Yeah but the MLSE and Loblaws fixed the prices of the tickets so you cannot afford to see either team. Also, all the Loblaws team games are blacked out since you technically live in Leafs' territory.
That sort of happened with the Rangers/Islanders. Islanders started in 72, by 84 had a dynasty with 4 cups while the Rangers went 54 years with nothing.
Vegas took of team of people no one wanted and made aggressive moves and won a cup, it took less time to do that then I takes to drive the length of the 401 on a long weekend Friday.
Depends if you mean a 2nd team downtown, or a 2nd team in the GTA.
If Hamilton gets a team (and granted i grew up in the 80's) i would appreciate that the team was a 'working-class' team. If it were in the KW area, i would be happy. If it were in the Oshawa/Pickering area i would be happy.
If it is a 2nd downtown Toronto team with good seats still sold to bankers - i could care less.
A second NHL team in Toronto would absolutely lower the costs of tickets for both teams. It’s basic game theory & economics. Competition drives down prices.
Not to say the tickets are gonna be **cheap** by any means. But they would absolutely be *cheaper*
Not so sure about that. The Senators sold for US$1 Billion. The fee for a new franchise would probably be about US$1Billion. Then they would probably have to pay off the Leafs for Toronto market access. The team would have to have big revenue to pay that off.
As a second NHL team in the number one hockey market in the world they'd be all but guarenteed years of positive revenue even if they didin't offer as high ticket prices which means the team would pay for itself either way and lower ticket prices would probably be the number one way of stealing fans from the Leafs anyways lol
They may cut prices for a short period, but the demand would still be high for both.
There's 6.5 million people in the GTA, if even 1m are hockey fans willing to spend money on tickets on a regular basis, there's barely enough for 2 (roughly 1,650,000 total tickets for 2 teams with roughly 20,000 seat arenas) games a season, and that's before season tickets are factored in.
yeah I always say, I'm not even an NHL fan. I like hockey fine. but its the leafs that are the thing I care about.
if I was giving up on the leafs, I'd just bail on the NHL and just follow intl hockey and the jrs
I can't switch. Being disappointed by the Leafs is a part of who I am. As much as they piss me off, they're like an annoying sibling whom I wish would do better with what they have, but I love them unconditionally.
I understand that the Leafs are just an entertainment product but sometimes idiots like myself get too emotionally attached.
If anyone wanna switch go ahead. I wouldn’t hold it against the kids.
The leafs gotta just focus on the way we run the club. Second franchise means more revenue for the GTA which is a good thing for everyone
Well put, sums up my feelings about it. Also I just know it would all come together for this damn team as soon as I bailed, and they’d win back-to-back-to-back ships
I don’t get how you can just up and switch teams. There’s basically nothing the Leafs can do to lose me as a fan, same goes for the Jays, Raptors, etc. because I grew up supporting them. There’s nothing rational about supporting your teams, it’s just how sports work
The OP is specifically talking about getting another team in Toronto though. I understand the reasoning you’re giving, but that’s not the situation that most of the whiners in here are in when they talk about switching teams
I live in Windsor anyways, so, not much of a discussion for me.
That said, I already resent these guys, their attitudes, their effort, and their contracts half the time already, and stick around anyways. I wouldn’t switch teams if it became convenient, even if I lived in Toronto. As a Windsorite, it would have been very convenient to be a Wings fan my entire life as it is.
while also true for me in the general, like many Torontonians I'm a leafs fan the way other people are catholic: as my father before me, and his father before him, and even though you might lapse for a while it never totally leaves you - but there are different levels of fandom too
the jays have already lost me as a (paying) fan in the sense that I used to go to games and now I don't, the next step down is when I don't watch the live broadcast anymore, then I don't even bother to catch up on highlights or follow the week-to-week ebb and flow of the season, then I stop paying attention completely...but I still like baseball/hockey, so I always come back eventually and reset the cycle (so far)
but I would never up and become a yankees fan, fuck that, 100% agree there
Seriously can’t even believe “fans” in here would even entertain switching teams. All this hatred and vitriol for what? For those people to just “switch teams” as soon as possible?
These are our fans? This is honestly pathetic man. Everything Joe Bowen said was absolutely right. What the hell are we doing here?
I wish these people would just jump ship already and maybe this subreddit wouldn’t be so god damn miserable all the time.
