Leafs Off HNIC/CBC for first time since 1972 and ACC attendance

[hfman]

this franchise has been doing damage for a very long time, but especially in the past 12 years. Only now is it coming to fruition. We're in the initial stages of the aftermath which is only now surfacing.

Any fan who is 18 or younger hasn't seen anything in their lifetimes with the Leafs. Nothing, zero, zilch, nada. Nothing to cheer for their entire lives - which is precisely why kids of today aren't Leaf fans. This hockey club has lost over a decade of potential fans and this is the first season it's showed up. Now as we move into next year and the next, it gets progressively worse. As long as this team stays in the tank, the more long-term fans they lose: this is going to get a lot uglier than it is this season, just wait. This is the tip of the iceberg, and everyone knew it was going to begin, but no one knew exactly when. Well, we have our answer: 2015. Low ratings and messed up hockey coverage round the board combines for a major blow to this team's reputation. Public perception of the Toronto Maple Leafs has never ever been lower. It was already bad, but now it's... bad.

Be happy! It had to happen, and now it has. Fan confidence has shrunk, and many have left - and it's now only starting to affect ownership. Keep it comin. Enjoy the crapshow that's about to come

 

[Mojo19]

You're forgetting about that one playoff series with Boston. That was entertaining.
But you are right... aside from that, there is nothing to show for the past decade.


Big old goose egg.

Not even any progress to speak of.

 

[Leaf Lander]

I got the game here in ns on sportsnet

 

[VaughanBender72]

I'm fine with this, let's just give the spotlight to teams that deserve it.

 

[James Duthie]

Team's been a joke since 05-06 aside from the playoff shortened year. The Leafs might become the Jays of next season, sell out the home opener and after that a lot more empty seats.

 

[Leafidelity]

 

[mcleex]

This team is so bad they don't even deserve to be on LeafsTV. Send them to Treehouse

 

[King Mapes]

Leaf fans should be happy to hear that. Hit the owners where it hurts if you want a change

 

[Erdinger]

Leaf fans should be happy to hear that. Hit the owners where it hurts if you want a change

I am. It's been too long coming.

 

[Swarez]

Do the Lakers or Knicks get prime time coverage for national games south of the border? Of coarse not because most people don't want to watch losers. Same with the leafs, our family has season tickets and I've tuned out. The players have no effort, so why should I have effort to turn them on.

 

[ACC1224]

Leaf fans should be happy to hear that. Hit the owners where it hurts if you want a change

Scrap the losing and try to win now?

 

[sgupca]

This team is so bad they don't even deserve to be on LeafsTV. Send them to Treehouse

My little girl watches Treehouse. I'd rather not expose her to that.

 

[Clark4Ever]

It's bad enough we have to watch this horrible team. No point forcing other fanbases to.

LOL, pretty much.

 

[Mess]

It's almost like going back to the Harold Ballard Era to find the last time Leaf Fans showed their displeasure by not showing up and supporting the product at these levels with poor attendance figures and dropping TV ratings.

Looks like the message struck a corporate nerve as they declared a full tear down and patient proper draft rebuild for the first time since pal Hal roamed at Gardens.

 

[Northern Dancer]

Leaf fans should be happy to hear that. Hit the owners where it hurts if you want a change

Be careful what you wish for !!!!

 

[ACC1224]

It's almost like going back to the Harold Ballard Era to find the last time Leaf Fans showed their displeasure by not showing up and supporting the product at these levels with poor attendance figures and dropping TV ratings.

Looks like the message struck a corporate nerve as they declared a full tear down and patient proper draft rebuild for the first time since pal Hal roamed at Gardens.

The attendance figure was from last night, they made this declaration after the game?

 

[pheasant]

Maple Leafs' 13-year sellout streak ends Monday vs. Wild

link

The Maple Leafs announced an attendance of 18,366 at Air Canada Centre for Monday's contest, marking the first time in 13 years the franchise has failed to sell out a home game

This is sad news. I don't care how bright the draft pick is at the end of this tunnel, it is still a dark, dark ride. Can't believe how low things have gotten this season.

I have to admit, I am not surprised. I haven't been watching all the games at home, why would people pay to watch at the ACC? Still says something when this fan base leaves a seat un sold.

 

[Mess]

The attendance figure was from last night, they made this declaration after the game?

There have been reports of viewership and attendance dropping for a month or two already.

Moving the Leafs off of HNIC and last night's attendance figures are just the most recent events in a ever-growing list. Moving the Leafs off of CBC was due to more than 1 bad night or game and based on falling ratings over time.

