a little sad.
How about the Buffalo market?
Smaller population than Ottawa, much lower average income, two pro sports teams ( I assure you Bills tickets cost way more than Redblacks tickets), consistent playoff success but no hardware and yet they always sell-out.
Smaller population than Ottawa, much lower average income, two pro sports teams ( I assure you Bills tickets cost way more than Redblacks tickets), consistent playoff success but no hardware and yet they always sell-out.
Fandlauer
Registered User
I'm guessing there's a lot more corporate buys there.
I lived there for 3 years and there is a waiting list for season tickets and
yet could consistently get tickets for games a few rows off the glass for 50 bucks a pair.
I couldn't get that in Ottawa.
Pierre from Orleans
Registered User
- May 9, 2007
- 26,276
- 17,604
SensHulk
Registered User
Probably also lots of ppl making the trek from Hamilton and Niagara Falls. As I understood, there's quite a few Sabres fans in that region
danielpalfredsson
youtube dot com /watch?v=CdqMZ_s7Y6k
- Aug 14, 2013
- 16,575
- 9,269
Fandlauer
Registered User
The falls/ st Cat are about 50/50 Sabres and Leafs fans. Then you have Welland, buncha dirty Habs fans lol.
There's a reason Buffalo plays both anthems even when a Canadian team isn't playing.
DrunkUncleDenis
Condra Fan
- Mar 27, 2012
- 11,820
- 1,682
Hey guys, remember that this is the radio thread, and diving deeper into the attendance/fanbase rabbit hole isn't what this thread is for (albeit I'm guilty of it myself).
Masked
(Super/star)
The Alberta teams haven't had nearly as many playoff games as the Sens since the Sens joined the league.
And the unemployment rates in Alberta don't negate the fact that lots of people became wealthy during the boom. Tons of people flipping income properties made a killing.
Tuna99
Registered User
- Sep 26, 2009
- 14,892
- 6,944
just have to comment on the Melncyk article - feeling he has been 'singled out', 'bullied', 'don't blame me' - I just can't take another Billionaire who has caused his own problems and tries to reflect them on someone else. Mlencyk takes the abit every single time, he cannot resist, he's his own worse enemy, why fight someone who has an opinion, and who's opinion is correct - there are a lot of issues that go into attendance, but Melnyck is the #1 reason.
Boucher says everything starts at the top with leadership, and Melnyck just needs to listen to a man who is more sympathetic, more intelligent and more professional and a better leader then he is or ever will be.
Anyways, this is why people don't like Melnyck. He fights with everyone, he has a stupid billionaires opinion on everything, he's permanatly a victim of everything from the Mayor to MLS to Healtly to Crosby to Casisnos and unfair insider trading investigators.
Melncyk, you don't reflect the values of this city and Ottawa will never embrace you. Ever. Don't hide behind a Cup victory, even if we win the Cup in 2 weeks no one will like you. The Cup won't help you because you'll still be you, and when the Cup goes to a be at a greater cause you'll run to a microphone for an audience that doesn't want to hear from you.
And your price hike on parking, the #1 thing most hated about the CTC is just makes you look greedy and oppurtunistic - and because you don't see that, you'll never have the respect of the majority of the fanbase.
take responsibility for the state of your fanbase, don't blame someone for being mean to you, just suck it up and show some leadership.
Boucher says everything starts at the top with leadership, and Melnyck just needs to listen to a man who is more sympathetic, more intelligent and more professional and a better leader then he is or ever will be.
Anyways, this is why people don't like Melnyck. He fights with everyone, he has a stupid billionaires opinion on everything, he's permanatly a victim of everything from the Mayor to MLS to Healtly to Crosby to Casisnos and unfair insider trading investigators.
Melncyk, you don't reflect the values of this city and Ottawa will never embrace you. Ever. Don't hide behind a Cup victory, even if we win the Cup in 2 weeks no one will like you. The Cup won't help you because you'll still be you, and when the Cup goes to a be at a greater cause you'll run to a microphone for an audience that doesn't want to hear from you.
And your price hike on parking, the #1 thing most hated about the CTC is just makes you look greedy and oppurtunistic - and because you don't see that, you'll never have the respect of the majority of the fanbase.
take responsibility for the state of your fanbase, don't blame someone for being mean to you, just suck it up and show some leadership.
aragorn
Do The Right Thing
- Aug 8, 2004
- 28,570
- 9,083
and the firing of Cyril Leeder who was very well respected in this city & a great guy after all these yrs was seen as mean spirited & vengeful. 
Somehow you wrote out Melnyk's name 6 times, spelling it 3 different ways, and didn't get it right once.
Stylizer1
SENSimillanaire
Don't hate on the style yo.Somehow you wrote out Melnyk's name 6 times, spelling it 3 different ways, and didn't get it right once.
Nac Mac Feegle
wee & free
- Jun 10, 2011
- 34,884
- 9,305
Said it better than I ever could. Dealing with 'small market syndrome' for 25 years is draining enough....we don't need the local media piling more dirt on our backs. Don't they realize there's half a million hab/leaf fans hovering around just waiting to convert the tired Sens fans?
Actually, Buffalo and the Alberta teams, and even Vancouver have had attendance issues in their history. Just because you haven't seen it in the last 5 years doesn't mean it didn't happen.
When you factor in Southern Ontario and Rochester support, Buffalo's true support pull is probably significantly larger than Ottawa's...
Ian, I'd like to thank you and everyone at TSN 1200 for their outstanding work this season. I don't listen every day, but try to listen as much as I can, and you guys do a terrific job. I have to say you are my personal favourite on the station. You're as professional, knowledgeable, friendly and kind as they come. You also have a great sense of humour. Keep those Simpsons and Seinfeld references coming! I love them! I too have never had a sip of coffee, but I have seen Slapshot! You should watch it sometime. It's great! I bet you'd love it.
Thanks for coming in here to chat with all us assclowns
My very best to you good sir.
Thanks for coming in here to chat with all us assclowns
My very best to you good sir.
QUESTIONS THAT SHOULD BE ASKED BY TSN 1200 NOW THAT THE SEASON IS OVER:
1. After years of telling fans having an internal budget in place & telling fans "we will spend when the time is right", is Eugene Melnyk finally willing to do his part in making this contention window sustainable & for this team to be a cap team ?
2.A Will Pierre Dorion hire someone for the vacant Asst GM post voided by his promotion to the GM chair ? Is it financial reasons why he's yet to make a hire?
3. Pierre Dorion has mentioned numerous times they have "the smallest front office staffs in the league", will they have more financial flexibility to expand on their Front office staff
3.B. what's with not scouting any Russia players outside the CHL? Do they not see value in scouting Russians playing in the KHL. There have been some good signings recently by other NHL teams: Panarin & Zaitzev . Do the Senators give their scouts have the financial means to travel to Russia to scout the KHL ?
1. After years of telling fans having an internal budget in place & telling fans "we will spend when the time is right", is Eugene Melnyk finally willing to do his part in making this contention window sustainable & for this team to be a cap team ?
2.A Will Pierre Dorion hire someone for the vacant Asst GM post voided by his promotion to the GM chair ? Is it financial reasons why he's yet to make a hire?
3. Pierre Dorion has mentioned numerous times they have "the smallest front office staffs in the league", will they have more financial flexibility to expand on their Front office staff
3.B. what's with not scouting any Russia players outside the CHL? Do they not see value in scouting Russians playing in the KHL. There have been some good signings recently by other NHL teams: Panarin & Zaitzev . Do the Senators give their scouts have the financial means to travel to Russia to scout the KHL ?
- Status
