I think this speaks more about Toronto and more so Montreal then the world juniors as for Montreal did not support the Usl team is it a reserve team sure but to avg 500 is awful while Toronto same reserve team set up avg around 4000.
Poor attendance
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I think this speaks more about Toronto and more so Montreal then the world juniors as for Montreal did not support the Usl team is it a reserve team sure but to avg 500 is awful while Toronto same reserve team set up avg around 4000.
I'm honestly amazed that the tournament has done as well in Toronto as it has. I know lots of people who will be up for going to a Leafs game, but very few if any who would go to the juniors. That goes not just for the current tournament, but junior hockey in general, and that line of thought is supported by the general lack of success junior hockey has experienced in the Toronto area.
I think if even more people in Montreal are staying away, maybe they're just smarter! The prices are crazy for the product that is being sold. In Toronto, we have been finding that there are limits to what you can charge for sports - the NFL games struggled, these junior games have struggled, and there are even tons of Leafs' tickets all over various websites for games this year, often well below face value. The Jays have struggled to draw too when they aren't contending. I believe that the market is in the process of spelling out what is simply 'too much' for all of the sports in the city. The world juniors appear to be on the wrong side of the line.
Even the Centennial Classic has had some trouble selling tickets this year, because the prices are just too high.
Then again, they might still make more money with half-full buildings in these cities than almost anywhere else.
I think if even more people in Montreal are staying away, maybe they're just smarter! The prices are crazy for the product that is being sold. In Toronto, we have been finding that there are limits to what you can charge for sports - the NFL games struggled, these junior games have struggled, and there are even tons of Leafs' tickets all over various websites for games this year, often well below face value. The Jays have struggled to draw too when they aren't contending. I believe that the market is in the process of spelling out what is simply 'too much' for all of the sports in the city. The world juniors appear to be on the wrong side of the line.
Even the Centennial Classic has had some trouble selling tickets this year, because the prices are just too high.
Then again, they might still make more money with half-full buildings in these cities than almost anywhere else.
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Just wanted to show appreciation for that acknowledgement. For years I've heard how Toronto is just a Leafs market and doesn't really care about hockey. Toronto doesn't have a great showing when it comes to their junior teams on an everyday scale, it's very tough for a junior team to compete with the many sporting options available to locals. There is no other city in the country that rivals the combination of entertainment and professional sporting options like Toronto yet Toronto will pay a pretty penny to experience big moments, even if it isn't featuring a Sidney Crosby or Carey Price. Sure, they may not sell out a round robin game against the Czech but they will open up their wallets to experience a game against Russia, USA or any medal round game. And I suspect that's exactly why Toronto and Montreal were selected these two years - they may understand that many games won't sell out or have a great attendance, but they're banking on Toronto and Montreal throwing their money at them when it comes to getting seats for a Canada game against their rivals or a Canada game in the medal round.
I think people in Toronto have pride they don't want to look bad on the Canadian or world scene.
Rocko604
Sports will break your heart.
None of this should be a surprise in Montreal. They refuse to be gouged, and good on them. I'd be surprised if the Canada medal round games actually do sell out given the cost for them.
Rabid Ranger
2 is better than one
Ticket pricing is certainly a factor. That's a huge issue in international competition across the board though-not just hockey.
Just to show how people here don't care much about the tournament, even RDS who show the games have their commentary team in studio instead of at the Bell Centre...It's about 10min. apart by walk...
I'm sorry, what does this mean? Toronto fans should buy overpriced tickets to events they don't care about to not look bad on TV to the rest of the world? If that's what you mean, it's a ridiculous viewpoint.
I don't think the fans in any city would have this line of thought, not just Toronto.
How does Toronto care with 17 000 empty seats yesterday afternoon and 7000 empty seats for Canada yesterday?
Not talking about the ticket prices but over all Toronto does not want to look bad so that means they support teams or events some might not even care all that much about while Montreal does not have that same pride.
It's actually nice to see that even a rich city like Toronto says no to the idiots at Hockey Canada who are asking completely crazy money for this tournament. Especially for meaningless round robin games when 8/10 teams go through and there's only 5 legit contenders...
Nobody went to the Pan Am games didn't sell out the Grey Cup, didn't sell out the joke World Cup didn't sell out the nfl games etc etc...
And what kind of research have you done that has led you to this conclusion?
If this were the case, every event hosted by Toronto would be sold out which is not the case at all.In Montreal there's absolutely no interest for this tournament. I'll admit that even at decent prices Montreal would have problems selling tickets, well probably the worst city in Canada to put it even at decent prices...Are the genius at Hockey Canada not suppose to know this? So why put it twice in Montreal and twice at ridiculous prices when you know the demand isn't there?
And I repeat RDS the Montreal broadcaster doesn't even have the play by play guys at the Arena they are in the Studio!
Rocko604
Sports will break your heart.
My wife and family are all talking about getting tickets for the 2019 tournament in Vancouver and I just laughed. They have no idea how expensive these tickets are going to be. I get that it's the World Junior Championships, but I paid probably around $120 total to see three Vancouver Giants games at the 2007 Memorial Cup, including the final. I'm not paying over $100 per game to see the same age group.
I don't think that's true for 99% of events. Toronto isn't any different from Montreal, or any city - people don't want to get ripped off paying way more than they should for a product.
The one case that might have been an exception was the Commonwealth Games, which was a strange event because for a long time in advance nobody cared, but then as it got close it gained a lot of momentum.
The fact is there are a lot of casual fans who barely understand what the world junior tournament is, while everyone understands what the Leafs or Canadiens are about. I think the junior tournament, in a large city, attracts only the hardcore fans. In a smaller market, you may get that effect of being a big event that attracts attention, and people go for the event. In smaller cities, the ticket prices are likely much cheaper though. In Toronto and Montreal, the world juniors simply aren't a big event.
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