Yes, I spent many years as a Leaf fan. I have known the depths of despair. My life changed for the better when I came out of the closet and began cheering for the Sens.
- spatso

I congratulate you on your two significant life events.

remember when the devils had poor attendance due to location and how a new downtown location would solve all their problems?

yeah that worked. non existent fans just started poofing into existence and every game became a sellout! it was awesome.
- daeth

Yeah, downtown Newark is exactly the same as Downtown Ottawa, with Gatineau right across the Bridge(s)

I agree, and with proper ownership comes professional management. Leafs market the team heavily, despite success. The ACC is sold out, but there are probaly as many fans outside at ACC enjoying the game. Real Sports bar, restaurants and an exciting team, exactly what this blog was intended to resolve. There really is no comparison here between the two organizations. Perhaps Spatso and Dopes are jealous of the following:






Note most of these fans would gladly have paid the high price to get in, if the tickets would have been available to them.
- winsix

Failure actually does create a market bottom over time. Even limited success after years of losing can produce intrinsic value. Nobody disputes that the Leafs have a huge market base. Leaf fans are hungry for a prescriptive remedy to their repeated failings.

I have said many times the third period unravelling in game 7'was a definitive bottom. Even if the Leafs go through a sophomore jinx and miss the playoffs, it will cause the same emotional trauma as that Boston series.

The Leafs do have a large market of support. But, they are also the most disliked sports franchise in Canada. Win or lose, it does not matter. A large segment of hockey fans will be happy.

Yes, I spent many years as a Leaf fan. I have known the depths of despair. My life changed for the better when I came out of the closet and began cheering for the Sens.
- spatso

Its sports... maybe you are taking it too serious
I mean really? your life changed for the better

depths of despair ..jfc

This is a bunch of BS.

First of all the bottom line is Leafs have Loyal Fans - Across the country. Leaf games, regardless of the venue - could be Arizona, Florida, Detroit, Buffalo, Ottawa or San Jose - are better attended than any other in the League ---- PERIOD!

If the Leafs moved their arena to Kitchener, every game would sell out instantly as they currently do. Having a central location for a venue - is a pure bullsh!t excuse that you made up to hide the basic fact that Leafs fans are totally loyal and Sens fans are not.
- winsix

Yes, downtown toronto, with 33% of the population of Canada within an hours drive, is EXACTLY the same as the western fringe of Ottawa, with a population of 900K .................. two IDENTICAL marketplaces from which to draw from.............. and each franchise receives the SAME advertising rates for their commercials.







leaf fans know everything about supply and demand, and marketing ............. everything is exactly the same as toronto, right?

Failure actually does create a market bottom over time. Even limited success after years of losing can produce intrinsic value. Nobody disputes that the Leafs have a huge market base. Leaf fans are hungry for a prescriptive remedy to their repeated failings.

I have said many times the third period unravelling in game 7'was a definitive bottom. Even if the Leafs go through a sophomore jinx and miss the playoffs, it will cause the same emotional trauma as that Boston series.

The Leafs do have a large market of support. But, they are also the most disliked sports franchise in Canada. Win or lose, it does not matter. A large segment of hockey fans will be happy.
- spatso

Get your facts straight - the Leafs are by a wide margin the most popular team in Canada, followed by the Habs. And you can bring up the Boston series as many times as you wish, the result probably gave you a giant boner - this was due to the fact the Leafs have wiped their asses with the Sens EVERY SINGLE TIME THEY MET IN THE PLAYOFFS SINCE THE SENS JOINED IN 1992. And most of thost Leafs team were not nearly as talent laden as the current squad. So expect a great deal of pain moving forward. Not this year though, Sens are not play-off bound.

Yes, downtown toronto, with 33% of the population of Canada within an hours drive, is EXACTLY the same as the western fringe of Ottawa, with a population of 900K .................. two IDENTICAL marketplaces from which to draw from.............. and each franchise receives the SAME advertising rates for their commercials.







leaf fans know everything about supply and demand, and marketing ............. everything is exactly the same as toronto, right?
- D0PPELGANGER

The Small Market Team philosophy is a fabrication of the incompetent. Several years ago - Interbrew a successful beer company and the worst owner of the Jays franchise (in their brief history) claimed poor attendance was due to the fact that Toronto Blue Jays were a small market team. The truth was, they were cheap, did not spend money on the team (same as Melnyk) and they created a small market team out of a big market team. The current (competent) owners - have changed things around and the team sells quite well for a small market team.

I believe an NHL team in St John's Newfoundland or Saskatoon would sell out if run properly - your argument holds no water.

