Ottawa Senators receiving bids for more than 900 million USD (1.24 billion CDN)

[bert]

If that corporate base evaporated, do you think SBA would suddenly be down in the bottom 5 with Ottawa? I think you underestimate the region and it's hunger for all things hockey/Leafs.

Ottawa isnt in the bottom 5. Never has been other than when the owners is intentionally sabotaging the team and trolling the fanbase. You actually think this has something to do with the leafs. Unbelievably brain dead.

 

[KevinRedkey]

I just hope Ryan Reynolds is part of the new ownership.

 

[Divine]

It's interesting why leaf fans will sell out every sens game in Ottawa but won't sell out every game in Toronto. You would think their sellout streaks would go back to the end of the Ballard years but no.

Makes you wonder if all those business suits that don't care about the game weren't getting free tickets, how little sell outs they would actually have.

Ever been to a random leaf game against like Minnesota on a Tuesday or something? So quiet. There will be over 18,000 fans but it will sound like there's 8,000 fans because 10,000 of the people there aren't even hockey or leaf fans. They're just rich people.

Look at the ticket prices in Toronto versus Ottawa. That’s the biggest reason. If Toronto took away all the corporate seats and priced them at $100 like Ottawa, it would have a completely different vibe and sellout easily.

However, it’s a business first and they would rather have $500 a seat from corporations than $100 a seat from the average fan.

The cost to attend an NHL game in each Canadian city, ranked - National | Globalnews.ca

Not all NHL fan experiences are created equal — some fans pay outrageous prices to see their team play.

globalnews.ca

 

[jbeck5]

Why is this comparison even relevant?

I also can't for the life of me understand why these two fanbases would be at arms over something that extends way beyond hockey. Hate each other on the ice, sure, but arena issues and development potential are bigger than hockey.

Ask your leaf fan buddy. He brought up the Leafs and attendance.

 

[bert]

Ask your friend who jumped into a thread about the sale of the Senators and immediately made it about the Toronto Maple Leafs.

This poster is doing the same thing. Collective IQ from the leaf fan base is at an all time low in this thread.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

Ottawa isnt in the bottom 5. Never has been other than when the owners is intentionally sabotaging the team and trolling the fanbase. You actually think this has something to do with the leafs. Unbelievably brain dead.

?

I actually want Ottawa to get a new downtown barn as I plan to move back there one day. Really has nothing to do with Toronto at all. I hate living within Toronto's SOI. Take away the on ice rivalry, and Ottawa being vibrant and growing is much more important to any Ontario resident.

 

[beowulf]

Sens to Houston , Flames to Atlanta , Yotes to Quebec City??

How dumb is this post.

 

[kevsh]

The amount of the bids doesn't surprise me much, sports franchises are one of the safest investment strategies available and the returns are incredibly lucrative.

In 1992, the expansion fee for the Senators was $45M (which of course does not include $10s of millions in costs actually getting the franchise running), and look at what they're going to sell for today.

In 2017, Vegas paid $500M for their franchise. 6 years later they are estimated to be worth $956M (according to Statista).

So if you ever win the PowerBall lottery and decide that a billion dollars just isn't enough to support your long-term lifestyle needs, buy a professional sports franchise.

 

[NyQuil]

Never has been other than when the owners is intentionally sabotaging the team and trolling the fanbase.

We hear all about the Ballard years and the impact on that organization.

Melnyk certainly saved the Senators when he arrived in the early 2000s, but by the end of his tenure, he was a pretty big impediment to fan loyalty.

 

[GeeoffBrown]

The amount of the bids doesn't surprise me much, sports franchises are one of the safest investment strategies available and the returns are incredibly lucrative.

In 1992, the expansion fee for the Senators was $45M (which of course does not include $10s of millions in costs actually getting the franchise running), and look at what they're going to sell for today.

In 2017, Vegas paid $500M for their franchise. 6 years later they are estimated to be worth $956M (according to Statista).

So if you ever win the PowerBall lottery and decide that a billion dollars just isn't enough to support your long-term lifestyle needs, buy a professional sports franchise.

I think a big part of it too, is if you're a billionaire and a fan of sports, a sports team is like the ultimate toy you can buy

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

Fascinating.

But, most importantly, what does this mean for the Leafs?

 

[NyQuil]

I think a big part of it too, is if you're a billionaire and a fan of sports, a sports team is like the ultimate toy you can buy

For Canadians in particular. It's like English soccer teams to Middle East tycoons.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

I think a big part of it too, is if you're a billionaire and a fan of sports, a sports team is like the ultimate toy you can buy

And that demographic is larger and wealthier than... ever?

 

[Divine]

Fascinating.

But, most importantly, what does this mean for the Leafs?

Probably worth 900B.

