Niagara Icedogs 2024-25 Season, Part I

dogs777

Registered User
Aug 13, 2024
155
119
Seems to me that I remember a raccoon that took heat on this page because he said that Niagara was not going to be a doormat like in past years. @Sam14

I did not say they would be the best team but they have shown that with Flores playing well they are not gong to be easy to beat.
Let’s see what Flores and the rest look like against 2 of the league’s better teams this week
 

Sam14

Registered User
Mar 28, 2018
422
346
For IceDog fan interested in these numbers. The most recent Season Opener attendance numbers (rounded off) were:

4800
5300
4800
3800
4400

Home Opener
Sunday, October 6th vs NFL Week 5

As of Oct 1st 2400 tickets sold…embarrassing low for this franchise.

Last year, they propped up their attendance numbers by selling heavily discounted tickets and dispensing freebies.
 
Last edited:

Sam14

Registered User
Mar 28, 2018
422
346
They emailed a season opener promotion out yesterday. You pay $25 and get a mystery seat in the gold, platinum or club. So basically a $6 discount and you don't get to choose your seats.

Not much of a discount.
Hey, I got that too! You may be right the $10.00 tickets were mostly available the 2nd half of the season. They’re probably best advised not to do that this early but they’ll have to do something creative to get to a respectable number 🤷‍♂️
 

knowescape

Made you look
Jan 26, 2016
500
133
Ontario
For IceDog fan interested in these numbers. The most recent Season Opener attendance numbers (rounded off) were:

4800
5300
4800
3800
4400

Home Opener
Sunday, October 6th vs NFL Week 5

As of Oct 1st 2400 tickets sold…embarrassing low for this franchise.

Last year, they propped up their attendance numbers by selling heavily discounted tickets and dispensing freebies.
Good thing DDD is running the team like a business.
 

Sam14

Registered User
Mar 28, 2018
422
346
Good thing DDD is running the team like a business.
Darren is an odd duck. Even his biggest detractors once mentioned, “Doesn’t know much about hockey, but he is a smart business man.” The first thing he told ID fans was “Niagara should never go through a rebuild”; fans gulped, “Oh oh, I think we have a problem!” Or as some hopefully suggested, “Perhaps, he plans to invest financially and blue print the London Knights hockey model?” Three years later, the answer is NO and DD is still the GM; he still hasn't learned that every OHL team (except London) has to go through a proper rebuild.

His move to IceDog Sunday games, during the NFL season, is curious. IceDogs play Sunday games and they do draw well, but they’ve always been after the NFL season ends. I honestly question if he is aware of that?

The Home Opener this Sunday, instead of Saturday night (Meridian Centre empty) was a business decision? FACT: IceDogs play only 5 Saturday night home games the entire 24-25 season.
 
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Sam14

Registered User
Mar 28, 2018
422
346
Let’s see what Flores and the rest look like against 2 of the league’s better teams this week

Keep in mind the Oshawa team the IceDogs play on Friday will not be the one challenging for the Eastern Conference: only two of their core six players will actually be in the lineup.

So this won’t be as much of a test, as it will be a huge opportunity to steal 2 points from a team, they’ll likely won’t be able to, later in the season.

As for Sunday’s home opener, the Steelheads will be arriving in Niagara with all its fire power in the lineup!
 
Last edited:

Dogs Enthusiast

Registered User
Sep 25, 2019
122
127
St, Catharines
His move to IceDog Sunday games, during the NFL season, is curious. IceDogs play Sunday games and they do draw well, but they’ve always been after the NFL season ends. I honestly question if he is aware of that?

My understanding. The Burkes were big Bills fans and had season tickets. So it was partly so that the Burkes could attend Bills games and partly because they didn't want to compete with NFL on a Sunday.

Honestly, I love Sunday afternoon games. I also love the Bills. I am fine with more Sunday games and possibly conflicting with the NFL. If I were DD, I would do the same thing.
 

Sam14

Registered User
Mar 28, 2018
422
346
My understanding. The Burkes were big Bills fans and had season tickets. So it was partly so that the Burkes could attend Bills games and partly because they didn't want to compete with NFL on a Sunday.

