LeBreton Flats 2.0 (RendezVous LeBreton) | Cancelled

[rocketphish]

NHL commissioner tries to calm waters after Melnyk's words

Ken Warren, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: December 16, 2017 | Last Updated: December 16, 2017 9:03 PM EST

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman arrived to the chill of the outdoor game trying to put out the fire set by Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk.

On Friday, Melnyk made any number of controversial comments, including the fact that if attendance doesn’t improve, he could move the franchise from Ottawa and/or cut the team’s payroll dramatically.

He also said the club doesn’t necessarily need to move into a new building at LeBreton Flats in order to survive.

“I read (the comments),” Bettman said in an interview with Postmedia 90 minutes before the puck dropped on the NHL100 Classic Saturday night. “I haven’t even spoken to (Melnyk), but he didn’t say he was moving the franchise.

“And (you) can’t move the franchise unless you go through the league process and get board of governor approval. So, I just think this is much ado about nothing.”

Considering, however, that Melnyk did threaten to move and should be well aware of league bylaws, will Bettman address the issue with the Senators controversial owner?

“I don’t think he announced anything other than he’s here, trying to get a new building,” said Bettman. “It’s what he didn’t say. He didn’t say he was moving.”

Bettman has previously said that an arena at LeBreton Flats is vital for the long-term survival of the Senators in Ottawa.

On Friday, though, Melnyk raised countless eyebrows by suggesting a new building was neither a given nor a necessity.

“A lot of people question whether we need to be downtown,” Melnyk said. “Because until the law changes, where you can’t give tickets to civil servants, that is a disaster for us.”

Melnyk questions whether Kanata residents would make the trek to a downtown arena.

On that front, Bettman was trying to calm the waters Saturday.

“(Melnyk) has very much committed himself to getting a new building,” the commissioner said. “I think the Senators would do much better with a building downtown. I don’t think anything he said is really inconsistent with that.”

Bettman acknowledged the timing of Melnyk’s outburst Friday took something away from Saturday’s game.

“The attention it’s getting … I would prefer it would be on the game,” he said. “But the game will be played and all of this talk will disappear and hopefully everybody will enjoy the evening.”

Unfortunately for Bettman and the rest of the NHL, the talk isn’t going to go away.

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Twitter.com/Citizenkwarren

http://ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/n...wcm/8eccfe58-0e50-4edd-82ea-3f92f687bebf

[rocketphish]

Don Cherry says he can see Senators leaving Ottawa if attendance doesn’t change

Canadian Press
Published on: December 16, 2017 | Last Updated: December 16, 2017 11:26 PM EST

Hockey commentator Don Cherry says the Senators will leave Ottawa if the club doesn’t find a way to draw more fans to their games.

The “Hockey Night in Canada” personality was speaking on his weekly Coach’s Corner segment during the first intermission of the NHL 100 Classic game in the nation’s capital between the Senators and Montreal Canadiens.

His prediction comes after comments made by Senators owner Eugene Melnyk, who brought up the possibility of relocation on Friday, took a shot at fans and said a new downtown arena might never happen.

“If people don’t show up and pack the place all the time… you can’t survive with 13,000,” Cherry said. “He’s gone, Ottawa’s gone for sure, don’t know where, but Quebec would be nice.”

Ottawa made the Eastern Conference final last season and took the eventually Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins to double overtime of Game 7. Despite missing out on the Cup final by just a goal, Melnyk said the organization was, “begging people to buy a ticket.”

“(If) you don’t sell out in the playoffs you’ll never sell out,” said Cherry.

Tired of seeing too many empty seats, the NHL club made the decision in the off-season to reduce capacity at Canadian Tire Centre by 1,500 to about 17,000. Rows in the upper bowl are currently covered with tarps.

“I don’t blame him at all, he cannot survive with 13,000 people,” said Cherry. “I’m not saying he should move (downtown Ottawa) but it’s too far out Kanata.”

http://ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/n...wcm/52be291e-754b-41c7-b63a-6a326fe5fea6

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

It is not a secret that many people have long thought that CTC is in a poor location. Yet, there have been many seasons where attendance is good. It could be that after years of making the trek out west a number of people have finally become weary of it. Perhaps the prospect of building an arena at LeBreton has underlined the unsuitability of CTC in their minds. Perhaps they have decided to watch the games on TV and wait until the new arena is built before resuming attending in person again.

[acottawa]

I'm not sure what the angry fanboys on twitter expect of Melnyk. Attendance is down almost 4k per game since 2012, despite having a pretty good on-ice product for much of that time, including a deep playoff run last year (where fans even boycotted the playoffs).

[kevinbottawa]

I have to think that the issues with the Phoenix pay system is a major factor.

