[Mihairokov]

Absolutely. Much of the inability to coordinate and lack of community is hardly the fault of the fans themselves. What a blessing for Leafs ownership that the system is setup this way because otherwise no Stanley Cup since 1967 would spark riots lol

In an ideal world there would be four-six different pro and semi-pro hockey teams to support in the GTA in the event the Leafs were actually that shit for that long, but because they're a protected professional entity there's no punishment for being bad. Capitalism!

 

[AlbertC]

In an ideal world there would be four-six different pro and semi-pro hockey teams to support in the GTA in the event the Leafs were actually that shit for that long, but because they're a protected professional entity there's no punishment for being bad. Capitalism!

As a Torontonian sports enthusiasts that likes hockey but wouldn't consider myself a Leafs fan, I've grown up feeling the same way. The GTA can easily sustain 2 NHL teams in the same manner that the greater metro New York and LA areas have. Even if Hamilton were able to get a team in the past, I'd probably consider giving them my support. I also like the European soccer (football) club model where major cities like London have multiple teams that citizens can support who they identify with the most. But I disgress.

I've never been able to come to terms with becoming a true Leafs fan with how out the touch the organization is, and how increasingly distant the in-stadium product is with the rest of the city beyond it being for "the bunch of suits".

 

[just east of the creek]

A real shame for how ingrained hockey is into the Canadian identity that there isn't a similar culture of community in our teams as there is for soccer clubs outside North America. It's all so corporate.

This is what should happen but Leaf fans could never

Liverpool fans’ walkout protest: around 10,000 leave in 77th minute over ticket prices

Thousands of Liverpool fans voted with their feet in protest at ticket prices as Anfield witnessed its first walkout in its 132-year history

www.theguardian.com

The club reversed their decision and 9 years on, C$113.34 is the highest face value ticket price and C$1672 is the price of a season ticket. LFC has a whole host of issues similar to the Leafs, like ticket availability, wait lists, etc., but Toronto fans are getting fleeced. No real surprise with how few Canadian teams there are.

I am not sure that this is correct. Sharing good seasons tickets and moving many we can not use, I would say that the ticket increase cuts heavily into resale ticket profit margins. Good for MLSE, not so good for us. The increase in playoff packages bites as well, especially as regular season resale profits are being curtailed.

But a second team…. Without a doubt!

 

[Jonny5]

In different news, things are trending where it is possible we could have a Toronto/Ottawa or Toronto/Montreal matchup in the first round of the playoffs. It would be quite spectacular out on the streets on game day.
Beyond that bizarro pandemic "bubble" series against the Habs in 2020, it's been something like 20 years since these teams have played against the Leafs in playoff games where you could actually buy tickets.

 

[gabe]

As a Torontonian sports enthusiasts that likes hockey but wouldn't consider myself a Leafs fan, I've grown up feeling the same way. The GTA can easily sustain 2 NHL teams in the same manner that the greater metro New York and LA areas have. Even if Hamilton were able to get a team in the past, I'd probably consider giving them my support. I also like the European soccer (football) club model where major cities like London have multiple teams that citizens can support who they identify with the most. But I disgress.

I've never been able to come to terms with becoming a true Leafs fan with how out the touch the organization is, and how increasingly distant the in-stadium product is with the rest of the city beyond it being for "the bunch of suits".

Same here, growing up in the burbs most of my friends were hockey fans, but very few cheered for the leafs, and yet most of us all cheered for the Raptors and Jays, but hockey, it was all over the map. Probably because most of us could never afford to go to a leafs game. It's always been expensive and the prices are completely out of touch for the average middle class family. You could drive to Detroit or Buffalo and see NHL hockey at affordable prices. My boss recently took his kids to a hockey game in Ottawa they made it a weekend gateway. He said there was no way in hell he was going to pay leaf ticket prices. He got four tickets basically for what one ticket costs in Toronto.

 

[AlbertC]

Same here, growing up in the burbs most of my friends were hockey fans, but very few cheered for the leafs, and yet most of us all cheered for the Raptors and Jays, but hockey, it was all over the map. Probably because most of us could never afford to go to a leafs game. It's always been expensive and the prices are completely out of touch for the average middle class family. You could drive to Detroit or Buffalo and see NHL hockey at affordable prices. My boss recently took his kids to a hockey game in Ottawa they made it a weekend gateway. He said there was no way in hell he was going to pay leaf ticket prices. He got four tickets basically for what one ticket costs in Toronto.