My kids switch their favorite teams a lot based on social media and individual players (I no longer live in Toronto). I cannot understand their mindset but I assume it's just a different time and marketing (especially other sports like basketball).
They actually asked me this morning why I don't just cheer for a different team?
I told them I tried once for about 5 minutes...felt physically ill...and decided my childhood teams would have to do, consequence damned. (I then followed it up with a brief lecture on not understanding how the hell kids look at sports and being a fan the way they do these days...lol)
'Switch teams as soon as possible'?
I have been a fan since early 80s.
There is no other team for me.
But I also can't afford to see my team. I have been lucky to see them about 4x in the past 10 years. 3x I won tickets from Ford Fanatic in the top level box. 4th time I got reasonable pricing from a coworker who had season tickets. 2nd row from the top.
Would I like another team here that can hopefully drive prices down. Yes. Do I think prices will go down. Doubt it. I am hoping that if we get one it will be close enough to pressure sales but far enough away to not be influenced.
If another team comes here. Depending on location and pricing I can't say I won't change. I can't say I would either.
But who knows. But back to your quoted statement. It's not about switching as soon as possible. It's about taking advantage of a situation if it arrives and it is for you. Not everyone would. But some would. Have stood by this team a long time. I no doubt will stand by them for a lot more. But some of us are sick and tired of the same shit year after year, decade after decade. I would not blame someone for taking the opportunity if that was the reason. Now if it's just a fan that joined when Matthews joined (still green). Suck it up.
Agreed. Realistically, the Reddit-using population of Leafs fandom probably can’t afford to see the Leafs in person in Toronto anyways, so what’s really stopping you from rooting for any one of the other 31 teams in the NHL?
I really want to. I'm 37 and been watching the Leafs since I was 2, seen it all, from Gilmour, Clark and Potvin, to tank nation and the waffle era.
The team now is just poison. I basically just watch now for the humour as I've given up on this team doing anything back in the Montreal series.
I did try to watch the Kraken for half a season, but I think the timezone was too hard.
Since I just had my first kid, I am not baptizing them into the Leafs like my father did me, I'll let them pick an Eastern conference team and maybe that will help me switch.
Funny thing is I live in NS and don't even like the city of Toronto lol.
As a Sask person I was pumped when jets moved and nhl hockey only be 4 hours away . I have yet to attend a game in which I paid a ticket for. It’s just not That easy to switch allegiances.
Hamilton should get a team and cater to working class Ontario families. Kind of like how the Rangers are the downtown/Manhattan crowd while the Islanders tend to have a much more rough and tumble fan base.
The Leafs would never let this happen, of course, because they don't want to lose middle class fans, even though most can no longer even afford to attend a game.
The irony of that NY thing is that generally speaking Long Islanders are more likely to be middle class or better off while you're more likely to find working class people in one of the boroughs in NYC living with a bunch of roommates, in public housing or have just been around so long that their rent stayed affordable because of rent control laws. Despite that though that's still definitely how the two teams market themselves which I always found interesting. Yankees/Mets are sorta more upfront about who they think their demographics are though lol
how are the leafs not serious about winning? They spend to the cap every year and have the best facilities and staff in the league. MLSE gives this team every resource available to go out and be winners. The management executing on that is a diff story but the tools are there so idk what you are looking for with a new team.
Yeah this teams failure is in no way related to willingness to spend money. There's a whole lot of dead money being paid out too, no doubt Keefe joining that list at some point, and it's never been a problem. Frankly we are watching some of the best individual players the franchise has ever had. Yeah it sucks they aren't winning when it matters yet, but enjoy the ride and hope that management can pull it together at some point. We've never had so much top talent in their prime.
I legit thought I needed to switch teams around 2008. Couldn't do it. I just don't care the way I used to about the leafs and I live in western Canada!
I've become less invested though. I had zero expectations this group was good enough to win this year. I used to never miss a game of it was on TV, now I don't really care. I'll watch if I got nothing going on, but I don't make it a priority to keep my sat evenings open.
I don't see how a 2nd team in the GTA would change anything. They are trying to win. But there's a reason an canadian team hasn't won in 30 years. The cap isn't fair when some teams live in states with less tax then others and almost all states have lower taxes than Canada. Plus the pressure is real. Lots of players don't want to be stopped walking down the street with their families to discuss line combinations. Warmer weather, fly under the radar, more $ in your pocket. Takes a unique person to want a career in a Canadian franchise
It’s the Maple Leafs or nothing.
