Sens Army - In need of more troops

It's no secret that the NHL's six Canadian clubs are the league's true lifeblood. Last year the Canadian clubs accounted for 31% of the 30-team league's ticket revenue. In your Economics 101 class, the NHL's Canadian clubs would be your prime example of an inelastic product.

The Ottawa Senators are starting to screw with that equation. To start with the team's season ticket base has dropped astoundingly from about 13,000 to 10,000. Being one of the league's worst teams obviously has had an affect but for a region that bills itself as 'Hockey Country" its staggering how fickle a previously thought of inelastic fanbase has changed. A recent game against the league's best team, the Boston Bruins drew just over 17,000 fans - about 2,000 below capacity and about 2,500 less than the team drew on average last year.

Despite their attendance struggles the Sens still do rank in the league's Top-10 drawing 18,863 per game.

The Sens have responded with a new campaign titled "Fan First", aimed at boosting ticket sales -which has a distinct U.S. non-traditional hockey market feel to it. In addition to admission to Saturday gameday skates, the campaign includes these deals:

• Future Fans Paks Minor hockey players and students+ can get a Sens game ticket, small hot dog and drink for only $20 (taxes included)*. Plus, mom and dad get a deal too!


• Super Saturdays Save 35% off select 300L tickets for the Feb. 7, Mar. 7 Mar. 21 or Apr. 4 games.


• Wild West Nights Purchase a ticket in the 300L or 200L-ends for Vancouver, Calgary or Edmonton and get a $20 food and beverage credit.


• Fantastic Fan Nights Save 35% off in the 300L or 200L-ends for the Feb. 24, Mar. 11 or Apr. 7 and get a $10 food and beverage credit.

Let's just be thankful that it hasn't reached the point where fans are given free admission by showing their driver's license.