Ottawa Senators hoping for sold out home opener despite current public health limits
Puck drop is in less than a month and after 18 months away, fans are ready to be back at the Canadian Tire Centre.
"I’m super excited, I can’t wait. I texted the guys right away as soon as they put the tickets on sale," Ottawa Senators fan Cam Duff said.
Duff, like many Sens fans already has his ticket for the home opener.
"We’re super excited to have hockey back, to have fans back in the building," said Tom Hoof, Vice President of Marketing for the Senators.
The team is already selling tickets for the first half of the season and the hope is that they’ll play in front of a sold out crowd opening night.
The single, glaring, obstacle?
Public health guidelines have capped capacity at just over five per cent of that.
"We’re selling for the whole building right now and hopefully the province will let us have everybody in," Hoof said.
Under Ontario’s public health guidelines, professional sports teams are allowed to have either 50 per cent capacity or 1,000 fans in indoor arenas; whichever is fewer people.
The Sens say they are aware of the current guidelines, but do not have a plan if those guidelines are still in place by Oct. 14.
"We’re not sure how that’s going to work just yet but we’re hoping for a full building on the night of the first game," Hoof said.
Hoof later told CTV News Ottawa there would be a process for fans to follow if they were affected by capacity restrictions.
"We’ll be informing people through our social media accounts and directly with our sales reps so just really pay attention to what the province is telling you," he added.
In a statement to CTV News, Ontario’s Ministry of Health says the 1,000 person maximum is still the current health guideline but that the province may consider future changes.
"As we monitor the impact of opening schools and the growing number of people returning to workplaces, our government will evaluate when it may be safe to consider expanding capacity limits in settings that are captured by the new vaccine certificate services policy," a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health wrote.
The provincial government did not indicate when those changes might occur, but the Sens remain confident it will be before Oct. 14.
"We’re working very closely with the leadership in the province and we’re confident we will have a lot of fans in this building. We’re going by what we’re hearing from the province so all indications are looking very positive for us," Hoof said.
Some health experts say the improved ventilation at the Canadian Tire Centre, combined with a mask policy and vaccine mandate mean the events will be considerably lower-risk.
"Of course, if you are introducing other things like prolonged close proximity, lots of yelling and screaming, can you be surprised if there’s some transmission of COVID? No, there might be," said infectious disease specialist and member of Ontario’s vaccination task force, Dr. Isaac Bogoch.
Bogoch says it would be prudent for the province to constantly be reconsidering capacity limits, along with other health measures, but adds he doesn’t believe now is the time to allow upwards of 18,000 people in an indoor arena.
"I think if you were to do this right now the conclusion would be no, let’s hold the fort, let’s continue along this path and steps we’re currently taking right now because we know what happens if we lift measures with a very contagious Delta variant,” Bogoch said.
It means tickets are currently being sold for a game that some fans may not be able to attend. Despite the apparent double standard, Duff says he’s not worried about losing his seat.
"No not really, hopefully they have at least some sort of refund policy, but I’d be more concerned about sitting next to a Leafs fan," he said.
CTV Ottawa did reach out to the Toronto Maple Leafs to compare their ticket sales plan. However, the team declined to comment without more information on capacity limits from the provincial government.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.