Niagara IceDogs 2022-23 Off-Season Thread

[ohloutsider]

Normal tourist activity will not be blocked for a one off event. The cost of attending could get prohibitive though.

This is untrue. Hotels love 8 days of booked rooms the end of May. Caesars Windsor blocked 400 Hotel rooms for 8 nights. They ended up selling more. All of this stuff is prearranged by the committee. Hotels will jump at the change. Guaranteed bookings one year out is far more lucrative than hoping a tourist might show up. Convention's do this all the time .

 

[dirty12]

This is untrue. Hotels love 8 days of booked rooms the end of May. Caesars Windsor blocked 400 Hotel rooms for 8 nights. They ended up selling more. All of this stuff is prearranged by the committee. Hotels will jump at the change. Guaranteed bookings one year out is far more lucrative than hoping a tourist might show up. Convention's do this all the time .

Conventions are not a one off thing. The memorial cup for Kingston would be.

 

[ohloutsider]

Conventions are not a one off thing. The memorial cup for Kingston would be.

Sorry but I work in the hotel business. Convention's are quite often 1 off things. Also why is it Kingston hotels won't jump on this guaranteed bookings but hotels in the other 3 cities will? Accommodations is part of the presentation. This will already be in place before each team presents their bid. I was involved in the one in Windsor. I know how this works.

 

[Drop the Puck]

Kingston hosted a successful 2020 Tim Hortons Brier. Would that be considered a one off?

In fact, as I recall, St. Catharines was also bidding for the 2020 Brier and lost that bid.

 

[OMG67]

Conventions are not a one off thing. The memorial cup for Kingston would be.

Generally speaking, the only ones booking somewhat last minute are the fans of the teams that win their league championships. Each of those teams get 200 tickets and usually release around 60-100 of their tickets to fans for purchase. So, maybe 100 “last minute” rooms.

Kingston will have around 5700 seats. 4700 for sales. They will likely sell around 4000 or so to locals with about 700 to the people that attend most every year or people speculating on their team winning and they want to have tickets in hand if/when they do.

Access to hotel rooms for those coming in last minute isn’t a big deal. There are dozens of motels on Princess st. all relatively cheap. So even if the prime downtown hotels are fully booked a week before the event, there are loads of other less desirable options but options nonetheless. This doesn’t include Gananoque which would be a great spot to stay if you are more interested in tourist activities during the day.

There are also a multitude of campgrounds and cottage rentals in the area. Loads of lakefront cottages for families within 30 minutes of downtown.

Affordability should not even be in the discussion. If you have $700 to drop on a Memorial Cup ticket package then you have the coin to drop on whatever the other costs are. I have zero sympathy for those spending $100 per game on a junior hockey ticket that complains about $150-$300 per night for a hotel (depending on the class of the hotel). That pricing is in line with most tourist type towns including Niagara Falls where most hotels during this years Memorial Cup schedule fall on line with the $200-$250 per room price tag per night.

 

[ottsabrefan]

All four teams bidding face challenges.
Kingston is not a great OHL market. I was there at the time the Frontenacs added Vilardi, Day, Pu, Jones. The people were mostly unaware or indifferent, and attendance January to end of season under 3800 was the norm.
Yet there was not even standing room for the Queens-RMC game.
I think it will take ~1000 corporate and OHL seats to sell out Frontenac games. To get over 5000 sold tickets for the other games will require a lot of effort imo.

Kingston is a good OHL market. They just have been jerked around by bad ownership for decades. The Fronts sold out the playoff games I was at that year (1st and 2nd round), and the place was rocking. I’m sure they easily sell out Mem Cup games. They wouldn’t have had a team since the early 70s (without losing it once), without being a good OHL town.

 

[dirty12]

Sorry but I work in the hotel business. Convention's are quite often 1 off things. Also why is it Kingston hotels won't jump on this guaranteed bookings but hotels in the other 3 cities will? Accommodations is part of the presentation. This will already be in place before each team presents their bid. I was involved in the one in Windsor. I know how this works.

Hotels will indeed book rooms in advance, at a higher price, and be very happy to do so.
I’ve spent time in Kingston. Rooms (were) effectively booked even off-peak. The number of rooms available will surely increase if the price is right. $200/night for 1 1/2 baths per 4-5 rooms no where near the arena good for you? There is no sharing rooms in that scenario, it’s $200/bed in not ideal conditions imo. How about mystery time musical cars because there is no valet service?
I have no doubt Kingston can be a fine host. But there will definitely be difficult obstacles. The difference between Niagara and places you might think have 1000’s of just in case rooms is millions of people can drive to Niagara in 45-90 minutes then home.

 

[ohloutsider]

Hotels will indeed book rooms in advance, at a higher price, and be very happy to do so.
I’ve spent time in Kingston. Rooms (were) effectively booked even off-peak. The number of rooms available will surely increase if the price is right. $200/night for 1 1/2 baths per 4-5 rooms no where near the arena good for you? There is no sharing rooms in that scenario, it’s $200/bed in not ideal conditions imo. How about mystery time musical cars because there is no valet service?
I have no doubt Kingston can be a fine host. But there will definitely be difficult obstacles. The difference between Niagara and places you might think have 1000’s of just in case rooms is millions of people can drive to Niagara in 45-90 minutes then home.

