Sometimes you just have to shake your head and/or laugh. Even at the team you follow. Or you might cry.
The Senators announced that they are removing 1,500 seats in the upper bowl, reasoning that fewer seats will create more demand.
Really?
It just smacks of embarrassment over not selling out a playoff game, and this move is totally reactionary and backwards. This is a no-win situation now.
They don't sell out more games, it gets worse. They sell out more games and there is an asterisk.
Also, it gives a reason for price increases, because after all, fewer seats means less potential revenue, so when Melnyk cries poor and tries to justify higher prices next year, remember this day.
I am not sure how this creates more demand for season tickets either, which is another apparent reason for the move.
I am not an economist, but the organization's take on supply and demand seems a little misguided in this particular situation. They have reduced some high revenue seats with the Club Bell "premium" section in the past years, but the fact is that they still ranked 21st in attendance last season, whether the building holds 18,500 or 17,000.
The argument from the Senators is that the building is too big, and it is those cheaper seats that aren't selling, but does draping off the top 6 rows behind each net (which is the solution for the moment) make any kind of difference? If the plan is to do something better with that space to make the fan experience better for those , that is fine, but announce that at the same time. As it stands right now, trying to create an artificial demand just comes off as desperate.
If they want a smaller building, build one..which is the plan for LeBreton Flats.
Doing this now is comical and gives lots of opportunity for those who like to poke fun at the smaller market a lot more ammunition to do so.
Sometimes you just have to shake your head and laugh.