There is only one place to begin, and that is to say how thrilled and thankful we are for the return of NHL hockey.
Labour disputes in any form are never pleasant. The National Hockey League is one of the preeminent professional sports leagues in the world. And when business and sport intersect, there are moments when the business side overshadows the glory of the game.
We have missed the game as much as you have. But more importantly, we understand the past four months have been most unfair to our fans and sponsors. Actions often speak louder than words. So starting today, the hard work begins for all of us within the Senators organization.
All of us commit to beginning our 21st season by pushing harder and giving twice as much to earn back your valued trust and support. On the ice and in our community, we will dig deep to show you why we matter.
Of the 30 teams in the National Hockey League, there is none more tightly woven into its community as the Ottawa Senators. Through the leadership of our Sens Foundation, our players and ownership, we pledge to continue our good work supporting vital community initiatives across Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec.
The Senators are as much a part of the community as the community is part of the Senators. After all, this is your team.
So, let's stand tall and draw strength from one another towards the only goal that matters -- bringing home the Cup.
Game on.
http://senators.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=85772
On the other hand, as much as I disliked the lockout, I was never going to (or pretended that I was going to) boycott the NHL when it came back. It is a business, it's a union, (I don't always agree with how they work, but I understand them), it was unfortunate, I'm sure they lost some fans, but in the end I accept NHL as entertainment.. .not something that I am "owed". Yes I was frustrated as a fan, but I also understood that I paid money for entertainment, and that they didn't necessarily "owe" me anything back. Some may not agree with me, and that's fine...
Melnyk is right about one thing: Actions speak louder than words...I'm anxious to see if he stands behind those words. The one thing fans are owed is a sincere apology and steps to prevent this fiasco from every happening again.
This is a very intelligent commetn.
Agreed.
Although easier said than done, and hindsight 20/20, much of the anger and frustration that was displayed on here over the last few months could have been mitigated with this kind of perspective.
Same here.
And I was fully pledged to not spend a nickel on NHL this season if they missed even ONE game, so I won't. The only way I'd even go to a free game would possibly be if the beer was also free haha.
Say "good on me" for sticking to my word or tell me I'm "no Sens fan" because our franchise needs the support from fans like me. Frankly I don't much care, I am curious to see the puck drop on TV, wondering how our squad will fare this season and all that, but the letters NHL leave a bad taste in my mouth, something that will probably change over time, but not this season.
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It's great to hear they will continue to be a league leader in helping their home city, but beyond that it's a pretty lame plea to the fanbase.
Where's our $200 season tickets like in Tampa (Yes I know that would never happen here, but damn that's a sweet deal!). Or 50% off merchandise like in Buffalo. Give the fans a monetary figurehead to hang their hats on. I actually really like the Buffalo one and thought all other teams in the NHL should follow suit.
I would guess that open letter insinuates "stay tuned" to hear what they will do to win back fans.
Definitely more to come. Details ikely when the schedule is announced over the weekend.
All the NHL has to do to win fans back permanently would be to guarantee there would never be another lockout. As in, make future CBA's expire June 30 and if not resolved by Sept 15, go to binding arbitration.
In my opinion, all anyone wants is a guarantee they will never throw away another half season for nothing.
Terry from CTV said kids under the age of 14 get into the home opener for free if accompanied by a paying adult
As much as it reads like blah, blah... if they didn't say anything, I'd be a little more upset. So with that, I say it is what it is. The whole situation is past us, so lets move on and just be fans again. And I'm excited to see what the Sens actually do for the fans.
I LOVED the post by Patrick 2.0. Nailed it!!
I posted on this very blog, SERVERAL times about boycotting the NHL, hating on Gary Bettman (which I still do, that man has to step down after this season.) But the reality is I was lying. Deep down I knew it, but the fact of the matter is, I was angry and not because there was a lockout, it was the "reason" for the lockout.
Being in my late twenties, I, like a lot of hockey fans remember the last lockout. That LAST lockout in a way, if possible, was justified with the league the way it was.
This lockout had a very, very different feel. It was human greed, plain and simple.
Do fans have a right to boycott the Ottawa Senators because they are a part of the NHL? Absolutely.
Will I boycott the Ottawa Senators? Absolutely NOT.
I think it was said best on this very blog, when someone put it as, "I'm an OTTAWA SENATORS fan, who happen to be part of the NHL-I'm not an "NHL" fan."
I AM 1000000% an Ottawa Senators fan.
I'll be at SBP when the puck drops Jan 21st.
GO SENS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!
Yeah that has been circulating since lunch time. Funny the guys on Team 1200 this morning were talking about some other team doing that and (jokingly) hoping that we won't. 6 thousand shrieking little bastards, haha.
So this is a 1 kid per adult type of deal I expect, or that could get messy. lol
Hey Rush, I have always respected your opinion, and this comment will not change that, however it is disappointing that well informed fans like yourself feel that the best way to teach the NHL and the NHLPA a lesson, and let them know about your justified frustrations with the lockout, will be to stay away from your favourite teams games, whick ultimately hurts that very team you love so much.
I must say I completely sympathize with your frustrations, but cannot agree on your form of punishment.
In the end no one can doubt your allegence to the Sens, but let me tell you Eugene and the Sens need fans like you back.
C'mon just like the players lets get back to hockey, and the discussions afterwards at Berts :)
Regardless though, and in all honesty, Fans who are saying we better get this and we better get that, we don't need nor deserve anything
Sure maybe in markets like Tampa/Florida/C arolina where they run a larger risk of losing a fanbase giving up free stuff to lure them back makes sense.
