One thing that shocked me was that apparently, outside Winnipeg, which has a sad 14%, the Canadian teams rely on 46-56% of their season ticket sales from corporate sponsors.
So the conclusion I draw is that tickets are artificially expensive and unaffordable for the "every-man" and businesses are propping up seat sales. If you look at the garbage atmosphere Toronto had for their home opener where Matthews got a hattrick, it kind of makes sense.
Over a long enough period of time, if you don't have kids going to games, they wont grow up to either be a fan or go in person. My favourite memories as a kid growing up sports-wise are going to Jets games with my parents and Bombers games. It's all bigger than life when your little, and leaves a lasting impression. Nowadays families can't go often or at all because it's insanely expensive.
This is pure greed on owners part. And the chickens will come home to roost. They already are.
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