Roughly one month ago, I penned an article outlining how the Ottawa 67’s franchise was dying a slow death. Attendance figures were poor, nothing seemed to be getting done about it, and the general feel of games at TD Arena was funeral-like.
However, the franchise announced slashes in ticket, parking, and concession prices on Tuesday in a clear attempt to drive up unsatisfactory attendance numbers, and deserves to be roundly commended for that.
The team posted a hilarious video on its website, in which the franchise’s departmental heads were faced with angry tweets from disgruntled fans. It is clear for all to see that there are issues – both quick-fixes and perplexing ones – with TD Arena, but the fact that the team is admitting it and trying to cater more to fans is a massive step in the right direction.
Gameday tickets have been slashed across the board by $4, meaning an adult gameday ticket costs as little as $18 and kids can get in for $13. Natural marketing would tell us that a cheaper product will be more attractive to the average consumer – in this city, the notoriously fickle Ottawan. Will the four dollar drop in gameday ticket price help the 67’s regain their formerly large walk-up crowd? Only time will tell, but it’s a step in the right direction. Point, OSEG.
Parking complaints have been arguably the loudest thus far during the 67’s return to the Bank Street Barn, and the team also announced Tuesday that parking rates have been cut from $15 to a slightly more appropriate $9. Still more expensive than the $5 it used to cost before the club’s two-year exile in Kanata, but a ticket also gets fans free transportation on city transit, so there really isn’t too much to complain about in that department. Point, OSEG.
Lastly, cheaper concessions will be made available. Half-point, OSEG.
Moving on to what really matters, the club on the ice is substantially more competitive than the two iterations of the 67’s to take the ice at the Canadian Tire Centre the past two seasons. Currently sitting 5th in the OHL’s Eastern Conference, Jeff Brown has done an excellent job in his debut year behind the 67’s bench. With the likes of Peterborough, Niagara, and (maybe) Sudbury all in their own realm of bad at the bottom of the conference standings, it’s very likely the 67’s will host some playoff games come the end of the season.
Up front, Dante Salituro has been a revelation for Brown’s team. In his third season with the club, Salituro matched his goal total in 2013-14 (22 goals in 68 games) in just 30 games this season, and is making some draft noise. Despite standing just 5’8, Salituro is feisty and manages to avoid most hits. On many nights, he is the most noticeable and exciting player on the ice. As a late-born ’96, Salituro has benefited from an extra year of OHL development, and is now lighting the lamp regularly after struggling mightily early in his OHL career.
Also enjoying solid offensive seasons are Travis Konecny (26 points in 30 games) and Erik Bradford (28 points in 30 games). The former – while slightly undersized – looks to be a mid-first round type of prospect, while the latter is a grizzled veteran who brings substantial playoff experience.
On the blueline, Los Angeles Kings draft pick Alex Lintuniemi has stepped his game up in both the offensive and defensive zones, while Jake Middleton is playing the best hockey of his OHL career.
In net, Liam Herbst has looked capable of carrying the load while splitting time with rookie Leo Lazarev, who has shown flashes of brilliance.
In terms of putting a winning team on the ice, the organization has taken large strides this season. Point, OSEG.
Things may not be trending up just yet in 67’s-land; the team is still .500, attendance (discounting the school-day game played in front of over 16K at the Canadian Tire Centre) has been mediocre at best, and the utility of these price slashes remains to be seen.
However, for the first time in a while it appears as though the on-ice product is good enough to not only squeak into the playoffs, but maybe even win a series or two once they reach the promised land. That factor alone should get more butts in the seats as the season progresses. Off-ice, the slashing of all prices associated with the gameday experience are a crucial step in the right direction.
The next two months will be pivotal for the organization; on-ice, the team must continue to be competitive in order to recapture some attention in the Sens-dominated Ottawa sports landscape. Off-ice, the club must continue to make earnest efforts to draw more fans and improve the gameday experience.
As an Ottawa native myself, I can attest to the fact that wins put butts in the seats, in any sport, in this market. Whether it be the championship-winning Ottawa Lynx of the 1990s, or the Stanley Cup finalist Ottawa Senators of 2007, a winning team in Ottawa can expect an attendance boom. I’m confident in saying that, if Jeff Brown can lead his team to a deep playoff run, it would restore the image of the team in a way that three years of marketing and advertising could not.
If you build it, they will come
Build a winner on the ice, build a winning gameday experience off it, and the fans will flock back to TD Arena.
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