[Buggys]

It's probably because football at Lansdowne​ has taken up a chunk of people's yearly budgets in the last 2-3 years. The potential move to Lebreton is probably one the last straws, until the move actually happens.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by LeadingEdgeBoomer

It is not a secret that many people have long thought that CTC is in a poor location. Yet, there have been many seasons where attendance is good. It could be that after years of making the trek out west a number of people have finally become weary of it. Perhaps the prospect of building an arena at LeBreton has underlined the unsuitability of CTC in their minds. Perhaps they have decided to watch the games on TV and wait until the new arena is built before resuming attending in person again.

I think it's more that with Lansdowne complete, people are choosing to go to RedBlacks games instead as it's a much more pleasant experience.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

I think it's more that with Lansdowne complete, people are choosing to go to RedBlacks games instead as it's a much more pleasant experience.

I'm not sure how those are interchangeable - there was only one redblacks home game during the hockey season plus one playoff game.

[YOWflier]

Originally Posted by acottawa

I'm not sure what the angry fanboys on twitter expect of Melnyk.

How about shutting his damn mouth for once (especially on the eve of one of the franchise's biggest events)?

How about not running the team on a shoestring budget and instead spending to the cap, or close to it?

How about hiring an analytics department?

How about not having the smallest front office in the league?

How about not having the smallest scouting department in the league?

How about not ignoring Russia when scouting?

How about hiring the best available coach/gm instead of "hiring from within"?

How about not meddling in hockey matters when he has a GM for that?

How about not firing Cyril Leeder after the man championed the effort that saved his life?

How about he pay the aforementioned monies owed instead of telling him to sue for it?

How about not letting cheapness lead to the departure of the most cherished player ever to wear our jersey, especially after said player (and others) took hometown discounts to stay and even deferred pay cheques in the Bryden days to help keep the lights on?

How about not letting Lyndon Slewidge go?

How about not turning the once highly respected organization into an embarrassment?

How about giving the liver back?

And last but certainly not least:

How about selling?

[acottawa]

^

So sink a lot more money into the team or sell at a massive discount?

We don't expect that of any other business.

[YOWflier]

Sell at a loss? He bought the team out of bankruptcy and Forbes now has it called at a few hundred million. Tack on a premium for his position as preferred proponent in the Lebreton negotiations and he could easily walk away with about a half billion. Not a bad retirement fund, and definitely not a loss.

Sink money? I can think of countless examples where I expect businesses I support to spend in order to to maintain and improve. Not sure how that's a contentious suggestion.

In Melnyk's case those watching closely have witnessed and been subjected to a systematic degradation over the years. For many this past weekend was the last straw.

[daud]

Originally Posted by acottawa

^

So sink a lot more money into the team or sell at a massive discount?

We don't expect that of any other business.

The thing is...Ottawa isn't doing that bad-at least for now. Operating profit was 10 million last year; attendance, revenues all on the lower end of the middle range but very much acceptable for an arena in the suburbs, in a market this size.

The ottawa senators have marketing problems, they have a fan experience problem (which includes arena location) and they have an image problem, led by an owner with a that doesn't understand how to interact with other people most importantly, the media.

They do not have a market problem. Just an owner that stubbornly thinks so. He has not liked this city for a long time. He has openly insulted the mayor and councillor Steve Desroches on Toronto Radio, seems to despise OSEG, and continues to threaten the fans.

Its actually amazing anyone gives him any money for anything right now..

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by ac888yow

Sell at a loss? He bought the team out of bankruptcy and Forbes now has it called at a few hundred million. Tack on a premium for his position as preferred proponent in the Lebreton negotiations and he could easily walk away with about a half billion. Not a bad retirement fund, and definitely not a loss.

Sink money? I can think of countless examples where I expect businesses I support to spend in order to to maintain and improve. Not sure how that's a contentious suggestion.

In Melnyk's case those watching closely have witnessed and been subjected to a systematic degradation over the years. For many this past weekend was the last straw.

I said discount, not loss. Is anyone Ottawa-based offering a half billion?

Businesses invest money to improve if they think they can get a return. If fans won't show up for a final four team then it would be hard to make the case the marginal improvements they would get from a better front office would fill those 4K empty seats?

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by acottawa

I'm not sure how those are interchangeable - there was only one redblacks home game during the hockey season plus one playoff game.

You are right but people in Ottawa are notoriously conservative when it comes to spending. The vast majority of our tickets are sold to individuals (not companies) and these people often have family entertainment budgets. 18000 of those families have purchased Redblacks seasons tickets the past couple of years and are getting quite a bang for their buck (great location, good on field product, fun atmosphere). People have options and are choosing to spend their money elsewhere. This is going to be a LONG 5-6 years while we wait for a new arena at Lebreton.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by daud

The thing is...Ottawa isn't doing that bad-at least for now. Operating profit was 10 million last year; attendance, revenues all on the lower end of the middle range but very much acceptable for an arena in the suburbs, in a market this size.