Again you are making stuff up. Hotels will negotiate prices for large bookings. The price you pay as a tourist is usually more than what large events book for. A bird in hand is far better than 2 in the bush , hense deals are worked for these types of bookings.

To be honest this probably is not the thread for this discussion so I will let it go. I would prefer trades and trade deadline stuff be the focus for the next couple of weeks. Sorry ID fans.

 

[dirty12]

Again you are making stuff up. Hotels will negotiate prices for large bookings. The price you pay as a tourist is usually more than what large events book for. A bird in hand is far better than 2 in the bush , hense deals are worked for these types of bookings.

To be honest this probably is not the thread for this discussion so I will let it go. I would prefer trades and trade deadline stuff be the focus for the next couple of weeks. Sorry ID fans.

I’m not making this stuff up I’ve spent considerable time in Kingston, albeit a few years ago. Advanced mass bookings for rooms at a premium leaves less than ideal accommodations for those that frequent Kingston for long standing events that will not be shelved for one year because the city could possibly host a memorial cup. And advanced bookings holds true for all events; there were some checking out last May already booked this coming May.
Niagara/St.Cathrines being near enough to larger cities than itself that the population can make day trips is a big deal.

 

[three dog night]

Icedogs blew a three goal lead and lose in overtime to Erie 4 to 3 before a season best crowd of the season 5,247 fans tge Dogs now one and five in extra time and one win five losses two extra time losses under the new coach. Next game tomorrow night in Erie.

 

[I Loveallsports]

Icedogs blew a three goal lead and lose in overtime to Erie 4 to 3 before a season best crowd of the season 5,247 fans tge Dogs now one and five in extra time and one win five losses two extra time losses under the new coach. Next game tomorrow night in Erie.

Always a good crowd. How do they do it.

 

[Drop the Puck]

Always a good crowd. How do they do it.

Ownership takes great pride in assembling an amazingly talented hockey team each and every year.
Furthermore, St. Catharines residence are simply too lazy to drive 15’ down the Q to Niagara Falls for said entertainment.

 

[LDN]

Fimis to Erie! Any other players on the move?

 

[Wolfman Jack]

Fimis to Erie! Any other players on the move?

Wow that’s a team that’s applying to have the Memorial Cup! Weird deal.

WJ

 

[three dog night]

After a big win n Erie marred by Lavoie head check hit the Dogs then traded Finis to Erie for picks. TRADE: Pano Fimis Traded to Erie Otters for Draft Picks – Niagara IceDogs

 

[bobber]

Wow that’s a team that’s applying to have the Memorial Cup! Weird deal.

WJ

Maybe he wanted to be moved. This is when it happens.

 

[Drop the Puck]

I would consider picks to be more entertaining than Fimis. Underwhelming to say the least. Most hard core IceDogs fans would agree.

Next…..

 

[three dog night]

Fimis to Erie! Any other players on the move?

Probably only one or two cards left but maybe one of our overages and possibly Rosie.

 

[sirius67fan]

Wow that’s a team that’s applying to have the Memorial Cup! Weird deal.

WJ

Nah not a weird deal, they're finally coming to their senses and looking to the future. First deal they've made in a while that makes sense actually! M cup was not happening with this team anyway if the O brass have any common sense.

 

[bigsportsfan]

I would consider picks to be more entertaining than Fimis. Underwhelming to say the least. Most hard core IceDogs fans would agree.

Next…..

So you're happy the IceDogs traded away their leading scorer because you didn't find him entertaining? All righty then.

 

[bigsportsfan]

Nah not a weird deal, they're finally coming to their senses and looking to the future. First deal they've made in a while that makes sense actually! M cup was not happening with this team anyway if the O brass have any common sense.

I am not convinced that is the case. Before Christmas the IceDogs acquired 18 year old Zakary Lavoie for two 2nds, two 3rds, and a 4th. Now they trade away 18 year old Fimis, who has more points than Lavoie. The IceDogs owner previously stated they are looking to load up for next season. If that is the case, why trade away your top scorer who is returning next season.

If you think they are looking at a more long term rebuild, they have a lot of work to do as only 5 players on their current roster (plus 3 overagers) are eligible to return after next season.

 

[Drop the Puck]

So you're happy the IceDogs traded away their leading scorer because you didn't find him entertaining? All righty then.

Follow the bouncing ball

 

[three dog night]

So you're happy the IceDogs traded away their leading scorer because you didn't find him entertaining? All righty then.

He led the team in points not goals he has playmaking ability but does give the puck away a ton week in the corner over all underwhelming for a high draft pick.

 

[Dog Fan]

He led the team in points not goals he has playmaking ability but does give the puck away a ton week in the corner over all underwhelming for a high draft pick.

I agree wholeheartedly with this summary of Pano's game. He may win the award for the most underwhelming 2nd overall pick of all time. Too bad Fantilli went south or we would have got Nelson with the 2nd pick.

 

[OMG67]

Why can I not simply ignore the train wreck in Niagara? WTF is going on? I feel drawn into this saga.

I want to see what happens next.

Deep down inside I want to see this franchise turn the corner and become the powerhouse it should be. They have all the elements needed to succeed. Jsut need the right person at the helm to rebuild the team on the ice.

New rink, great fanbase, beautiful surrounding area, and great brand. Well over half of the CHL would die for those elements.

It jsut seems like when they played in the old barn, the team had its collective shit together. Now that it has a solid foundation, everything has fallen apart. I just don’t get it.