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When cameras panned over the crowd at the Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday evening, one thing amid the excitement was clear: There were a lot of empty seats. Official attendance was 16,744 — nearly 2,000 short of the arena’s official capacity. So, with questions swirling about why the Sens can’t seem to sell out a playoff game, we decided to ask fans directly.
Carly Macculloch, 24
Occupation: Server at the Aulde Dubliner and Pourhouse, ByWard market
Type of fan: Dedicated
“Sens fans suck… they’re not as dedicated as other fan bases,” Macculloch says. She attended game four in the Sens vs. Bruins series, and said the packed arena created a great atmosphere. But she feels excitement has tapered off since that series and that fans aren’t as committed as they should be, considering the increased chances of winning the Cup.
Tara Armstrong
Type of fan: Average
For her, it all comes down to price: “For a family of four, it’s just too much.” Logistics also play a factor, such as the 20-minute drive – which means getting home late, making getting up for work in the morning cumbersome on a weeknight.
Terry Roy, 54
Occupation: Tour bus driver
Type of fan: Average – a Pittsburgh fan at heart, Roy also cheers for all Canadian teams and would be happy to see any of them in the finals
Roy thinks the arena’s location is the biggest deterrent for fans. According to Roy, the Canadian Tire Centre is just too far, and therefore not accessible for many. He says LeBreton Flats — where the Sens hope to build a new downtown arena — would be much better, and a lot more fun for the fans.
Jordan Vachon, 20
Occupation: Coach/trainer at AMPED Sports Lab and Ice Complex
Type of fan: Occasional – a Montreal Canadiens fan at heart.
For Vachon, price is the main factor that keeps him and others from attending playoff games – but it’s not just the ticket fares. He says when you add up parking and the “way, way overpriced” concession and booze, seeing a game simply becomes too expensive. Vachon says he’d “much rather go to a local pub” to watch, since that is more comfortable than sitting up in the 300-level,- where the affordable tickets usually are.
Dalia Strizzi, 18
Occupation: Student at Algonquin College
Type of fan: Average
Strizzi, Vachon’s girlfriend, agrees with him about the steep expenses that come with seeing a Sens game. “Beer is $10, a bottle of water is $6.99. … It’s ridiculous,” she says. Since ticket prices tend to creep up in the playoffs, it’s just not worth it to try to get out and see a game, Strizzi says.
Mark Reynolds, 32
Occupation: Construction worker
Type of fan: Diehard
Reynolds, who recently moved to Ottawa but was a Sens fan growing up in Timmins, Ont., says he thinks it would make a huge difference if the arena was in the “heart of the city.” Reynolds points to cities such as New York, Montreal, and Toronto, where the arenas are right in the middle of downtown, making it easy to stop in after work to see a game. He says weeknights may also pose a challenge for getting fans out, and believes attendance will be better for game two Saturday.
Anthony Cahill, 38
Occupation: Commercial truck driver
Type of fan: Negative – Cahill is a Rangers fan (boo!).
Cahill, a friend of Reynold’s who is visiting from Newfoundland this week, suspects Ottawa’s population may have something to do with the spotty attendance. “Let’s say the Rangers only need two per cent of the city’s population to fill out a game. … Well, that’s easy.” But in a city of only about a million such as Ottawa, Cahill says, that is a tougher feat.
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Carly Macculloch, 24
Occupation: Server at the Aulde Dubliner and Pourhouse, ByWard market
Type of fan: Dedicated
“Sens fans suck… they’re not as dedicated as other fan bases,” Macculloch says. She attended game four in the Sens vs. Bruins series, and said the packed arena created a great atmosphere. But she feels excitement has tapered off since that series and that fans aren’t as committed as they should be, considering the increased chances of winning the Cup.
Tara Armstrong
Type of fan: Average
For her, it all comes down to price: “For a family of four, it’s just too much.” Logistics also play a factor, such as the 20-minute drive – which means getting home late, making getting up for work in the morning cumbersome on a weeknight.
Terry Roy, 54
Occupation: Tour bus driver
Type of fan: Average – a Pittsburgh fan at heart, Roy also cheers for all Canadian teams and would be happy to see any of them in the finals
Roy thinks the arena’s location is the biggest deterrent for fans. According to Roy, the Canadian Tire Centre is just too far, and therefore not accessible for many. He says LeBreton Flats — where the Sens hope to build a new downtown arena — would be much better, and a lot more fun for the fans.
Jordan Vachon, 20
Occupation: Coach/trainer at AMPED Sports Lab and Ice Complex
Type of fan: Occasional – a Montreal Canadiens fan at heart.
For Vachon, price is the main factor that keeps him and others from attending playoff games – but it’s not just the ticket fares. He says when you add up parking and the “way, way overpriced” concession and booze, seeing a game simply becomes too expensive. Vachon says he’d “much rather go to a local pub” to watch, since that is more comfortable than sitting up in the 300-level,- where the affordable tickets usually are.
Dalia Strizzi, 18
Occupation: Student at Algonquin College
Type of fan: Average
Strizzi, Vachon’s girlfriend, agrees with him about the steep expenses that come with seeing a Sens game. “Beer is $10, a bottle of water is $6.99. … It’s ridiculous,” she says. Since ticket prices tend to creep up in the playoffs, it’s just not worth it to try to get out and see a game, Strizzi says.
Mark Reynolds, 32
Occupation: Construction worker
Type of fan: Diehard
Reynolds, who recently moved to Ottawa but was a Sens fan growing up in Timmins, Ont., says he thinks it would make a huge difference if the arena was in the “heart of the city.” Reynolds points to cities such as New York, Montreal, and Toronto, where the arenas are right in the middle of downtown, making it easy to stop in after work to see a game. He says weeknights may also pose a challenge for getting fans out, and believes attendance will be better for game two Saturday.
Anthony Cahill, 38
Occupation: Commercial truck driver
Type of fan: Negative – Cahill is a Rangers fan (boo!).
Cahill, a friend of Reynold’s who is visiting from Newfoundland this week, suspects Ottawa’s population may have something to do with the spotty attendance. “Let’s say the Rangers only need two per cent of the city’s population to fill out a game. … Well, that’s easy.” But in a city of only about a million such as Ottawa, Cahill says, that is a tougher feat.
查看原文...