Its sports... maybe you are taking it too serious
I mean really? your life changed for the better

depths of despair ..jfc
- senstroll

Lots of scholarly work associating despair and crime with in the identification with sports teams (hooliganism). Not unlike Roman circus to get masses to focus on something other than their own situation.

Almost everyone in Eastern Ontario was either a Leaf fan (me) or Canadiens fan (my father in law). Over time there has been a change. Many of us have switched over. But there is a huge difference. Sens fans cheer for the Canadiens but never the Leafs. When Montreal comes to town they are fun events.

When the leaf come to town the games are not fun. Over time I just started to become embarrassed. Then I stopped wearing my Leaf sweater, I stopped going to games involving the Leafs and finally I switched my support.

The Leafs are the most unpopular sports franchise in Canada and that is just a reality.

Get your facts straight - the Leafs are by a wide margin the most popular team in Canada, followed by the Habs. And you can bring up the Boston series as many times as you wish, the result probably gave you a giant boner - this was due to the fact the Leafs have wiped their asses with the Sens EVERY SINGLE TIME THEY MET IN THE PLAYOFFS SINCE THE SENS JOINED IN 1992. And most of thost Leafs team were not nearly as talent laden as the current squad. So expect a great deal of pain moving forward. Not this year though, Sens are not play-off bound.
- winsix

Way too much anger. No reason for you to be so unhappy.

Get your facts straight - the Leafs are by a wide margin the most popular team in Canada, followed by the Habs. And you can bring up the Boston series as many times as you wish, the result probably gave you a giant boner - this was due to the fact the Leafs have wiped their asses with the Sens EVERY SINGLE TIME THEY MET IN THE PLAYOFFS SINCE THE SENS JOINED IN 1992. And most of thost Leafs team were not nearly as talent laden as the current squad. So expect a great deal of pain moving forward. Not this year though, Sens are not play-off bound.
- winsix

In terms of merchandise revenue, It typically goes

Leafs
Habs
Blue Jays
Oilers
Raptors
Roughriders
Canucks
Flames
Sens

Lots of scholarly work associating despair and crime with in the identification with sports teams (hooliganism). Not unlike Roman circus to get masses to focus on something other than their own situation.

Almost everyone in Eastern Ontario was either a Leaf fan (me) or Canadiens fan (my father in law). Over time there has been a change. Many of us have switched over. But there is a huge difference. Sens fans cheer for the Canadiens but never the Leafs. When Montreal comes to town they are fun events.

When the leaf come to town the games are not fun. Over time I just started to become embarrassed. Then I stopped wearing my Leaf sweater, I stopped going to games involving the Leafs and finally I switched my support.

The Leafs are the most unpopular sports franchise in Canada and that is just a reality.
- spatso

good. then don't jump on their bandwagon when they are still playing and sens are not.

Way too much anger. No reason for you to be so unhappy.
- spatso

On the contrary - Leafs fans have much to look forward to and most are giddy. Many bad contracts have been shipped out. The team is loaded with talent, the owners spend money and there is a logical basis for stanley cup contention in the short term. Now the team you are a fan of - Top two players on the team are free agents after this year and will be very difficult to re-sign, several really bad un-movable contracts. And dependence on an aging goalie. And the cherry on top is one of the worst owners in hockey. I wonder if Melnyk will try to ban Leaf fans from buying Sens tickets this year? It worked really well for him last time.

The Small Market Team philosophy is a fabrication of the incompetent. Several years ago - Interbrew a successful beer company and the worst owner of the Jays franchise (in their brief history) claimed poor attendance was due to the fact that Toronto Blue Jays were a small market team. The truth was, they were cheap, did not spend money on the team (same as Melnyk) and they created a small market team out of a big market team. The current (competent) owners - have changed things around and the team sells quite well for a small market team.

I believe an NHL team in St John's Newfoundland or Saskatoon would sell out if run properly - your argument holds no water.
- winsix

Obviously you don't know much about marketing and even less about sports management.

Ottawa (melnyk) is clearly following the pathway set out by the Oilers for getting a new stadium. People wonder how Ottawa was in the top ten of ticket sales dor years and years. Sometimes they were top five in sales. In the last couple of years there has been this precipitous drop off. Even Leaf and Canadiens games no longer attract plus 20,500. There is a purpose behind this calculated madness.

Why would people support the building of a new downtown stadium if they remained top 10 in attendance?

In terms of merchandise revenue, It typically goes

Leafs
Habs
Blue Jays
Oilers
Raptors
Roughriders
Canucks
Flames
Sens
- BINGO!

