Senators poised for financial turnaround: Melnyk
The sudden rebuild initiated by the Ottawa Senators in the closing months of a disappointing 2010-2011 season appears to be paying dividends both on and off the ice.
In a wide-ranging interview with the Citizen Thursday, team owner Eugene Melnyk said his team is poised to break even for the first time in years, with any home playoff dates serving as the cherry on top of a surprisingly successful campaign.
“Up until this year, we had to make two rounds of playoffs just to break even,” he said in a telephone interview Thursday. “Now, we are doing well enough that we break even, pretty much, just finishing off the season, and everything else kind of gets ‘bonused’ out.”
Other topics Melnyk discussed include:
— The Senators beefing up in-arena video surveillance and security — and lowering the threshold for ejecting fans from games — in hopes of preventing the kind of unruly crowd that showed up for a Feb. 4 contest between the Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs.
— The two teams he doesn’t want to see in the first round of the playoffs: New Jersey and Philadelphia (he wouldn’t provide bulletin board material by revealing the team he would prefer to face).
— The Ontario government recently floating the idea of removing a business tax break on sports tickets, which Melnyk called “very foolish.”
Melnyk said that once his team clears up the financial “hangover” from previous contract buyouts for players like Jonathan Cheechoo and Ray Emery, “things can all come together where the business of hockey actually pays.
“The cheques start going, hopefully, the other way.”
Yet in spite of the apparent turnaround on the ice and on the balance sheet, don’t expect the team to start climbing the salary scale again.
Asked if the would ever spend to the cap again (this season it’s set at $64.3 million, while capgeek.com has Ottawa’s hit at $51.6 million), Melnyk said a lot would depend on how it moves in the coming years.
It’s not something he is inclined to do, however.
“You can spend to the cap — it’s very easy. Any idiot can do that,” he explained. “The really elite teams are the ones that can (put in) elite management and elite coaching, that can put a competitive team on the ice year-after-year, and not have to buy that team.
“They can do it through internal growth. And that’s the sign of a really elite group. And that’s what we want to be.”
Melnyk also said he wants his building to be one parents comfortable bringing their kids to — thus the increased security measures.
He said he has already set up a meeting with FIFA officials in London (coinciding with the UEFA Euro 2012 soccer tournament being hosted in Poland and Ukraine) this summer and hopes to talk tactics with security officials there.
“At the end of the day, I’ve got little ones, a nine and 13-year-old, and I’ll be damned if some guy is going to pour a beer on them or whatever, or curse,” Melnyk said. “That’s just not going to happen.”
The Senators already have cameras in the rink powerful enough to monitor single seats, and have undertaken more robust training for staff that monitors them.
He was careful not to paint all opposing fans with the same brush, however.
“It’s not a lot of people. Generally they’re okay,” he said. “Yeah, they’re fans, yes they’re boorish, but I can tell you places I wouldn’t go without heavy security myself. They wouldn’t even know I’m there. I wouldn’t dare wear a sweater.
“Philadelphia’s one of them. You ask me who I would not want to play? I wouldn’t want to play New Jersey or Philadelphia. You’re going into a war zone. I’d rather be in Kandahar,” Melnyk, who has been to Afghanistan to visit the troops before, joked. “Yeah, those are tough cookies. But in all seriousness, I take it very, very seriously, and we won’t put up with it.”
For all of the strides the Senators have made this season, Melnyk still knows they still aren’t a postseason lock. Ottawa plays three games in the next four nights, and Melnyk will be scoreboard watching like every other fan.
“It’s every night, it’s crazy,” he said. “But at the end of the day…as long as you’re winning, it’s pointless watching everybody else behind you. That’s why these upcoming games are going to be very, very important to us, starting with Montreal (Friday night).”
READ MORE QUOTES FROM THE MELNYK INTERVIEW HERE.
James Gordon is the Citizen’s Sports Editor. Follow him on Twitter at: @SensReporter
Interesting to note that Mr Melnyk made no mention of the Dany Heatley contract (or did The Citizen fail to ask??)
Good news on keeping tabs on wild fans (take note Leaf fans).
Security has become an issue–both for the fans & SBP as well (protect your investment Mr Melnyk).
