My goal this week is to pack up all my ish, and head back to Toronto. Spending as much time as I have been at my parents’ house has some terrible disadvantages for a hockey addict like moi. For starters, they don’t even have Center Ice, and it’s a miracle if I can steal the remote for a little TSN time when Ghost Hunters reruns are on (and, by the way, that show is on ALL THE TIME). Last night, I hoarded the remote so I could watch Off The Record for the first time in forever. I seriously had to hold the thing clenched between both hands so no one would take it! It was hard to hear all that Michael Landsberg and his guests had to say amongst the complaints, “Whyyyy areeee weee waaatching THIIIIS!?’ But one thing that the panel said did manage to make me roll my eyes in disgust.
The panel used that magic phrase and cliché, “In a town like Toronto…” to defend the “fans” alleged anger towards Brian Burke for “misleading” them into thinking that the Buds were going to make the post season this year. Burke claims that the playoffs were his goal and not his guarantee, but, apparently, “In a town like Toronto,” you don’t make the mistake of uttering the P-word without causing some sort of irrational frenzy.
Really?
Now, maybe you’re of the attitude that he shouldn’t have hinted at such promises. Maybe you were one of those radicals that went out and made a couple hundred “Leafs 2010 Stanley Cup Champs” shirts, which will now collect dust in your basement, and you’re really pissed off about it. But I really have to ask, are we, in a town like Toronto, that delusional that this non-isssue would become such a huge deal? Are you going to begrudge the man his ambitions and his goals? You don’t enter a marathon not hoping to cross the finish line. Of course, playoffs were his goal. It’s the goal of every team – duh!
In a town like Toronto, the fans really are some of the most elite in the League. They have come through the high times and slumps, and lived to tell the tale; and not with some tri-coloured jersey on their back either, but, rather, with an ever expanding collection of blue and white sweaters. They still have one of the highest game day attendance percentages in the NHL – hey, it’s not our fault some rinks were built to a 22K capacity and ours wasn’t, but even still, the Leafs could play out of the SkyDome (Rogers Centre), and fans would still probably be hard pressed to find a ticket. The fans are loyal as Hell, and it’s not because they are pipe dreamers, or stupid; it’s because hockey is just so damn important to the city, and the country, that we’ll stick it out through the bad times because we just can’t live without it.
This is why I find it hard to believe that any true blue Leafs fan, in a town like Toronto, would really be disgruntled by this alleged promise. A hardcore fan would be more than aware of the situation in the Leafs camp, and would know that some things are hard to fix when you don’t have the tools to fix them. A real Leafs fan would know that the team is attempting to get off the ground on the star power of merely four players alone. They’d know that, not too long ago, the Leafs were ruled by an evil regime that traded away all of our picks and prospects so that some big name, wash up, charity cases could get their wish to retire in Toronto. How many times, during this era, did some of the most talented names in the game use the Leafs as a bargaining chip to get more money from other organizations? Not to mention that we had some of the worst scouting in the League. How often were Leafs draftees not traded away or rotting away in St. John’s or at Ricoh Coliseum?
The point is that everyone can see that the Leafs are in a tough spot. They have few upcoming draft picks to their name, and very little in terms of trading assets. Putting the onus on one player isn’t going to magically turn things around for the club, and you know that, you’ve seen this all before. Now I’m not saying a miracle can’t happen, like, I don’t know, Kaberle waiving his No Trade Clause, and some monster forwards coming in his stead, and I’m definitely not saying you should give up on your 2010 playoff dreams, however fleeting they may seem. All I’m saying is that, in a place like Toronto, let’s make sure that we keep our heads held high, and represent the REAL Hockeytown like only the best fans in the game can. Oh, and maybe make some noise at a couple games, too. Thanks, that’d be great.
P.S. I say “we” a lot in this entry…hmm… Back to my Chicago recap next!
P.P.S. I’m the blonde one in the pic!
Tags: hockey addicts, hockey fans, michael landsberg, off the record, Toronto, Toronto Maple Leafs, tsn
One thing, you mistake “Leaf fans” for hockey fans in a “town like Toronto”. If people in Toronto were true hockey fans there would be more than 2,500 people at Ricoh, and at Majors and Battalion games.
The Majors are the #8 ranked team in Canada and they are averaging less than 2,200 per game? Brampton is under 2,000?
Leafs fans support the Leafs (blindly), but they do not truly support hockey.