Put it this way, 4 years ago when OC transpo went on strike, did all of you demand the city of Ottawa to give you free bus passes to make up for everything? Have you boycotted OC transpo since?
Strikes are strikes, the only difference is the emotional attachment we as fans put to our teams
A sorry is enough, and if the NHL want to offer free centre ice, or discount of merchandise through the nhl.com website then by all means do it because thats aimed at the league in its entirety, but for individual teams to start trying to make fans happy is ridiculous, because we all knew the Canadian teams will still sell out
Ah ok, that makes more sense and is great to hear. My plan is still not to spend any money on the NHL this year and possibly next, but deals like Buffalo or Tampa could make me reconsider.
I will still watch the games and support our team on the forums and the streets! GO SENS GO!!!
I'll be at the first game in my seats with a nice cold beer.
Never believed in punishing others at the expense of punishing myself...
Unless you're a season ticket holder, employee, or sponsor the NHL doesn't "owe you" anything. As frustrating as it was not to have hockey to watch, it's back now. For those of us that didn't spend anything on it prior to the lockout and therefore did not lose anything of monetary value it is unreasonable to expect a business to go "Here. I already lost a bunch of money on this, why not some more!!!"
In addition, The Euge put up his hard earned money to save our team and we've grown stronger and stronger under his ownership. You know that he actually cares about this team and is not a faceless figure head like in Toronto. His pocket is impacted when we don't support him and our team.
Ending this rant: If you are truly a fan, nothing will keep you from getting back to the rink and supporting the best damn team, in the best damn city, in the best damn sport in the world.
I love my Senators hockey. Welcome back, and GO SENS GO!!
Some great argumentsh here, reality is if the city of Ottawa will support an NHL team it will prosper, if we won't then it will be doomed or be moved to somewhere it will be supported.
Thats the bottom line. The Euge may be patient, and have lots of money, but you cannot expect him to pour money in if fans stay away, and we are by no means in the NYR, PHI, TOR, types of markets.
Agreed. See ya there.
Part of me thinks that discounting merchandise or tickets is a bit shallow, that it is insulting to think that my loyalty can be bought. On the other hand, this whole thing is about money anyway, so maybe it's fair game. Certainly, cheap ticket prices may give access to games to those that otherwise may not normally be able to afford to go. Never a bad thing.
I will echo the sentiment expressed elsewhere, where I do not want to see any cheesy message on the ice like "thank you fans" or "we are sorry". Talk is cheap, and that, like this letter, would feel almost insulting. I'd boo if I saw that for our first home game.
The only thing I'd actually welcome from the Senators or Bettman would be a candid discussion on the dysfunction of the labor negotiations, and a real, honest desire to change the negotiation process moving forward. Too often, lack of trust and hard-line negotiating tactics mean that nobody will bother trying to resolve anything until the drop-dead date, since there always is a better deal if you wait. Happened here, and it happens in many union-based negotiations. Thank goodness I don't have to hold my breath, we have a few years.
I don't have the answers to this, but it certainly would start with a commitment to more trust, and open honest negotiation next time. Not sure if that is possible with Fehr or Bettman. In the end, fans aren't happy, and this letter seemed weak. Too bad.
Brilliantly stated... lets have a beer after their first hoeme win!!!
I never said they owed me anything. I made my own personal decision for myself based on the BS lockout and respect anyone who chooses differently. To each their own. But please don't make assumptions about my situation. As I said I will support this team every way I can, but no longer will I borrow, put on credit or delay paying a bill to buy a ticket.
The lockout changed my financial priorities. And just like you said they don't owe me anything, I don't owe them my hard earned money either, that's a choice!
I got to say, after all this time without hockey, it will be pretty hard to stay away from that fist Penguins game at SBP this year...
Arent you attentive to details. What else do you expect them to say? The situation sucked the past 4 months, but I dont see how its ALL the fault of Melnyk. Hes one owner of 30.
I for one appreciate atleast the gesture to the fans. Sens organization and its players have always been good to the city of ottawa, and I think this "message" deserves a little more credit than any other apology letter 29 owners may have made to their fans on that merit alone.
All Im saying is...we have 2 choices...stay pissed off at what has happened...or, accept that business politics aside, there will be hockey in 1 week.
Lockout is over man...no reason to dwell on it. It sucked..and now its over.
Now that the Lockout is over, we can all focus on remainder of the season,and once again enjoy our Ottawa Senators till end of this season and hope they make it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
GO SENS GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!
I never liked the guy and today I like him even less...he's considering retirement this year after the new cba cuz he doesn't like it?
Are you fucking kidding me Erik?
You make 4.5 million dollars and in the worst case scenario this is scaled back to 3.9 million. Pretty tough when you can't be bothered going to work for 3.9 million a year. Especially given how over-rated this guy is...
Between him and patches, they played the most isolated minutes of any top line forward in the league. Reality is Plekanec is the guy that faces off against the best competition and they throw out this jack ass to pad his stats against 2 nd and 3rd lines.
This guy along with a lot of other players are totally out of touch with reality and telling people that you may retire cuz you are going to make 3.9 million (which is overpayment) is a slap in the face to fans everywhere.
Hit the road CHUMP, you think way to highly of yourself...
So I guess no open training camps this weekend then? Would have loved to bring my Son to watch.
Was under the impression that the Senators were inviting the fans to view the training camp proceedings free of charge !
I heard they'd be open but may not start till Monday, not on the weekend. Then again, nobody knows 100% at this point.