Thanks Bingo, Spatso seems to be talking out of his ass as usual.

Lots of scholarly work associating despair and crime with in the identification with sports teams (hooliganism). Not unlike Roman circus to get masses to focus on something other than their own situation.

Almost everyone in Eastern Ontario was either a Leaf fan (me) or Canadiens fan (my father in law). Over time there has been a change. Many of us have switched over. But there is a huge difference. Sens fans cheer for the Canadiens but never the Leafs. When Montreal comes to town they are fun events.

When the leaf come to town the games are not fun. Over time I just started to become embarrassed. Then I stopped wearing my Leaf sweater, I stopped going to games involving the Leafs and finally I switched my support.

The Leafs are the most unpopular sports franchise in Canada and that is just a reality.
- spatso

Maybe because turd like yourself continually bring up 1967 like the fans have any control over anything

Its tiresome.. and weak
I mean especially from Fans of teams that have never won

you talk like Fans have made the roster moves the past 50 years and are directly responsible for the failures

the fans who have stuck around are commendable.. the ones who jumped ship are embarrassing

Obviously you don't know much about marketing and even less about sports management.

Ottawa (melnyk) is clearly following the pathway set out by the Oilers for getting a new stadium. People wonder how Ottawa was in the top ten of ticket sales dor years and years. Sometimes they were top five in sales. In the last couple of years there has been this precipitous drop off. Even Leaf and Canadiens games no longer attract plus 20,500. There is a purpose behind this calculated madness.

Why would people support the building of a new downtown stadium if they remained top 10 in attendance?
- spatso

On the contrary - Leafs fans have much to look forward to and most are giddy. Many bad contracts have been shipped out. The team is loaded with talent, the owners spend money and there is a logical basis for stanley cup contention in the short term. Now the team you are a fan of - Top two players on the team are free agents after this year and will be very difficult to re-sign, several really bad un-movable contracts. And dependence on an aging goalie. And the cherry on top is one of the worst owners in hockey. I wonder if Melnyk will try to ban Leaf fans from buying Sens tickets this year? It worked really well for him last time.
- winsix

Yes we have seen giddy before.

And we have seen the collapses that follow.

No reason to believe this is any different.

Scoreboard will be interesting this year. It does matter.

Yeah, downtown Newark is exactly the same as Downtown Ottawa, with Gatineau right across the Bridge(s)
- D0PPELGANGER

Same situation. If they ever get another arena you'll see I am correct.

wow. spatso has really gonne off the deep end. again.


emotionally triggered and fragile.

Maybe because turd like yourself continually bring up 1967 like the fans have any control over anything

Its tiresome.. and weak
I mean especially from Fans of teams that have never won

you talk like Fans have made the roster moves the past 50 years and are directly responsible for the failures

the fans who have stuck around are commendable.. the ones who jumped ship are embarrassing
- senstroll

I understand it is hard to be Leaf fan living in Eastern Ontario. No doubt you have experienced some of the animosity. You probably wonder why Sens fans respond so well to the Canadiens but are so hostile to the Leafs. After a bunch of years I just got tired of all the Leaf lies and hype.

Too funny. After 50 people stopped counting the Leafs epic fails. Losers are what losers do and nobody does that in better style than the leafs.

I wonder if we will see mass suicides, if, as I expect, the Leafs tank like Columbus did a few years ago when their rookies had played so well the previous year.
- spatso

way too much anger. no reason to be so unhappy.

I understand it is hard to be Leaf fan living in Eastern Ontario. No doubt you have experienced some of the animosity. You probably wonder why Sens fans respond so well to the Canadiens but are so hostile to the Leafs. After a bunch of years I just got tired of all the Leaf lies and hype.
- spatso

and now you're under Melnyks lies and hype. way to get nowhere.

and now you're under Melnyks lies and hype. way to get nowhere.
- systemtool

sens are his methadone, leafs were his heroin

way too much anger. no reason to be so unhappy.
- systemtool

If you want I will help you organize your thoughts and compose some posts consistent with your own beliefs.

PS: how was Wonderland?

I understand it is hard to be Leaf fan living in Eastern Ontario. No doubt you have experienced some of the animosity. You probably wonder why Sens fans respond so well to the Canadiens but are so hostile to the Leafs. After a bunch of years I just got tired of all the Leaf lies and hype.
- spatso

Honestly I havent.

Especially this past year, Sens fans have admitted they are envious of the leafs situation.

There are actually not many Sens fans in my office, or they are very quiet about their fandom. Its easier to find fans of other teams