MLSE "scorched earth" decree has preceded both of these recent events and likely influenced by these issues were discussing here.

 

[The Missing Piece]

link



This is sad news. I don't care how bright the draft pick is at the end of this tunnel, it is still a dark, dark ride. Can't believe how low things have gotten this season.

I have to admit, I am not surprised. I haven't been watching all the games at home, why would people pay to watch at the ACC? Still says something when this fan base leaves a seat un sold.

You say you're a lupul fan, he got his first point in like 18 games last night, maybe that's why no one is going.

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

There have been reports of viewership and attendance dropping for a month or two already.

Moving the Leafs off of HNIC and last night's attendance figures are just the most recent events in a ever-growing list. Moving the Leafs off of CBC was due to more than 1 bad night or game and based on falling ratings over time.

MLSE "scorched earth" decree has preceded both of these recent events and likely influenced by these issues were discussing here.

You can't have this both ways, they made their intention to rebuild before this, fans have consistently said they would support a full rebuild is what I'm constantly told.

I would be very careful before thinking this is in anyway good for a tank/rebuild approach because in the end that will be scrapped if no ones watching/cares.

 

[Mess]

You can't have this both ways, they made their intention to rebuild before this, fans have consistently said they would support a full rebuild is what I'm constantly told.

I would be very careful before thinking this is in anyway good for a tank/rebuild approach because in the end that will be scrapped if no ones watching/cares.

Taken off CBC HNIC since 1972 means that they didn't take the Leafs off of them during their struggles in the 1980's and 1990's so this is huge red flag for MLSE.

I think these poor ratings and attendance is Leaf Nation saying I'm not watching and supporting this. To MLSE they are recognizing that their slappy happy quick fix retooling has not been working based on the poor performance of the team and its low likeability factor.

They wanted to accelerate playoff games and have not only not gotten that but now the exact opposite of ratings dropping and attendance and ticket sales taking a hit where it was once a guarantee to sell out regardless of performance.

So I believe this has resulted in an organiztional thinking change of no more quick fixes and lets tear this down to the ground and rebuild it the right way and build a winner which will return playoff games and higher viewership in time again.

 

[theaub]

Taken off CBC HNIC since 1972 means that they didn't take the Leafs off of them during their struggles in the 1980's and 1990's so this is huge red flag for MLSE.

I think these poor ratings and attendance is Leaf Nation saying I'm not watching and supporting this. To MLSE they are recognizing that their slappy happy quick fix retooling has not been working based on the poor performance of the team and its low likeability factor.

They wanted to accelerate playoff games and have not only not gotten that but now the exact opposite of ratings dropping and attendance and ticket sales taking a hit where it was once a guarantee to sell out regardless of performance.

So I believe this has resulted in an organiztional thinking change of no more quick fixes and lets tear this down to the ground and rebuild it the right way and build a winner which will return playoff games and higher viewership in time again.

The fact that fans had no issues going to see flawed teams trying to make quick playoff runs and are now having issues when the team is trying to properly rebuild is probably a bad sign though isn't it?

 

[ACC1224]

There have been reports of viewership and attendance dropping for a month or two already.

Moving the Leafs off of HNIC and last night's attendance figures are just the most recent events in a ever-growing list. Moving the Leafs off of CBC was due to more than 1 bad night or game and based on falling ratings over time.

MLSE "scorched earth" decree has preceded both of these recent events and likely influenced by these issues were discussing here.

I see. I guess I get confused because I've yet to see this "scorched earth" decree.

 

[Jerkini]

Everyone seems to be happy that attendance is down. But I find it utterly concerning. This is the first time the team unofficially admits to properly "Rebuilding" and how do the fans thank them? By not showing up. Our only hope is that MLSE cares more about doing things properly than their bottom line. If not, this could be the shortest lived rebuild in the history of the league. We'd be right back to the mediocrity and failed expectations of the last ten years.

An empty arena is a scary thing my friends.

 

[ACC1224]

Everyone seems to be happy that attendance is down. But I find it utterly concerning. This is the first time the team unofficially admits to properly "Rebuilding" and how do the fans thank them? By not showing up. Our only hope is that MLSE cares more about doing things properly than their bottom line. If not, this could be the shortest lived rebuild in the history of the league. We'd be right back to the mediocrity and failed expectations of the last ten years.

An empty arena is a scary thing my friends.

This seems to be lost on so many. Definately a be careful what you wish for scenario.