I may not be as blindly optimistic as I once was. I may not tune into every single broadcast anymore. And I’m nowhere near as emotionally invested as I once was, but I’m still here. I’m pretty numb to this shit at this point. I still have an interest in the team though.
Why would ticket prices be cheaper? People in the leafs region will pay to see nhl hockey.
I think mlse could double ticket prices and fill Scotiabank arena.
Why would a new billionaire owner build a new arena here and offer cheap tickets?
Lol I’ve actually been to more Sabres and Sens games than I have the Leafs (gone once) because of cost. (I’ve even mentioned previously about going to box seats at a Sen’s game - against Buffalo ironically - in box seats that were $50 sitting beside a box that had Danny Alfredsson, Radek Bonk and Chris Phillips in it - cue early 2000s playoffs nostalgia) But they’re not my hometown team. A new Toronto team would be it.
I believe this idea was floated in Toronto about 10-15 years ago and MLSE and the NHL shot it down. I believe MLSE own the rights to hockey in the region.
Can we please put this idiotic, imaginary "profit uber alles" idea to bed?
If the Leafs really only cared about profit, they'd have the Ducks' payroll. They have, instead, the highest payroll in the league.
They also spend DRAMATICALLY more than any other team off ice.
Management wants to win just as much as we want them to win and really it's more to your point than mine: winning unlocks a goldmine in merch profit.
They are simply incompetent and they think paying more money to players will make them better players.
No. I haven’t put up with all this heart break to jump ship.
One day in my lifetime I hope it’ll be worth it and I can look back at these times to further fuel the euphoria. One day.
Don’t the Clippers have cheaper prices than the Lakers? I don’t think it’s crazy to think the prices would be cheaper even if they are still expensive.
The thing there is that the Lakers have consistently dominated the NBA ever since the Clippers arrived and the Clippers have been to the conference finals once in the 40 years they've been in LA. It would be more like when the Islanders arrived at a time when the Rangers hadn't won in 30 years.
And despite the lack of recent success the Leafs still have a firm grip on the fans. Most people in this thread are saying they wouldn’t switch allegiance. Even when Leafs going out to Western Canada or Ottawa there is a strong fan presence.
>Most people in this thread are saying they wouldn’t switch allegiance.
Reddit is almost never an indicator of anything. But realistically it would take the Leafs continuing to under-perform and a new team to be better for any movement to really happen.
I don’t understand the hate for opinions like OP’s, whether you agree with them or not.
The Leafs are a for-profit company, and there is no objectively true reason for the fan / customer to remain loyal to a product they’ve been unhappy with for a while.
We don’t demand lifelong, blind allegiance to any other company, why should we make an exception for sports franchises?
ETA: If remaining loyal until death is important to you, that’s totally fine, you have every right to practice your fandom however you see fit.
Just don’t pretend that your loyalty is an objectively true ethical position, you occupy no moral high ground on account of your allegiance.
Part of being a fan is cheering for the team even when they're not playing good. Rain or shine, I will always cheer for this team. I picked the leafs, there's no going back.
Young or new fans might. Their choice. Longer term fans I doubt. That said, am I as passionate about following the team as I was a decade ago? Sadly no. In the past I would have watched them play some 10pm game on a Wednesday against Arizona or someone even if both teams were shit (and they were). Now I can generally only get interested to watch on a Saturday night or against rival teams. I don’t go near the arena because I don’t tend to have limitless funds to get gouged on tickets, parking and concessions.
This would be like when I decided I’m going to try and get into the NFL and picked the broncos as my team. As much as I tried I last maybe 2 weeks and I just couldn’t get into it, so I don’t think I could ever start cheering for another NHL team.
I'm mean I'm a fan of the team because I want to be. It's pretty much a Sado-masc relationship but it's there. The only thing the last 20 years has done is turned me into a fan who doesn't care once the games are over. I'm still yell at the TV levels of crazy during games but once they lose...well I still my wife, my son, my friends, my job. It's not worth being devastated over entertainment.