Honestly, I love Sunday afternoon games. I also love the Bills. I am fine with more Sunday games and possibly conflicting with the NFL. If I were DD, I would do the same thing.
It will be interesting to see how those games are received. You are an example of one unaffected, ticket sales would tell you many STH were upset by the decision and many have moved their Sunday NFL games to other dates.
However, to be fair, the NFL Sunday attendance numbers this year will ultimately answer the question, good or bad business decision.

The home opener being its first test.
 

knowescape

Made you look
Jan 26, 2016
500
133
Ontario
My understanding. The Burkes were big Bills fans and had season tickets. So it was partly so that the Burkes could attend Bills games and partly because they didn't want to compete with NFL on a Sunday.

Honestly, I love Sunday afternoon games. I also love the Bills. I am fine with more Sunday games and possibly conflicting with the NFL. If I were DD, I would do the same thing.
Sunday matinees were my least favourite. I most enjoyed Friday or Saturday night games as we would make an evening out of it. The businesses downtown will take a hit this year, unlike the "seats sold" method, they rely on actual people showing up.
 
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Dogs Enthusiast

Registered User
Sep 25, 2019
122
127
St, Catharines
It will be interesting to see how those games are received.

We had a few last year when the NFL was happening. Here is one that had decent attendance.


Sunday matinees were my least favourite

This was always a discussion on the old ID board. I was in the minority liking Sunday games.

I can sleep in on Sunday morn, then laze around the house or do some chores. Go to the game. Come home with a little daylight left and make have a Sunday roast for dinner. Hopefully celebrating a victory. Its a perfect Sunday for me!!!

Don't know what is happening with that hyperlink. It was 4384 in attendance on Dec 3 against Peterborough.
 

Sam14

Registered User
Mar 28, 2018
422
346
Sunday matinees were my least favourite. I most enjoyed Friday or Saturday night games as we would make an evening out of it. The businesses downtown will take a hit this year, unlike the "seats sold" method, they rely on actual people showing up.
One of the real local draws of IceDogs hockey was the Saturday (and Friday) "night out" factor it provided fans and businesses around the MC. Sunday afternoon eliminates that!
 

knowescape

Made you look
Jan 26, 2016
500
133
Ontario
One of the real local draws of IceDogs hockey was the Saturday (and Friday) "night out" factor it provided fans and businesses around the MC. Sunday afternoon eliminates that!
So in addition to killing his own business, he is adversely affecting many others.
 

three dog night

Registered User
May 3, 2014
5,265
1,439
Darren is an odd duck. Even his biggest detractors once mentioned, “Doesn’t know much about hockey, but he is a smart business man.” The first thing he told ID fans was “Niagara should never go through a rebuild”; fans gulped, “Oh oh, I think we have a problem!” Or as some hopefully suggested, “Perhaps, he plans to invest financially and blue print the London Knights hockey model?” Three years later, the answer is NO and DD is still the GM; he still hasn't learned that every OHL team (except London) has to go through a proper rebuild.

His move to IceDog Sunday games, during the NFL season, is curious. IceDogs play Sunday games and they do draw well, but they’ve always been after the NFL season ends. I honestly question if he is aware of that?

The Home Opener this Sunday, instead of Saturday night (Meridian Centre empty) was a business decision? FACT: IceDogs play only 5 Saturday night home games the entire 24-25 season.
Merdian Centre is booked Saturday having a Pow Wow
 

Sam14

Registered User
Mar 28, 2018
422
346
The restaurants that are open on Sunday afternoon do a pretty good business on game day. We have done that before a Sunday game. So its not all doom and gloom.
The difference in crowd size in local businesses on weekend nights and Sunday afternoon (some were even closed) is massive. Weekends require reservations or arriving early to secure a table. That can’t be debated. Business will be affected by the decision. Now will attendance be affected.
 

dogs777

Registered User
Aug 13, 2024
155
119
It will be interesting to see how those games are received. You are an example of one unaffected, ticket sales would tell you many STH were upset by the decision and many have moved their Sunday NFL games to other dates.
However, to be fair, the NFL Sunday attendance numbers this year will ultimately answer the question, good or bad business decision.

The home opener being its first test.
STH numbers I don’t think are because of the change in day to Sunday I’m pretty sure they are down more so because of the play of the team in previous years and the fact that DDD is still around and a lot of previous STH hate the guy personally I think it’s a good idea to move away from the mainly Thursday home games just not sure Sunday was the right day especially during football
 

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