 

[Qward]

This would be a dream come true in Ottawa. It would be so good for the fans but also the city IMO. I know when I lived in Vanier, I would have killed to be able to take a bus downtown to watch a game. The idea of spending an hour on the 417 just made it into a chore.

Part of the stipulation for the bidding process, the winning bid must build an arena downtown and cannot relocate the team to another city. Bettman confirmed this for us.

 

[Akrapovince]

When the Leafs play the Sens in Ottawa what is the split like?

Is it 50/50? Or more egregious?

Are there more Leaf fans in Ottawa than Sens fan?

It was surprising to me when Sens came to Edmonton the amount of Sens jersey I saw at the game. Pretty crazy.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

Part of the stipulation for the bidding process, the winning bid must build an arena downtown and cannot relocate the team to another city. Bettman confirmed this for us.

I don't know much about the sites being considered - I'd hope it had it's own O-Train stop and not just a bus area.

 

[Divine]

When the Leafs play the Sens in Ottawa what is the split like?

Is it 50/50?

Probably 80/20 Leafs, maybe 90/10 Leafs.

 

[Akrapovince]

Probably 80/20 Leafs, maybe 90/10 Leafs.

There’s no way of telling but what do you think of the 80-90 are drive ups compared to Leaf fans in Ottawa?

 

[NyQuil]

When the Leafs play the Sens in Ottawa what is the split like?

Is it 50/50?

As someone who has had a ticket package since 2003, it depends.

In the playoffs (back when they played each other), it was more like 80/20 Sens/Leafs, because the tickets often went on sale before the team match-ups were announced.



Some of the Leafs fans bought them on the secondary market and some were Ottawa residents who wanted to go regardless of whether the Leafs were the opponent.

Back when the Senators were good, during the regular season it was probably something like 65/35 Sens/Leafs.

When the Senators are struggling, and the Leafs are good, like the last few years, it might even be a majority for Leaf fans, like 60/40 the other way.

They only have to buy two games a year, and Leaf games are platinum priced, so they don't mind snapping up those expensive 100 level seats.

My uncle actually helps to fund his ticket package by only re-selling the Leaf and Habs tickets. It's not particularly loyal, but he can't turn down the money. Maybe that will change as the Senators get better and their fans get more confident.

 

[Akrapovince]

As someone who has had a ticket package since 2003, it depends.

In the playoffs (back when they played each other), it was more like 75/25 Sens/Leafs, because the tickets often went on sale before the team match-ups were announced.

Some of the Leafs fans bought them on the secondary market and some were Ottawa residents who wanted to go regardless.

Back when the Senators were good, during the regular season it was probably something like 65/35 Sens/Leafs.

When the Senators are struggling, it might even be a majority for Leaf fans, like 60/40 the other way. They only have to buy two games a year, and Leaf games are platinum priced, so they don't mind snapping up those expensive 100 level seats.

It makes sense.

Rogers Arena was made up of 30% Sens fans then I realized I only go to one Oilers game a year and that’s when the Sens come and I will not miss that game.

 

[Petrus]

So the Leafs just have to sell like 5,000 individual tickets a game, and can't do that every game?

Making sense of the Leafs’ recent drop in attendance

<a href="https://theleafsnation.com/2021/10/19/shesterkin-spoils-matth...

theleafsnation.com

Considering how much the leaf fans brag about their fan base, imagine having 5,000,000 people to buy 5,000 tickets and not being able to.

And then to go brag about attendance.

They should be embarrassed and remain quiet when it comes to attenance. It's clearly not a flex for them.

Never mind for a moment that Toronto has one the most expensive tickets in the NHL, but you are citing a drop in attendance in 2021 which was impacted by Covid and had a maximum 10,000 seating capacity at some point.

Attendance has never been a problem in Toronto.

 

[Divine]

There’s no way of telling but what do you think of the 80-90 are drive ups compared to Leaf fans in Ottawa?

It’s mostly Leafs fans living or working in Ottawa or Montreal. Maybe 20% are drive ups, but the Leafs fans prefer Buffalo, it’s closer. Ottawa is a far drive from Toronto (~5 hours each way).

If you’re driving, you probably have to stay the night and make it a trip so I don’t think a lot are drive ins.

 

[Qward]

I don't know much about the sites being considered - I'd hope it had it's own O-Train stop and not just a bus area.

The site is in LeBreton Flats.

I dont live in Ottawa, but it looks like there are 2 near the site.
Pimisi and Bayview.

I dont know if these are up and running or are just planned. Maybe someone from Ottawa can chime in?

 

[Akrapovince]

Is the arena thing a little overblown?

The drive from Ottawa to Kanata is similar to like, a drive from Terwilleger to downtown in Edmonton and I can almost guarantee the majority of the fans that watch the Oilers commute 30 minutes + to watch the games.

If I was in Ottawa I would have no issues driving to Kanata for a game.