WJC: Attendance

[jeangauthier]

It is Canada vs USA! It would sell out in every other hockey city in the country. Even at those prices.

Shameful.

This seems to bother very much..............I`m from Montreal it it does`t shame me one bit.........inflated prices and expensive food and beer and inflated parking prices with infrastructure road issues............I`ll be at home in front of my fireplace in comfort drinking single malt with many friends and family eating wings and things............ and no drinking and driving.............and how are things working out in your part of the country............

 

[Canadian Finn]

sorry, maybe I misunderstand, you know, that language barrier thing.

Montreal folks now want "free" tickets to go to the game?

 

[Made Dan]

they do on the ticket exchanges. for Montreal they wouldn't let people sell for less than what they thought the ticket was worth (minimum $180 for lower bowl Canada games) and flipped it for Toronto where you couldn't price over a certain amount.

smart sellers posted on stubhub.

Didn't know that. Pretty absurd. Used stubhub for all my tickets, made one Canadian a very happy man by buying 4 tickets for tonight early, not gauging the market.

If the Can vs USA match up has empty seats.

That'd be pretty ****ed.

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

sorry, maybe I misunderstand, you know, that language barrier thing.

Montreal folks now want "free" tickets to go to the game?

.
Versus

Slovakia
Germany
Finland

How do you think the lower bowl was filled?

You actually think people bought tickets to these games

I've been to nearly every game and haven't paid a single cent for any Canada games haha.

 

[jeangauthier]

5 hours before puck drop.

Hundreds of empty seats in the lower bowl remain.

No ''free'' tickets tonight to anyone.

They want to sell them at those prices.

Hopefully remains empty so they learn a lesson.

This coming to Montreal is the best thing to happen to this tournament, this **** doesn't work, it's Junior Hockey, this is not the Olympics.

nor they medal Medal games......

 

[Your old Jofa helmet]

It looks like Montreal is the only city in Canada that understands what this tournament is... And it's just kids playing, it is not a big deal and it should not be, no matter how hard TSN tries to hype it

 

[Zephyr666]

sorry, maybe I misunderstand, you know, that language barrier thing.

Montreal folks now want "free" tickets to go to the game?

For Canada's games, IIHF and hockey canada staff gave multiple tickets to volunteers helping them in some tasks during the day.... to fill up the lower bowl.

They messed up with their pricing.

 

[Smif]

For a country where hockey has been called part of their 'culture', attendance has been very poor. Maybe it is over saturation of hosting the thing every two years. Which is a bit much for my liking anyhow.

I'm sure the TV ratings are still excellent, it's all about ticket prices.

My wife looked into getting me tickets for Christmas, she was going to get me one ticket for the quarterfinal game which would've been $250. ONE ticket. I'd be happy to watch the game in front of a 50" screen with some buddies and much cheaper beer and a heavier wallet then pay that kind of price any day.

 

[Canadian Finn]

.
Versus

Slovakia
Germany
Finland

How do you think the lower bowl was filled?

You actually think people bought tickets to these games

I've been to nearly every game and haven't paid a single cent for any Canada games haha.

ok, if I understand you correctly, the games you mentioned above, free tickets were given out?

If so, why were there still empty seats? I've read every excuse by Montreal folks as to why they can't go....too expensive tickets....too expensive parking....bad infrastructure....garbage hockey....not enough future Habs on the team....crap, we can go on and on...

but you say above that they gave out free tickets to the lower bowl....and yet, it was still virtually empty.

so if I understand correctly, even for free, you can't fill an arena for WJC's?

 

[hototogisu]

I don't see why they couldn't...he was a lock to make the team. IMO its no different than say, the Rogers Cup tennis tournament advertising that all the top guys will be there when its a general certainty that at least one of them will drop out with an injury (or "injury").

The difference is most likely that those tennis players have signed contracts with the Rogers Cup (with outclauses in case of injury) when junior players don't with Team Canada, probably because they're selected to the team (as opposed to electing to play themselves like a tennis player in a tennis tournament).

If it were done the way you suggest, Hockey Canada could advertise Nathan MacKinnon as participating in the tournament (since he's technically eligible) and claim no responsibility when he (obviously) doesn't get released by the Avs. I'm not sure anyone wants to start down that path.

But anyway I don't work for Hockey Canada so I don't know for sure. I just know that they don't advertise that way, and since I think they probably would if they could, I'm assuming that's the logical (and legal) reason behind it.

 

[hototogisu]

ok, if I understand you correctly, the games you mentioned above, free tickets were given out?

