Ottawa Senators owner wants to play regular season games in Quebec City

[TheDoldrums]

Pretty weird situation here. I mean preseason games or the European games negotiated by the league are one thing, but seems pretty bizarre to hope to take away home games from your city to explore the Quebec City market.

They even dressed up their mascot in this abomination of a jersey.



Today it seems they realize the jersey thing was a terrible look and are apologizing. Unsurprisingly the whole thing has not gone over well with most Sens fans.

Click to read more...

 

[Avs2022]

The Nordiques jersey is awesome. I actually think it's a great idea. I would love to see the Av's play a regular season game there against Montreal as well.

 

[FMichael]

Yeah - heard about that on Sirius XM this morning - how much ya wanna bet Andlauer would relocate (or sell) to QC if he had the chance.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Haha , the children ( Andlauer ) yearn for the mines (Quebec city)

 

[rypper]

If the Sens have a big representation of fans in Quebec, then have at it. But little weird with the jersey stuff.

 

[piqued]

It makes sense to try to capture some of the anti-Montreal sentiment if you know for a fact that market is never getting another team of their own.

 

[elmaco]

I think it's a good idea, why not an inland "global series".

 

[VaCaps Fan]

Two shaky markets…

 

[theVladiator]

In principle, it's good for the league to showcase in other NA cities. It just needs to have a large enough arena so that the gate revenue is worth it.

But it seems that Andlauer aims beyond that, with significant number of Senator games being played in a different market essentially. To absorb QC as a part of his homebase. I think it not only exceeds his franchise rights geographically, but also messes with NHLPA (the Sens players would have to be on the road more often than other NHL players).

 

[FMichael]

If this doesn't worry Sens fans...

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Just move the team

 

[BB79]

If this doesn't worry Sens fans...

It's the same story in Buffalo. You either pay $1200 for tickets in Toronto if you can find them, or you pay $200 in Buffalo or Ottawa

Show me a game against Chicago or Nashville. That's probably a more realistic representation of a home crowd for a Sens game.

 

[JSSSTP]

It's the same story in Buffalo. You either pay $1200 for tickets in Toronto if you can find them, or you pay $200 in Buffalo or Ottawa

Show me a game against Chicago or Nashville. That's probably a more realistic representation of a home crowd for a Sens game.

Plus they are still a relatively young franchise. There’s a lot of people who were cheering for the leafs or Habs before the Sens were a team and they still cheer for them, that’s why there’s always so many of of them in Ottawa.

 

[Voight]

He's not wrong. If your going to play games in Europe why not play at least one in a hockey hotbed in North America?

 

[BB79]

Plus they are still a relatively young franchise. There’s a lot of people who were cheering for the leafs or Habs before the Sens were a team and they still cheer for them, that’s why there’s always so many of of them in Ottawa.

I would call them established, they've been around for about 32 years now but I see your point, they're surrounded by original 6 team fanbases. Plus they're a small market, with an arena outside of the city (which is never good) and went through a lot of thin years with ownership issues.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

In principle, it's good for the league to showcase in other NA cities. It just needs to have a large enough arena so that the gate revenue is worth it.

But it seems that Andlauer aims beyond that, with significant number of Senator games being played in a different market essentially. To absorb QC as a part of his homebase. I think it not only exceeds his franchise rights geographically, but also messes with NHLPA (the Sens players would have to be on the road more often than other NHL players).

If I recall correctly the NFL was doing this with the Bills and Toronto for a bit, before Buffalo became relevant again. And it was frustrating, because a) that’s not a home game, b) stop, that’s my team.

NFL can dictate more than the NHL can, though, and while it’s cool in theory- the issues you mention become major when it’s actually attempted.

 

[NyQuil]

It didn’t go over very well in Ottawa.

https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7444069

 

[Gil Gunderson]

If this doesn't worry Sens fans...

This happens in literally every arena in Canada when the Leafs play. They even got a sizeable crowd in Montreal last week.

 

[tarheelhockey]

This gives Jacksonville Jaguars

 

[Nogatco Rd]

He's not wrong. If your going to play games in Europe why not play at least one in a hockey hotbed in North America?

Because the people in NA hockey hotbeds already watch the NHL

 

[VivaLasVegas]

If they are having trouble getting enough ticket sales in Ottawa, splitting with Quebec City might provide some relief since those in Ottawa would only have to buy half the tickets, and likewise those in Quebec City would only have to buy half the tickets.

Probably would have to get NHLPA clearance of course, but it's only a 1-hour flight, i.e., half the time that it takes players from LA to get to or from a game in traffic, and that would only be for 21 games per year.

 

[BB79]

If they are having trouble getting enough ticket sales in Ottawa, splitting with Quebec City might provide some relief since those in Ottawa would only have to buy half the tickets, and likewise those in Quebec City would only have to buy half the tickets.

Probably would have to get NHLPA clearance of course, but it's only a 1-hour flight, i.e., half the time that it takes players from LA to get to or from a game in traffic, and that would only be for 21 games per year.

They can play 1/3rd in Ottawa, 1/3rd in Quebec, 1/3rd in Hartford. Go Senordwhale Go!

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

Much ado about nothing.

Yeah - heard about that on Sirius XM this morning - how much ya wanna bet Andlauer would relocate (or sell) to QC if he had the chance.

This website has led me to really question what is going on in Michigan.

If this doesn't worry Sens fans...

If this does worry Sens fans, the phenomenon might not be localized in Michigan afterall.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Team 1200 talked about the pre-season games being played in Quebec and basically it was a ploy to get more Franco phones for the team.

Maybe not a ploy, but a plan and why not.

East of Ottawa in Ontario a lot of the population is bilingual.

Also a good try to sway some of tbe fans in Gatineau.

 

[VivaLasVegas]

They can play 1/3rd in Ottawa, 1/3rd in Quebec, 1/3rd in Hartford. Go Senordwhale Go!

It could be contagious -- Kraken start splitting games in Portland, Kings to Santa Barbara, Ducks to San Diego, Stars to Houston, Panthers to Jacksonville, Canes to Charleston, Capitals to Baltimore, Jackets to Indianapolis, Hawks to Milwaukee, etc. & etc.