OTTAWA – With the NHL’s trade deadline rapidly approaching, franchises are looking to improve the strength of their team by any means necessary. For the Ottawa Senators this means heading into the deadline looking to acquire a dedicated fan base.
Last season Ottawa was one overtime goal away from advancing to the Stanley Cup finals due in large part to captain Erik Karlsson, who many consider to be the best defenceman in the world. Despite all this, the team struggled to sell out playoff tickets and is now looking to correct last year’s mistakes by finding a fanbase who “gives a shit.”
“Management has spent a lot of time discussing what this team needs to push it over the top and have realised that the solution lies in an elite level fan-base,” said team owner and CEO Eugene Melnyk. “We’ve been sending scouts out to arena’s all over the league to see if there are any fans we could trade for to fill that void, it’s a part of the team we’ve definitely neglected in the past. Without maniacs in the stands to shout helpful advice like “Go Sens Go” or “Shoot the puck!” during power plays, our boys have no idea what to do on the ice. It’s absolutely tragic.”
the real issue is that no sane billionaire would want to try and run a pro sports franchises in ottawa.
i feel bad for gene - he's spent so many millions that noboy else would have. and they hate him.
In cash probably. Or at least tax return losses.
Monstrous increase in equity over the years though. Pretty sure he paid 100 million for the team and another 30 million for the arena. The arena would be a bit of a liability if the Sens were moving into downtown Ottawa at some point but the club itself is probably worth ~400 million. The parcel of land owned by Melnyk that the arena sits on would also fetch a decent price.
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In cash probably. Or at least tax return losses.
Monstrous increase in equity over the years though. Pretty sure he paid 100 million for the team and another 30 million for the arena. The arena would be a bit of a liability if the Sens were moving into downtown Ottawa at some point but the club itself is probably worth ~400 million. The parcel of land owned by Melnyk that the arena sits on would also fetch a decent price.
Nash?He’d be a big add for them, or us.
I hope they give up a lot.
He's shit, but I do feel for him on one level. They've been a competitive team for most of his time as the owner, and were having a hard time selling out playoff games last year.
If Rick Nash is the guy Boston's blowing their wad on at the deadline, then Leaf fans should be pretty happy.
Would've been a lot scarier if they ended up with McDonagh or Karlsson. But Nash is basically a glorified 3rd line winger at this point.
That's because there are only about 10,000 season ticket holders. When I went to non-Leafs playoffs games in Ottawa, I was basically given tickets by a friend that worked grounds crew over there. The Pens-Sens game where Crosby noodled Spezza and Spezza got booed was one of them. This is Ottawa man, people don't pay for shit unless it's shiny or is on discount. The Senators had been to the playoffs nearly every year, and Melnyk increased parking and ticket prices (cogently, as you do in the second round) so people sat home. It is still a hike to get to when you can just sit at home and order in for a lot less. Remembering, at all times, people here are cheap. "If it's free, it's for me" is heard a ton around town...
That's because there are only about 10,000 season ticket holders. When I went to non-Leafs playoffs games in Ottawa, I was basically given tickets by a friend that worked grounds crew over there. The Pens-Sens game where Crosby noodled Spezza and Spezza got booed was one of them. This is Ottawa man, people don't pay for shit unless it's shiny or is on discount. The Senators had been to the playoffs nearly every year, and Melnyk increased parking and ticket prices (cogently, as you do in the second round) so people sat home. It is still a hike to get to when you can just sit at home and order in for a lot less. Remembering, at all times, people here are cheap. "If it's free, it's for me" is heard a ton around town...