Not sure you've noticed, but everything posted on these boards constitutes "opinion". This is not a theoretical physics exercise where we discuss "reality".
Not true. It's very possible to post "facts" and that's what I have been doing around here for the most part for the last decade. Most people go with their opinion and state it as it was the reality. I try to find arguments and facts to counter those opinions when I feel they are not accurate/true. I try to be objective as much as possible when analyzing a situation. Can't say the same for everyone on HF where bias and misconceptions are common.
In that case, it's a bit harder to do because we don't have all the info available but don't you think economic and demographic factors play a
much bigger role in attendance decline than the "entertainment" factor that you seem to focus on? If that's not the case, then we will have to agree to disagree here.
Edit : if you tell me that the Sens marketing is lacking, there I might agree though. That's an area the team could improve vastly.
The bottom line is that the prospective customer decides if they spend money on this entertainment product and winning is not the only factor involved. As I mentioned in my previous post, I don't think they've designed a team and a style of play that is entertaining to watch and that is a major factor in the decline of attendance. They made the decision to focus on minor adjustments to personnel and ultimately a coach who can hopefully compensate for their lack of speed and skill by playing a grinding, highly defensive, counterattack system. I think he needs more talent up front to change this strategy, but his GM didn't address this at all in the off season and I think the fan base is, too some extent, responding to this.
Sens were "exciting" before last season but were bleeding too many goals against. Remember Spezza and Karlsson first few years? In the end, they were not winning, they had some decent seasons but couldn't have sustained success. They changed that and modeled their game the way you have to play in the playoffs to have success. If you know hockey and have been following the NHL for a while, you should know what I am talking about.
I repeat what I said earlier in that thread (GF/GP in the NHL) :
2011-12 : 4th
2012-13 : 27th (lock-out season, injuries to Karlsson, Spezza and Michalek, the team had to "turtle")
2013-14 : 11th
2014-15 : 9th
2015-16 : 9th
Sens were an offensive run and gun team prior to last season, they decided to change their whole system to give themselves a better chance to win in the playoffs. So far so good I'd say. They cam close to 1 double OT goal in game 7 against the Champs. In the end, the Sens had the 2nd/3rd best results of the whole NHL last season. And yet, some people here still complain
It depends what you like. You want exciting hockey? Become a Jets fan, they score a lot of goals and have the most talent up front in the whole league. But have no playoffs success to date.
Personally, I want the team to be hard to play against and improve offensively with time. Chabot, Brown, White, Chlapik, Formenton, etc gives me hope.
Run and gun is fun, but in the end very frustrating. I actually would like a more "hybrid style" and I hope boucher develops his system towards being more offensive (has to find a way to have a more efficient PP first and foremost)
Personally, I have been entertained by most Sens games. The 2 first games this season for sure.
In the end, it is the organization's responsibility to provide a product that satisfies the fans and compels them to part with the hard earned dollars. I admit that its a tough fan base, but they have and will respond if the entertainment value is there.
History is littered with failed organizations (and owners) who perilously decided on the strategy of "blaming the customer".
If you know anything about the business world, you know that nobody would buy a costly business without doing a market study... They are pretty much aware of those simple facts :
- Ottawa is a small market compared to many other teams (~1 million population + ~250 000 in the CMA). Montreal is 3-4 times bigger and might start to struggle to sell out every game.
Life cost is getting very expensive. The available entertainment dollar is going down and options of where to spend it grow. Interest in hockey among younger generations is going down, you'd be surprised about the number of young people in Montreal who just don't care about hockey or who still think Subban plays for them. Some don't even know who Carey Price is.
- Ottawa is located between Montreal, Toronto and New York, the 3 biggest hockey markets. In the 1.25 million population in Ottawa area, among people who care about hockey, you have a lot of Leafs and Habs fans. So the Sens have a relatively small fanbase. Among that fanbase, who can afford tickets or have the time to go? 41 home games per season (6 months) is a lot.
Just that should give you an answer. No add the fact that the arena could be "too far" for many people, plus the traffic at the end of games, etc.
But if you still think after reading this that it is because the team is boring or not skilled/fast, then I am not sure what to tell you.
It's weird because I read that a lot on this board but NHLers or ex NHlers/coaches tell me the Sens are a fast team with some high end skill (Karlsson, Hoffman, Ryan, Stone, Turris, Brassard)
Is it arguable that Karlsson, Hoffman and Stone are high end skill? Ok Ryan (2nd OA), Turris (3rd OA) and Brassard (6th OA) were drafted high for a reason.
We will also add Chabot and Brown in the near future.
So the Habs home opener isn't sold out. Disgraceful. When are they going to move that team to Quebec?
Gosh that would be the best thing to ever happen in the world.
Source for this? If you can provide one, I'd like to start about 15 threads on the main boards.
That being said, it's gonna be full at game time though. Montreal is a huge market full of die-hard fans (however many are pissed with the team). That being said, watching the game on TV is so good these days that do you really need to spend 500$ (2 people in red section with parking and food) to go to the game? I went to a game against the Wild last year. It was written 206$ on our tickets. Glad my friend got them for free. He bought a beer and the lady said 12$ please, I said "oh no just one please, I don't drink"