If so, why were there still empty seats? I've read every excuse by Montreal folks as to why they can't go....too expensive tickets....too expensive parking....bad infrastructure....garbage hockey....not enough future Habs on the team....crap, we can go on and on...

but you say above that they gave out free tickets to the lower bowl....and yet, it was still virtually empty.

so if I understand correctly, even for free, you can't fill an arena for WJC's?

I'm not sure if you're on a mission to get Montrealers to cry uncle and admit to you that we're bad hockey fans and the rest of Canada is awesome or whatever, but you've gotten that too.

Nobody's really making "excuses" for Montreal, there's been lots of good suggestions and discussion as to why the tournament isn't a home run success here compared to other places in Canada. What more are you looking for?

 

[Bjindaho]

For a country where hockey has been called part of their 'culture', attendance has been very poor. Maybe it is over saturation of hosting the thing every two years. Which is a bit much for my liking anyhow.

They picked the worst cities in Canada for the tournament for one. Montreal is a Canadiens city and Toronto is a Leafs city (there is no other hockey that matters in either).

Also, the tickets available range from 178-343 for today's US-CAN game. Tickets for Germany-Finland are 43 (nosebleeds)-143.

To put the prices in perspective, Montreal plays at home to Tampa next week with prices ranging from 27-275 for an NHL game.

 

[Canadian Finn]

I'm not sure if you're on a mission to get Montrealers to cry uncle and admit to you that we're bad hockey fans and the rest of Canada is awesome or whatever, but you've gotten that too.?

Don't think you need cry uncle.

I'm quite sure the examples (or suggestions as you have called them) are clear enough to show the support Montreal has towards junior hockey in Canada.

But when I hear the complaining from locals about how they can't go...for all the reasons listed (and more), then find out they are giving tickets away, it's clear including Montreal in the WJC's was a big mistake.

You can blame it all on pricing, but again, just reading this thread shows it isn't just pricing.

 

[Nothingman*]

Canada is the only Country that can host with success, besides the boarder cities.

Look how many fans were at the Ufa tourney.

Ummm.....OK. 1/4 or less filled arenas is a success. Alrightily then.

I am guessing Finland, Sweden, Russia, Denmark, Germany could also hold successful tournaments.

They picked the worst cities in Canada for the tournament for one. Montreal is a Canadiens city and Toronto is a Leafs city (there is no other hockey that matters in either).

Also, the tickets available range from 178-343 for today's US-CAN game. Tickets for Germany-Finland are 43 (nosebleeds)-143.

To put the prices in perspective, Montreal plays at home to Tampa next week with prices ranging from 27-275 for an NHL game.

I agree with this statement above 100%.

 

[hototogisu]

Don't think you need cry uncle.

I'm quite sure the examples (or suggestions as you have called them) are clear enough to show the support Montreal has towards junior hockey in Canada.

But when I hear the complaining from locals about how they can't go...for all the reasons listed (and more), then find out they are giving tickets away, it's clear including Montreal in the WJC's was a big mistake.

You can blame it all on pricing, but again, just reading this thread shows it isn't just pricing.

There aren't many people arguing that it wasn't a mistake though which is why I was a little mystified to see you still beating the drum.

 

[Canuckistani]

They picked the worst cities in Canada for the tournament for one. Montreal is a Canadiens city and Toronto is a Leafs city (there is no other hockey that matters in either).

Also, the tickets available range from 178-343 for today's US-CAN game. Tickets for Germany-Finland are 43 (nosebleeds)-143.

To put the prices in perspective, Montreal plays at home to Tampa next week with prices ranging from 27-275 for an NHL game.

The ticket prices are what ultimately killed the attendance in Montreal. Expecting people to pay those prices for junior games is ridiculous.

That said, Montreal sold out both its 2004 World Cup games (21,273) vs USA and Slovakia, as well as both 1996 World Cup final games. So they'll pay for best-on-best.

On the junior front, Montreal hosted a few games in 1978. Attendance vs USA? 1,200! Czechs? 2,500! Swedes? 2,200! Not a junior hockey town, clearly.

Toronto also draws well for World/Canada Cup games, but has only hosted one WJC game, in 1986 vs Finland. Maple Leaf Gardens was only half full: 8,581.

 

[hototogisu]

On the junior front, Montreal hosted a few games in 1978. Attendance vs USA? 1,200! Czechs? 2,500! Swedes? 2,200! Not a junior hockey town, clearly.

Well let's be fair, comparing the general interest level in junior hockey in 1978 and 2014 is apples and oranges.

 

[c3z4r]

Don't think you need cry uncle.