That’s true. I made the same argument while I was working at MLSE. As for things like the Marlies, they destroyed their fanbase when the team moved to Toronto, and the higher ups decided they could charge NHL (Buffalo) prices for their tickets. It wasn’t until the 4th season before the prices were lowered, by then it was too late. As for the Majors, I don’t think I need to tell you that they moved from an arena that probably did not seat 2000 people to the Hershey Centre. Arguably, their fanbase was very small (although at capacity) for a very long time – so if anything I’d blame the front office for not doing more to draw in new blood once they had the space for them. Those are just some theories, though. I’m only JUST starting to come back to junior hockey now, so I’ve been out of the loop for a long time. Last Majors game I saw was in the College School Arena, and the last time I was at the Hershey Centre was when it was the home of the Ice Dogs!
Awesome post. You really do have a way of putting things into perspective. As you already know, (I think) being born and raised in San Jose, I’m a Sharks fan to the core. But here’s another little known fact… I own 5 jerseys – 4 Sharks… but the 5th is a Leafs jersey that I also proudly wear. I don’t claim to be a hardcore Leafs fan. I can’t ramble off stats and facts. But I do recognize the long history they have and what they mean to the sport of hockey.
P.S.
What’s up with the blonde hair? Not that you look bad as a blonde.
Great post. Glad that someone out there sees it the same way I do! Being a Leafs’ fan can be frustrating at times, but people forget too easily just how good things were prior to the lockout, when the team was a serious threat and near the top of the league standings. We will get there again – but righting the ship takes time. And the reward will be all the more sweeter for those who never wavered in their support for the team.
I only went to Marlies games when I had an AHL card and could get in for free! haha
I think their ticket prices are still out of whack. Who wants to spend 38-42 for “platinum” seats. It’s minor league hockey, they should not be selling anything as platinum.
But MLSE doesn’t really care about how many people go to the games, its cheaper and easier for them to access players.
Oh, and I miss the days of going to games at St. Mike’s and spending intermissions in the bar!
Love your perspectives though Psycho Lady!
Oh i KNOW! They used to make that argument that a “REAL” fan would pay the $57 they were originally charging (front row in Buffalo is $62 for SSHs). I said, “No, a real fan will pay $12 and go see the Majors.” Them, “That’s a different style of hockey.” Me, “OK, then they’ll travel 25 minutes down the 403 and pay $20 to see the Bulldogs.” Checkmate. I don’t think that it’s that the fans don’t care, it’s just, like you said, a total rip off!
And, GWMJ, the picture is a couple seasons old – i used to be blonde!
Chris – Here in Winnipeg the AHL tix range in price from 22.50-42.50 and the team consistently draws 6,000-7,000 and was even up as high as 12,000 during last year’s playoff run. So the answer to your question of “who wants to spend that” is “alot of people” it just depends on your perspective.
PL – Holding up Buffalo’s pricing scheme as a comparison is a bit of a stretch, compare to comparable hockey markets like Chicago, Minnesota, Denver etc.
I don’t know enough about “true Toronto hockey fans” to wade into this debate, just wanted to make those two points.
Why wouldn’t I make that comparison? Buffalo is an hour from us. Most people who couldn’t get Leafs tickets went that route instead of spending money on a lower level of hockey like the AHL. You pay that in Winnipeg because there is no competition. As Chris said, there are four hockey teams in the GTA, I’m not sure why we’d be expected to shell out money for all four teams just so we can “prove” we are “real” fans.
…and I say that as someone who had season tickets for the Leafs, Marlies, and Majors all at the same time! :S
Good reply PL. It really comes down to what other choices are available in the area and how the product (the team) is viewed by the market. In Winnipeg the Moose are the cream of the crop so they can demand a higher ticket price. In Toronto the Marlies are totally an after thought (more Leafs fans would consider a trip to Buffalo, especially to watch the Leafs, than going to a Marlies game for any price).
Ryan, along with the old supply and demand factor, there is the atmosphere as well. At Toronto Marlies games there is ZERO atmosphere because the arena is half empty (and I don’t know if lower ticket prices would help this, but it wouldn’t hurt trying). I’d rather go to a good Junior game with high intensity and kids fighting to prove themselves as potential NHL’ers with a good vocal crowd (in a smaller arena) then a rink that is half full.
With that said, I saw a Junior game in Edmonton a few months back at Rexall Place and because it was a TINY TINY crowd in a large rink the atmosphere was horrible and the game reflected it. There, similar to Toronto they are not the cream of the crop, but they are a hockey market and they are trying to sell their tickets at a premium price (not to mention $10 parking outside the rink).
It all comes down to the market, the competition as well as the product on the ice. (except the Leafs, crappy product yet they sell out every game).