Reminds me of when I went to first year at Waterloo and I met a bunch of guys from Hamilton who all had random favorite NHL teams. Maybe one or two were Leafs fans but most people cheered for different Canadian or American teams.

The other thing I noticed is that many people from places in southern Ontario like London, Chatham, Windsor, Narnia, etc. have a common affinity for Detroit teams like the Tigers or Red Wings.

 

[PL1]

Reminds me of when I went to first year at Waterloo and I met a bunch of guys from Hamilton who all had random favorite NHL teams. Maybe one or two were Leafs fans but most people cheered for different Canadian or American teams.

The other thing I noticed is that many people from places in southern Ontario like London, Chatham, Windsor, Narnia, etc. have a common affinity for Detroit teams like the Tigers or Red Wings.

Similarly, eastern Ontario towns/cities support The Leafs, Canadiens, or Bruins

 

[AlbertC]

Similarly, eastern Ontario towns/cities support The Leafs, Canadiens, or Bruins

Yes, the Habs affinity also runs strong among Franco-Ontarian communities in Northern Ontario like Timmins and the surrounding area.

 

[Jonny5]

Reminds me of when I went to first year at Waterloo and I met a bunch of guys from Hamilton who all had random favorite NHL teams. Maybe one or two were Leafs fans but most people cheered for different Canadian or American teams.

The other thing I noticed is that many people from places in southern Ontario like London, Chatham, Windsor, Narnia, etc. have a common affinity for Detroit teams like the Tigers or Red Wings.

A lot of this dates to several decades past where TV blackouts and viewing restrictions were much more severe, and of course streaming options didn't exist.
Even in the 1980's, when games started shifting to cable stations like TSN, in the Niagara Peninsula there were a lot of Sabres fans because they could rarely even watch a Leafs game on TV then, but they could get Sabres games OTA from Buffalo TV stations.

 

[Jonny5]

Will be definitive after this weekend, but it looks like it will be either Toronto/Ottawa or Toronto/Montreal for the first round of the playoffs, with a small chance of Toronto/Florida.

But if they do play Montreal or Ottawa those will be epic series. Expect news stories about how it's cheaper to fly to Ottawa and buy a ticket to watch the Leafs there than here.

 

[Jonny5]

Leafs vs. Senators is now locked in for the first round of the playoffs, which I've heard game #1 will either be this coming Sunday or Tuesday; broadcasters still debating it.

First time in 20 years the Leafs and Senators have faced each other in the playoffs.

 

[christiesplits]

Leafs vs. Senators is now locked in for the first round of the playoffs, which I've heard game #1 will either be this coming Sunday or Tuesday; broadcasters still debating it.

First time in 20 years the Leafs and Senators have faced each other in the playoffs.

Big win for Rogers execs. There will be massive ratings.

Wild to think it's been 20 years since they've met in the playoffs. It felt like they met every year during the Sundin-Alfredsson era.

 

[Jonny5]

Big win for Rogers execs. There will be massive ratings.

Wild to think it's been 20 years since they've met in the playoffs. It felt like they met every year during the Sundin-Alfredsson era.

I'm expecting that old trope to be true that it will be cheaper to buy tickets to a game in Ottawa and fly there, stay in a hotel overnight, and then fly back to Toronto the morning after the game rather than buy tickets to actually watch a game live here.

 

[Northern Light]

Big win for Rogers execs. There will be massive ratings.

Wild to think it's been 20 years since they've met in the playoffs. It felt like they met every year during the Sundin-Alfredsson era.

5 Canadian Teams are in Round 1.

Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa in the east

Winnipeg and Edmonton in the west.

****

Match ups, involving Canadian teams:

Toronto v Ottawa

Montreal v Washington


Rogers upside, guarantees a Canadian team in Round 2, Rogers downside, not too bad, maximum of 2 Canadian teams, in the east, advance to round 2.

Rogers bonus?: If everything breaks their way, 2 Canadian teams in the semis (Round 3)...... ....

***

Winnipeg vs St. Louis

Edmonton vs L.A.

Rogers upside, up to 2 Canadian teams may make round 2 in the west, Rogers downside, no guarantees of that.
Rogers bonus? If everyting breaks their way, 2 Canadian teams could face off in round 3 (semis) in the west.

Rogers Dream: All-Canadian Stanley Cup Final.


From ESPN:

 

[Jonny5]

Big win for Rogers execs. There will be massive ratings.

Not looking forward to the political ads that will be dumped into this though.
It will be the same ones repeated at every single commercial break of every single game.