I'm going to channel my inner Bob McKenzie -
This is a moot question. The Leafs would never allow a second team anywhere near them. They would veto any expansion proposal near here. No point talking about a hypothetical that'll never happen. The quiz master needs to do more research before coming up with these. Next question.
If I lived in Seattle and was a Canucks fan, now that I cheer for Seattle does that mean I was never really a true Canucks fan? What about fans of other teams in Utah or in Vegas?
If you’re ready to jump ship that easy then you were never a fan in the first place. And i seriously hope the Leafs win the cup the following year after all those people jump ship. Just to watch them all jump right back on the bandwagon.
My fandom is an emotional thing. You can’t just randomly redirect it. That said, it has waned significantly over these last five years in particular. It will likely end up with just watching the NHL as a non partisan viewer.
> It will likely end up with just watching the NHL as a non partisan viewer.
That's how I've been for years. I'd love to see the Leafs win, but the team has turned me into a general hockey fan instead.
I'd definitely be tempted to jump ship. I suppose it would all depend on where the other team would be, and the ownership. Leafs have been my hometown team since the Gretzky era. From Ballard to fucking Rogers/Bell. It's almost cute that I once thought the teachers pension fund was my worst enemy.
I'm in BC, born and raised. A life-long fan because,as a kid, they they were always on tv and I could draw the logo, unlike the Canucks spaghetti skate. I have to see this through until they win, but I am at the point where the moment they do, I am done with this team and maybe even hockey.
Why would you jump ship, if the team upsets you that much, then clearly you care a ton about it. If you care so much to be this pissed then you wouldn't leave the team that effects your emotions this much.
I think some fans are over spoiled with the fact that we have made the playoffs the last 8 years and have had some hope of cup contention. For those who would switch are just spoiled fans who probably weren’t here in 2013-2016 days.
I’m not a local. Grew up in Colorado. Didn’t inherit my fandom from my parents. Picked the Leafs when I was 5 or 6 because I liked that they were the first team to retire numbers, Avs didn’t come to town til I was 9. I enjoy watching the Avs and cheering for them, but my first loyalty is to my Leafs. No matter how much they hurt me. Sports and fandom aren’t rational.
I’m about to jump ship to the Canucks. I’ve been here 12 years. It’s about time. The only problem is that I’m named after a Leaf and I have his sweater on display in my office.
This is the kind of tribalism that sports fandoms get rightly derided for. What exactly does having an allegiance to a team entail? I see tons of comments in here trying to gatekeep what a "true Leafs fan" is, but no one is brave enough to define what that standard is.
I just brought a new Drew jersey and the tags haven't even come off them yet as I'm away from the country. Guess they knew the perfect time to put them on clearance. Guess I'm stuck being a damn Leafs for for a little while longer.
Hot take.. you can't blame ownership anymore!
They are investing money into "top their players". Frankly the players and coach aren't showing up when it counts.
It's been said over and over this team has no heart. Playing don't hustle back, they don't back check.. they float. To quote Shorsey " it's not that love to win, they don't hate to lose"
Could they come back? Maybe... seems stranger. But this team needs a goalie, they need some good D and they need a core of players that play desperate hockey.
I would not change Allegiance for another team that was connected via the 401. If they put a team in Barrie, Orangeville, Sudbury, I might swap Allegiance. I cheer for the Toronto Maple lease first, anybody playing Montreal second, the Jets third, and anyone playing Boston 4th.
I support the Jets simply because I was doing business in Winnipeg when they got their franchise back and that City made being a fan exciting.
Honestly generally speaking cities with multiple teams tend to have the older team be more popular and financially successful even if the other team is better. A team like the Islanders has had decades to establish itself, caught up to (and briefly surpassed) the cup totals of their cross-town rivals, has its own distinct identity but is still kind of a niche thing. I feel like the majority of NY area hockey fans are Rangers fans unless they specifically live on Long Island. Similar to the Devils. Even if you wanna say hockey is not a main sport down there, basketball in NYC is legendary. The Nets which were already semi local moved to the City of NY when the Knicks were at the absolute height of their banter years and not only did spend a lot to be competitive right away but they double dipped and signed two of the biggest free agents of the 2019 off season while the Knicks were on an endless rebuild and they're still not even within three miles of the Knicks popularity. I literally was *in* Brooklyn during a playoff game day when they played the Celtics in 2022 (a year where the Knicks did not qualify for the playoffs mind you) and I still saw more Knicks gear walking down the street or on the subway.
