News from Leafland.
Even acting GM Cliff Fletcher is admitting that Leaf fans are in for a tough year. He is quoted in today's Star as saying - "You don't have to be a Rhodes Scholar to know there's going to be rocky days head, tough games, maybe tough stretches." But at least the surroundings for those at the ACC will be better even if the team isn't, as the Leafs were showing off their new scoreboard yesterday. The cost of the new board and renovated control room required to operate it came in at $7.8 million. Gone is the old four-sided scoreboard backed by a VHS signal feed. In its place is a 17-screen, fully HD-capable system. The main boards measure 17-feet-by-10 feet. Overall there's an 800 per cent increase in LED light display. There are eight new boards on the top tier of the main board, and four more on the bottom as well as a 72-foot long circular ring. It is quite impressive looking.
http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/497473 This is all part of a $126 million renovation project of the 10 year old ACC that includes massive renovation of the west end of the arena with a new atrium similar to those seen in Buffalo and Florida being added. The new atrium entrance will also feature a 60-by-40-foot television that will show Leafs and Raptors games for fans outside. Lets hope the team improves as quickly as the building otherwise the Leafs may see their already slightly waning popularity fall further.
The team commissioned a survey and some of the results have MLSE taking action.
- Fewer fans (51 per cent in 2007-08 compared to 69 per cent in 2006-09) describe themselves as "big" fans of the club.
- The rate of growth in the sport's participation among youth is well behind the rate of population growth.
Leaf spokesperson. "Young kids are less connected to hockey," said MLSE Vice President Tom Anselmi. "They get connected through playing, winning and access. Well, we haven't been doing enough winning. And they haven't been getting access via tickets."
- The Leaf fan is about five years older than a Raptor fan and less ethnically diverse.
I can certainly attest to the less ethnically diverse part. You go to a Raptors game on a Friday night and look at the crowd and you see the face of Toronto with the crowd basically mirroring the population of this city which is over 50% visible minorities. Go to a Leaf game the next night and the crowd is 95% white.
To have more appeal to young fans they are going to have a bigger presence on internet and have more open practices - some even in neighbourhood arenas since game tickets are so hard to come by.
And I will give MLSE props for this. The City of Toronto is in sad shape financially because federal and provincial governments have downloaded a ton of things to the city well making themselves look good by lowering taxes and balancing their books. As a result the city has not had enough money to properly maintain arenas or some of the outdoor hockey rinks during the winter. Over the last couple of years MLSE in partnership with Home Depot have paid for renovations to 7 outdoor rinks, and this week they announced that they are expanding that program. MLSE is kicking in $1.5 million and Home Depot is providing supplies and volunteers to repair up to 15 of the city's 51 municipal arenas over the next 5 years.
A spokesperson for the city is quoted in the Star as saying the city is thrilled that the Leafs and Home Depot have increased their commitment to refurbishing arenas, which not only house hockey teams but also serve about 200,000 children, youth and adults through skating programs – but more if you count drop-in and shinny programs. Way to go MLSE!
Now if they could only get the hockey team right.
For once, the NHL's lack of a profile in the USA is a blessing...