As per the Playoffs, I think our best chance to advance to Round 2 is with a matchup with the Rangers. Personally I will be watching the 1st round down at Bert’s in Barbados. See you there!!
Because the Ottawa fans are so awesome. I’ve had beer poured on me and been cussed out by drunken idiots with a Centurion on their chest because I happened to be wearing another logo. It’s not just fans from out of town, Ottawa has its share of idiots as well.
In the Bryden years, security waa emphasized very heavily in the usher training program each fall, much more intenss than now, We were shown how those powerful cameras worked. We were told to rip tickets of intoxicated patrons at the gate and put one half in our pockets (not the ticket box), to transfer to security so they could be located and watched inside the bowl. Then, when the the scanners came in, there was no way to keep a ticket of an intoxicated fan at the gate. The cameras went into disuse, new staff do not know they are there. Fans were permitted to buy two large beers at once, equal to four plus bottles. The target demographic changed, not hard to predict the hooligan behaviour.
Cut back on alcohol volume, use the cameras, spot impaired rowdies coming in, toss a few, be more proactive in facing down rowdy behaviour ( even at the cost of a few patrons)
Happy to hear Eugene might start to make some of his investment back. However I wonder if the losses are written off on his taxes.
Ok RJ. Lets take the fighting, hits, and goons out of hockey. Drug test everyone at the door and only let in suits, seniors, and children. Give it a break, this is a sport and this is sporting culture. As a seasons ticket holder I’m glad the days of seeing somebody thrown out of every section every game are gone because those were embarrassing.
If anyone is to be embarrassed, it is the fans who were getting tossed. At the end of the day, an arena is a public place & despite the voilent nature of the game, a live hockey game is a family event. If you want to be a drunken fool, spill your beer, be ingnorant & curse at people, do it from the comfort of your own home. Not in front of children.
There is nothing wrong with being exuberant, and cheering on your team. Hollering, clapping, booing, chanting etc… thats all fine. But have some respect for the people/children/seniors around you.
RJ at 11:05 pm, responding to RJ at 10:21pm is not me. I was the first one to post, after Peter Quinlan. I was talkng about the security measures that used to be employed to deal with impaired people.
Really?
It’s sporting culture.
It’s embarrassing.
Really eh?
I wonder then why other sports use such strict security measures?
I’ve been at the ‘Bank with my young nephews and I’ll be damned any goon sitting near me has the freedom to verbally abuse whoever he wants.
Sporting culture? Or barbarianism?
Simple, eject any fans that BOO the Sens in their own building. Sens fans have some pride and take back your building for Pete’s sake!!!
I second that.
Good to know some people are taking notes but what I find sad is those Ushers telling the fans to tone it down because there are kids around. If you want a silent crowd that’ll put you to sleep, you’re going at it the right way. If you want to watch a game quietly, stay home!! People need to be able to cheer their team loud & proud. Maybe some of those ushers are too old to be there and appreciate what a great crowd SBP could have. The boys on the ice need to hear the fans are behind them, specially in their barn. Go Sens! LOUD & PROUD!!
I’ve seen usher’s ask people to refrain from cursing because there are children present, but I’ve never heard an usher ask anyone to quiet down. That’s absurd.
I always thought the crowd at the Scotiabank Place was kind of dull compared to other sporting venues. I get the vibe that if you cheer too loud or yell witty comments you will be kicked out. I find having that feeling in the back of my head kind of takes away from the superfan experience. When I go to a game I want to let loose and drown out all the other fans for the opposing teams that often seem louder than our fans. If we want our hardcore fan base to grow, I think we need that kind of professional sporting atmosphere. With that being said, Eugene owns the team and if he wants a family oriented franchise then I will have to respect that. On that note, for a team that wants to be family oriented ticket prices are awfully high for the average family.
RJ needs to give his head a shake. People who use “sporting culture” as an excuse to justify aggressive behaviour and assault at sports events are delusional. Sorry, but the law doesn’t cease to apply just because you’re in a stadium or sports field. People who can’t just relax and have a good time without being belligerent don’t belong in public venues. RJ must be one of those bi-polar Sens ticket holders who cheers for the Leafs when they’re in town.
Hey RJ…buddy. The tickets are what? about $165? Better be careful who your tossing out for having a good time. They may not come back…it’s a hockey game, we don’t need the secret service watching us…good grief.
