The Ottawa Senators are slashing ticket prices and offering free parking to try to boost season ticket sales.
Ottawa Senators President Cyril Leeder says the changes are in response to a new reality left behind by the recession.
"In the fall of 2008, the world changed for everybody," said Leeder.
"More than a year after the crash, that uncertainty really has been replaced by a new reality and some new standards."
He says although fans are still coming to games, they are being more selective on how they're spending their money.
"The hockey fan hasn't stopped coming to games . . . but they are more discerning, they're more demanding, and they're certainly more selective on how they're going to spend their limited resources -- namely, time and money," he said.
The average attendance at Scotiabank Place this season has dropped 6.6 per cent over last year.
In 19 home games, 339,549 people have watched the Sens play at Scotiabank Place. There have been three sell-outs and the average attendance per game is sitting at 17,871.
The Sens are now lowering season ticket prices for all seats to try to boost sales. The cost of tickets in areas typically slower to sell will drop by as much as 33 per cent.
Sens owner Eugene Melnyk says the announcement is just the beginning in a series of initiatives for fans, which will benefit both current and future season ticket holders. The Sens will also introduce an initiative to try to boost individual game sales next week.
Benefits for season ticket holders include:
- Anyone who renews full- and half-season tickets will pay regular season ticket prices in the first two rounds of the 2010 and 2011 playoffs, as well as discounts for round three and four tickets.
- Season ticket holders will also get a discount for the 2010-2011 hockey season.
- Free parking will be given to all full-season ticket holders who've held tickets for more than five seasons. This incentive will begin next season.
- Season-seat holders will also be able to exchange tickets for another game of equal or lesser value.