I'm quite sure the examples (or suggestions as you have called them) are clear enough to show the support Montreal has towards junior hockey in Canada.

But when I hear the complaining from locals about how they can't go...for all the reasons listed (and more), then find out they are giving tickets away, it's clear including Montreal in the WJC's was a big mistake.

You can blame it all on pricing, but again, just reading this thread shows it isn't just pricing.

Look man, I don't know what you're on about, but there's definitely support in Montreal for junior hockey. Let me give you my own personal example.

Me and 4 of my buddies wanted to catch a couple of junior hockey games, so we went hunting for tickets but lo and behold nothing under $50 was available at the time (Early-Mid November), so we made plans to go to NY and spend the holidays here (26 december - 2 january). By the time Hockey Canada changed their minds and started having giveaways and selling tickets for cheap we had already paid everything for our trip to NY, so obviously it was impossible for us to go watch junior games. I suspect this has been the case with many Montrealers that have already made Christmas and New Years day plans at least a month in advance.

You cna't fault me for not going when it would have cost me $50 for a 400 level ticket

 

[Canuckistani]

Well let's be fair, comparing the general interest level in junior hockey in 1978 and 2014 is apples and oranges.

Tue, but four years later Winnipeg drew 11,000 to see Canada-USSR.

The same matchup in 1978 in Quebec City drew 6,700.

I say give the WJC to junior hockey locales - places that supported these players as they grew.

Red Deer in 1995 (with a game in Edmonton and Calgary), Saskatoon 1991, Winnipeg 1999, Halifax 2003 were great for that reason.

That's not to say NHL cities can't do it right (2006 Vancouver, 2009 Ottawa, 2012 Edmonton/Calgary), but the junior cities deserve it more

 

[RandR]

Don't think you need cry uncle.

I'm quite sure the examples (or suggestions as you have called them) are clear enough to show the support Montreal has towards junior hockey in Canada.

But when I hear the complaining from locals about how they can't go...for all the reasons listed (and more), then find out they are giving tickets away, it's clear including Montreal in the WJC's was a big mistake.

You can blame it all on pricing, but again, just reading this thread shows it isn't just pricing.

No it "isn't just pricing" but it is mostly about pricing. You only have to read through the first-person stories on every page of this thread from fans such as myself who thought of going to 1 or more games and got turned off by the exorbitant prices of tickets.

And those free tickets aren't available to just anyone ...

For Canada's games, IIHF and hockey canada staff gave multiple tickets to volunteers helping them in some tasks during the day .... to fill up the lower bowl.

They messed up with their pricing.

nor is it likely widely known that such a thing is going on.

So you cannot expect fans turned off by these exorbitant prices to simply show up at the front door of the Bell Centre and expect to get in for free (or even at reasonable prices).

 

[jeangauthier]

There aren't many people arguing that it wasn't a mistake though which is why I was a little mystified to see you still beating the drum.

He needs a paper bag to breath into...........

 

[Rob]

I'm not sure if you're on a mission to get Montrealers to cry uncle and admit to you that we're bad hockey fans and the rest of Canada is awesome or whatever, but you've gotten that too.

Nobody's really making "excuses" for Montreal, there's been lots of good suggestions and discussion as to why the tournament isn't a home run success here compared to other places in Canada. What more are you looking for?

There have been plenty of Montreal fans here who have been belittling the tournament as being beneath them.

I think it is fair that you cannot honestly refer to Montreal as a hockey Mecca anymore.

 

[Tyler Biggs*]

18,000 total empty seats at the first three Canada games in Montreal. Great support by French-Canada. More people in the stands in Toronto for a Sweden-Denmark game at the ACC. Pathetic, just pathetic. Good thing Semis and Finals are in a real Canadian province.

 

[FuriousSenator]

There have been plenty of Montreal fans here who have been belittling the tournament as being beneath them.

I think it is fair that you cannot honestly refer to Montreal as a hockey Mecca anymore.

It's not a big deal. This isn't a big sports tournament globally; heck it's not even a big hockey tournament globally.

The only country that even cares about the medal count in this thing is Canada. If you're going to pay to watch Canada destroy Slovakia you're basically paying hundreds of dollars to participate in a gigantic national circlej**k. I don't blame people for seeing the reality of it and watching on TV if at all.

Am I wrong here?

 

[Harry22]

If the Can vs USA match up has empty seats.

Oh what will you do? Come to HF and whine about Montreal?

Newsflash: we don't care.

We're not paying 200-300$ to see junior kids play.

Heck I payed 25$ to see the Canada vs Switzerland pre-tournament game and felt I didn't get my money's worth.