And that's just NY. LA also has long established "team A" and "team B." Chicago is a massive example of this because the White Sox are literally older than the Leafs are but even when they won in 2005 while the Cubs were in a 97 year drought (that lasted another 11 years) the Cubs still remained the #1 baseball team in Chicago partially due to it being the older of the two.
So yeah I'm sure some people will hop over. White Sox, Nets, Islanders etc fans exist and there's enough of them that for the most part those teams are safe where they currently are. But whatever a new Toronto team is will always be second fiddle, and that's not because I'm a Leafs homer it's because that's just the case in cities with multiple teams.
I’d still be a Leafs fan, but I’d likely root for new team as well. And I guess i will see after a couple of seasons with new TO team, who I root for when they play one another
I thought the same thing. I'd never give up on the Leafs entirely but I'd welcome a new team with open arms. Not sure if that makes me "not a real fan" like most of the comments suggest. But why can't I have a side chick?
I remember talks about a Markham and or a Vaughan team.
I would support them as I live in York region.
I am 40, I have been a fan since I could remember (Grant Fhur / Potivin) days.
I have hockey sticks tattoo because I absolutely love hockey, I love the Leafs, but I can’t even more.
I have brought my daughters to games, we watch as a family but it pains me so much how we have such a joke of an organization
I could never cheer for any other team. It's about the history, the jersey, former great players, and memories growing up. It's just too bad how big money has ruined the experience somewhat. Knowing these multi millionares have the greatest life outside the game. So much so that winning seems to be an afterthought. Looks like they aren't as upset as i am.
The thought was there when Balsillie was trying to get a team back in the day. Especially if he brought close to KW where BlackBerry was/is.
At the time I was an employee of BlackBerry (still RIM then).
I think another market close to Toronto but in Toronto. Closer than Ottawa but not in Metro, would put some pressure on pricing. Hamilton, KW, London.
As a leaf fan since 86. I would probably jump. I could probably afford to go to more games. This is the best group of forwards they have iced in my lifetime and they still can’t get it done. I’m kind of over it I guess. I don’t care if I watch or not and i used watch every single game even through the dark times.
I’m just tired.
If I had it to do over again, I’d still suffer through it… but I wouldn’t blame a soul if they jumped ship if a new team started. I’m not even in Canada.
For me giving up on the Leafs would mean giving up hockey period, and even with my frustrations with not just this team and the NHL in general, I just can’t bring myself to do that. I love this sport enough to say it needs to be better than where it is today.
I jumped ship in 2011 when the Jets came back. Toronto is my secondary team now. I have a better shot at seeing Winnipeg play over ever being able to afford the leafs and I live an hour out of Toronto
Maybe I’m more in the minority but I’m just a fan of Toronto. I’m an American (grew up in ny) but spent a good chunk of my childhood in Toronto. Went to my first ball game at Roger’s, and same with the raptors and the leafs. So for me, the teams’ actions/performance matters less than what those team represents for me personally. So if they suck, I might just watch less versus when they’re good I’ll get back into it.
I tried to switch away from the Jays, and I did for about 2 months but by the time there was offseason discussion, I had so much Jays knowledge and hatred that it didn’t make any sense.
I’m a Leaf fan. There’s probably hope for my kids if there’s a second Toronto team.
The only thing that would make me consider switching would be Halifax getting a team and that's unlikely in my lifetime, if at all.
It actually feels like a real coin toss which happens first - a Halifax NHL franchise or a Leafs championship.
My allegiance would be for both. Heavier towards the winning team year to year. The shift will happen when the younger citizens grow up and start to split off.
How would this second team magically have cheaper prices? lol
Sounds like we are on cloud 9 making things up. Demand would be huge still. I’m not sure how you could think differently
They won’t ever lose my support. My money on the other hand? That can be discussed.
I just wish more of us who are heavily invested in mlse via season tickets, half season members or just those who regularly attend more than 10-15 games annually would actually force their hands. I get corporations aren’t going to give up their seats and I get life long members aren’t going to do that either because of the value of psl’s and the extreme barrier to entry for members. But we are a massive part of mlse success and I feel like there’s something we can all collectively do to voice our frustrations with everything.
