UNSOLD SEATS IN PLAYOFFS?

Lots of theories why games aren’t sellouts

SHAUNA MCGINN

When cameras panned over the crowd at the Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday night, one thing was clear: There were a lot of empty seats. The official attendance was 16,744 — nearly 2,000 short of official capacity. So, with questions swirling about why the Sens can’t seem to sell out a playoff game, we decided to ask fans directly.

CARLY MACCULLOCH, 24

Occupation: Restaurant server Type of fan: Dedicated

“Sens fans suck … they’re not as dedicated as other fan bases,” Macculloch says. She attended Game 4 in the Sens vs. Bruins series, and said the packed arena created a great atmosphere. But she feels excitement has tapered off since that series and fans aren’t as committed as they should be.

TARA ARMSTRONG

Type of fan: Average

For her, it all comes down to price. “For a family of four, it’s just too much.” Logistics also play a factor, such as the 20-minute drive — which means getting home late on a weeknight.

TERRY ROY, 54

Occupation: Tour bus driver Type of fan: Average — a Pittsburgh fan at heart, Roy also cheers for all Canadian teams.

Roy thinks the arena’s location is the biggest deterrent for fans. According to Roy, the Canadian Tire Centre is just too far, and therefore not accessible for many. He says LeBreton Flats — where the Sens hope to build a new downtown arena — would be much better, and a lot more fun for the fans.

JORDAN VACHON, 20

Occupation: Hockey coach/ trainer Type of fan: Occasional.

For Vachon, price is the main factor that keeps him from attending playoff games — but it’s not just the ticket fares. He says that, when you add up parking and the “way, way overpriced” concessions and booze, seeing a game simply becomes too expensive. Vachon says he’d “much rather go to a local pub” to watch, since it’s more comfortable.

DALIA STRIZZI, 18

Occupation: College student Type of fan: Average

Strizzi, Vachon’s girlfriend, agrees with him about the steep expenses that come with seeing a Sens game. “Beer is $10, a bottle of water is $6.99. … It’s ridiculous,” she says. Since ticket prices tend to creep up in the playoffs, it’s just not worth it to try to get out and see a game, Strizzi says.

MARK REYNOLDS, 32

Occupation: Construction worker Type of fan: Diehard

Reynolds, who recently moved to Ottawa but was a Sens fan growing up in Timmins, Ont., says he thinks it would make a huge difference if the arena was in the “heart of the city.” Reynolds points to cities such as New York, Montreal, and Toronto, where the arenas are right in the middle of downtown, making it easy to stop in after work to see a game. He says weeknights may also pose a challenge for getting fans out, and believes attendance will be better for game two Saturday.

ANTHONY CAHILL, 38

Occupation: Commercial truck driver Type of fan: Negative (Cahill is a Rangers fan!)

Cahill, a friend of Reynolds who is visiting from Newfoundland this week, suspects Ottawa’s population may have something to do with the spotty attendance. “Let’s say the Rangers only need two per cent of the city’s population to fill out a game. … Well, that’s easy.” But in a city of only about a million such as Ottawa, Cahill says, that’s a tougher feat.