The ottawa senators have marketing problems, they have a fan experience problem (which includes arena location) and they have an image problem, led by an owner with a that doesn't understand how to interact with other people most importantly, the media.

They do not have a market problem. Just an owner that stubbornly thinks so. He has not liked this city for a long time. He has openly insulted the mayor and councillor Steve Desroches on Toronto Radio, seems to despise OSEG, and continues to threaten the fans.

Its actually amazing anyone gives him any money for anything right now..

A 10M operating profit is probably a loss after debt servicing costs and taxes. And it isn't like Bryden or Firestone did any better.

I agree that Melnyk is a jackass, but lots of professional sports teams with jackass owners still put asses in seats.

The thing is, he owns the team. He brought it out of bankruptcy when nobody wanted it. If fans think the likely outcome of boycotting the team is he sells to OSEG or whatever saviour the twitter experts can dream up then they are likely to end up with a pretty big disappointment.

[YOWflier]

Originally Posted by acottawa

I said discount, not loss. Is anyone Ottawa-based offering a half billion?

Misread that. But i don't see how it's a massive discount either. As I see it he'd make a huge return on his initial investment.

Businesses invest money to improve if they think they can get a return. If fans won't show up for a final four team then it would be hard to make the case the marginal improvements they would get from a better front office would fill those 4K empty seats?

Businesses also invest to keep pace with the competition. If he won't, or can't, it's time to give it up. There's one group waiting in the wings to take over, and who knows how many more.

Cherry picking one item (front office) in an incomplete list of many to argue marginal improvement doesn't hold much water with me. I'm talking about steady degradation over years, with numerous unforgivable missteps along the way all under the watch of a ranting, rambling baffoon.

Last year's run was a wonderful anomaly. This year's run may end in March (some argue already has). We fanboys follow every single aspect of the team, (not just headlines and Don Cherry) are neither blind nor stupid and expect better.

[YOWflier]

Originally Posted by acottawa

If fans think the likely outcome of boycotting the team is he sells to OSEG or whatever saviour the twitter experts can dream up then they are likely to end up with a pretty big disappointment.

I won't be fear mongered by this jackass (Melnyk) or anyone else (Cherry, etc.). The Sens are secure in Ottawa.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by ac888yow

Misread that. But i don't see how it's a massive discount either. As I see it he'd make a huge return on his initial investment.

Businesses also invest to keep pace with the competition. If he won't, or can't, it's time to give it up. There's one group waiting in the wings to take over, and who knows how many more.

Cherry picking one item (front office) in an incomplete list of many to argue marginal improvement doesn't hold much water with me. I'm talking about steady degradation over years, with numerous unforgivable missteps along the way all under the watch of a ranting, rambling baffoon.

Last year's run was a wonderful anomaly. This year's run may end in March (some argue already has). We fanboys follow every single aspect of the team, (not just headlines and Don Cherry) are neither blind nor stupid and expect better.

OSEG owns a bunch of minor league teams and survives mostly on taxpayer largess. I have seen no evidence they can come up with close to a billion-dollars to buy the team, build an arena and pay the lebretton startup costs (land, cleanup, infrastructure, etc.)

Did Melnyk make Brian Murray lose Chara and keep Redden? Did he make him trade for a pylon from Toronto so there was no cap space for Methot? Did he make him sign Bobby Ryan? Yes he interferes too much (unfortunately many owners do) but not that much.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by ac888yow

I won't be fear mongered by this jackass (Melnyk) or anyone else (Cherry, etc.). The Sens are secure in Ottawa.

The Nordiques thank you for your attitude

[daud]

Originally Posted by acottawa

The Nordiques thank you for your attitude

He moves to Quebec and he buys himself 10 years then he's in the exact same position. Long term, Quebec City is a poorer market than Ottawa and the NHL knows it.

I don't think Melnyk holds the cards to the degree he wishes. I think the fans and the NHL brass do. I personally believe there are at least 1 or 2 suitors eager to buy this team, keep it in Ottawa in conjunction with Lebreton development.

Further, I would add that his comments, as an owner of an enterprise that brings in 135 million from local residents per year do nothing to support his revenues and operations. If he's posturing for position with lebreton, he needs to learn to not throw his fans under the bus as a negotiating tactic instead of literally shooting his brand in the foot every time he talks.

Lemieux, Bettman, Daly all had positive commentary for the market, the process, the move downtown and I think he got zipped by NHL brass on Saturday.

I also think he is not happy about this NHL classic at all. He sees it as 1)ticket revenue that is not going to him (it goes to the league) and 2)additional revenue that is going to OSEG and not him

So, essentially he was a party pooper from the get go. He's a selfish, arrogant owner and his only shtick is bullying to get his way. The only loser to come of all this will be him.

PS: it still blows my mind that you can't buy seasons tickets online. Its 2017. Total marketing fail. He should start with that instead of putting a gun to his clients heads.