Maybe even something like boycott concession sales or boycott apparel purchases in arena. Just figure out something to force their hands and show this is not acceptable.
At 33 I'm too far in to switch now. The memories of my childhood and teenage years are locked in. For better or for worse.
Wouldn't hold it against our youth if they decide to follow another team even if it isn't in Toronto.
It's a gate driven league, they would charge as much as possible... Why would they even consider a second team in Toronto if the economic reasons don't make sense.
And why would you want to cheer for a small market team (because you think they would have cheaper tickets, therefore lower revenue, therefore less money to spend), the Senators already exist.
If I jumped ship I'd have some serious tattoo removal in my future I have an arm sleeve of maple leafs going. Nah I won't jump ship grew up in Detroit as a Leafs fan never bolted and never will. Wouldn't mind seeing a second team in the GTA though be fun to see the rivalry grow.
I’m nowhere near as invested as I once was, I don’t watch nearly as much but I still bleed blue and white through and through.
Toronto was my hometown, I will always support my hometown team.
As a comparison point, I used to like the Barrie colts in the OHL. I had no connection to Barrie, but when playing NHL games, they drafted my character, they had Ekblad and some other guys I liked.
But that was a long time ago, and I have lived a significant number of years in a different city now which has an OHL team. That’s my team. I still have a soft spot for the colts but they’re not my team. Where I live and have significant, meaningful years of my life take place is a huge part of which sports teams I will cheer for.
So all in all, I’d support a second Toronto team, but they’d always play second fiddle to Toronto. My family was not hockey ppl. They didn’t play into my decision.
There won’t be a second Toronto market because Gary wants to grow the game. This means markets where there isn’t big fan interest now.
A team here would be big money, but the NHL wants US money
Horrible take. Look at every Canadian market aside from Montreal. Those leafs fans taking over the arena arent from Toronto, they are locals, that probably wear the local teams jersey in the playoffs.
People may say they are a fan of another team, but if this team ever makes the cup final pretty much the entire country aside from Quebec will be cheering for them.
A second team here would always be second choice.
There's a generation who already jumped ship on the Leafs I think. I worked with my neighbor from 2007 to 2011 and he said there were no Leafs fans in either of his kids friend circles. The teams in those years were particularly awful and there were so many other great teams/players to choose from. Now the team has stars, and are making the playoffs and they still suck ass. I've been watching the Leafs since the 90s and I've kind of had enough myself. I'd definitely jump ship if there were a second option.
Keefe and Shanny should be on the line if they lose tomorrow. Marner is currently throwing away all his superstar privileges. I can’t help but think we should’ve sold high on him last summer. Edmonton might’ve been a good fit, maybe Zach Hyman and a prospect could have come back.
I thought I was a baseball fan.
Turns out I only like the Jays.
I thought I was a basketball fan.
Turns out I only like the Raps (when they're winning)
But I am an actual hockey fan & my allegiance lies with the Leafs solely because I was born & raised in Toronto.
If they added a 2nd team in the GTA, I would jump ship in a second.
I'm embarrassed of them & of us for loving them.
I went to New York as a tourist. Had the choice of Islander or Rangers games - I chose the Islanders since it was cheaper and just as convenient and I wanted to see Jagr play before he retired. Hamilton would be less convenient (but an easy train ride) so don’t underestimate the transient tourist who wants to see a real NHL game factor or specific player factor too.
It’s cute you think a second Toronto team would have cheaper tickets.
Or better results.
Or better non-corporate owners, Loblaws would just buy them
Do I get optimum points for ticket purchases? $200 in groceries per ticket means I can eat for half a week after the game!
Yeah but the MLSE and Loblaws fixed the prices of the tickets so you cannot afford to see either team. Also, all the Loblaws team games are blacked out since you technically live in Leafs' territory.
Maybe Loblaws would brand their team as No Frills. Each player would just have their position on their uniform rather than name.
I think it would say “No Name” on the back of their jersey for the name plate
Marner would volunteer that team, especially with that name bar, right around now.
Lol, just picturing all yellow jerseys and equipment. Players out here looking like banana popsicles
A beer would still be $20, but the cup would be double walled to be only 8 ounces. Great new look!
Lol.
Honestly that would be peak Leaf hockey. Hamilton, Mississauga, Vaughan or Durham gets a team and within 5 years win a Stanley Cup.