Hmm, last two events I’ve been to at SBP was the Leafs game and Van Halen.
At the Leaf’s game, a guy two rows behind me (mid 300′s) had to be escorted away after actually coming after the guys behind & beside me.
At Van Halen (mid 300′s again), a group of about 6 guys were in a major fist fight that had 4 cops wading into the stands and chasing guys who tried to get away through the fans…
Its not necessarily the Ushers but the guys who support them. Both incidents were well underway for a few minutes before any “security” type people showed up.
Icq, I agree there’s no justification for aggressive, threatening behaviour. Cheering, yelling etc are all part of watching a game however just because you’re in a sports arena or stadium doesn’t give you the right to try and intimidate or threaten others. Alcohol usually does play a role in these things however it’s usually a minority of people that just can’t seem to have a few drinks without getting nasty. Those are the people that need to be removed, regardless of what teams they cheer for.
Yeah, elite teams don’t spend near the cap and manage “internally”. The cap is $64.3 million. Not sure what Melnyk categorizes as “elite” but here are a few suggestions and the amounts they spend on salary. I’ve added NJ since Melnyk states they are a team he fears playing:
Philadelphia Flyers – $66,990,887
Vancouver Canucks $64,931,508
Pittsburgh Penguins $64,183,825
Boston Bruins $62,066,345
New York Rangers $62,058,939 $
New Jersey Devils $61,683,955
San Jose Sharks $61,424,179
Detroit Red Wings $59,452,474
Pretty close to, or over, the cap, no?
Note that Detroit’s numbers are down due to Lidstrom, Datsyuk and Hilmstorm all missing 10 games or more, thereby giving the team cap relief over those 30 man games.
Try another tack, Eugene.
Amen, Sure Eugene.
Teams that are elite and very competitive are within a few million of the cap. The last team (iirc) to win a Cup with a substantially low payroll was the Carolina Hurricanes. If you don’t spend you won’t keep your talent and you won’t draw free agents to Ottawa.
How much do you think Erik Karlsson is going to cost after this season? He’ll want 4-7 million, there goes Melnyk’s argument.
As for bring kids to games, terrible, terrible idea. If kids want to watch hockey the 67s are around with a great kid-friendly atmosphere. Scotiabank Place is not the place for children, with the beer flowing, fans quite rowdy at rivalry games etc.
Yeah, just what Scotiabank place needs. Less booze and rowdy behaviour. It’s so loud in there. Let’s make it even more quiet than it already is. I’m all for it: a long drive, to a stadium in the middle of nowhere, paying for expensive parking, to sit in a boring quiet stadium, exit and be stuck in traffic and get home an hour later.
I really hope they don’t make the playoffs & miss the $$$ that brings in.
I love the comments about ejecting people that ‘boo’ the Sens. If that were to be enforced, there would be nobody in the building when the Habs & Leafs visit.
This team has long history of bad decisions and embarrassing actions:
- Daigle, Yashin, Emery & Heatly
- Buidling an arena in the middle of nowhere
- Bryden’s “Buy tickets or we’re leaving!” stuff
- That Roman Dude debacle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi5nCd1ZVrw)
How can anybody support this?
I’ve been sitting in the 100′s at times and i can hear a pin-drop at that place. It’s the worst. If you make noise people look at you with scared grins. I’m a hardcore sens fan and i’ve been told to quiet down at games before by ushers, seniors, parents with their children, the suits more interested in their BlackBerry’s then the game, etc. just for getting loud. Yes, sometimes maybe i deserved it but not always. The real question is why do i feel unwelcome making noise and supporting the team. The answer/problem is the arena location and the suburban culture that it attracts and caters to. Based on its location this is the reality; SBP needs to target the suburbanites. If we want to have a great atmosphere and fans like they do in TO and MTL then we need to build a new arena downtown. Until this happens we will remain the laughing stock of Canadian hockey for being the Kanata Senators. I know we need to play with the cards your dealt but Melnyk you need to realize that the building is the biggest problem and for $500 million investment you can have a new building and turn SBP into an AMC30 or a loblaws or something. Lebretton Flats is where the team needs to relocate to. If i was a leaf or habs fan going to SBP would be a blast…the place is a joke and so are the majority of the fans. GO SENS GO