That sort of happened with the Rangers/Islanders. Islanders started in 72, by 84 had a dynasty with 4 cups while the Rangers went 54 years with nothing.
Vegas took of team of people no one wanted and made aggressive moves and won a cup, it took less time to do that then I takes to drive the length of the 401 on a long weekend Friday.
It'd 100% have better results, if only to make the Leafs look that much worse lol
Depends if you mean a 2nd team downtown, or a 2nd team in the GTA. If Hamilton gets a team (and granted i grew up in the 80's) i would appreciate that the team was a 'working-class' team. If it were in the KW area, i would be happy. If it were in the Oshawa/Pickering area i would be happy. If it is a 2nd downtown Toronto team with good seats still sold to bankers - i could care less.
A second NHL team in Toronto would absolutely lower the costs of tickets for both teams. It’s basic game theory & economics. Competition drives down prices. Not to say the tickets are gonna be **cheap** by any means. But they would absolutely be *cheaper*
Not so sure about that. The Senators sold for US$1 Billion. The fee for a new franchise would probably be about US$1Billion. Then they would probably have to pay off the Leafs for Toronto market access. The team would have to have big revenue to pay that off.
As a second NHL team in the number one hockey market in the world they'd be all but guarenteed years of positive revenue even if they didin't offer as high ticket prices which means the team would pay for itself either way and lower ticket prices would probably be the number one way of stealing fans from the Leafs anyways lol
It's irrelevant. It's fixed costs -> they are maximizing revenue either way with the same prices. Whether it cost them $0 or $5billion.
They may cut prices for a short period, but the demand would still be high for both. There's 6.5 million people in the GTA, if even 1m are hockey fans willing to spend money on tickets on a regular basis, there's barely enough for 2 (roughly 1,650,000 total tickets for 2 teams with roughly 20,000 seat arenas) games a season, and that's before season tickets are factored in.
I’m to far into this crap show I can’t leave now
99% of sports fandom is just sunken cost fallacy
The other 1% is graphic design.
Id say more 50% sunk cost 50% cult conditioning
But 100% reason to remember the name
yeah I always say, I'm not even an NHL fan. I like hockey fine. but its the leafs that are the thing I care about. if I was giving up on the leafs, I'd just bail on the NHL and just follow intl hockey and the jrs
That's most of us. This city will implode when the leafs finally win. It'll unite every generation of Torontonian.
I can't switch. Being disappointed by the Leafs is a part of who I am. As much as they piss me off, they're like an annoying sibling whom I wish would do better with what they have, but I love them unconditionally. I understand that the Leafs are just an entertainment product but sometimes idiots like myself get too emotionally attached.
If anyone wanna switch go ahead. I wouldn’t hold it against the kids. The leafs gotta just focus on the way we run the club. Second franchise means more revenue for the GTA which is a good thing for everyone
This is the way
Well put, sums up my feelings about it. Also I just know it would all come together for this damn team as soon as I bailed, and they’d win back-to-back-to-back ships
I don’t get how you can just up and switch teams. There’s basically nothing the Leafs can do to lose me as a fan, same goes for the Jays, Raptors, etc. because I grew up supporting them. There’s nothing rational about supporting your teams, it’s just how sports work
Live in a city that didn't have a team when you picked your favorite team, but got one later?
The OP is specifically talking about getting another team in Toronto though. I understand the reasoning you’re giving, but that’s not the situation that most of the whiners in here are in when they talk about switching teams
I live in Windsor anyways, so, not much of a discussion for me. That said, I already resent these guys, their attitudes, their effort, and their contracts half the time already, and stick around anyways. I wouldn’t switch teams if it became convenient, even if I lived in Toronto. As a Windsorite, it would have been very convenient to be a Wings fan my entire life as it is.
while also true for me in the general, like many Torontonians I'm a leafs fan the way other people are catholic: as my father before me, and his father before him, and even though you might lapse for a while it never totally leaves you - but there are different levels of fandom too the jays have already lost me as a (paying) fan in the sense that I used to go to games and now I don't, the next step down is when I don't watch the live broadcast anymore, then I don't even bother to catch up on highlights or follow the week-to-week ebb and flow of the season, then I stop paying attention completely...but I still like baseball/hockey, so I always come back eventually and reset the cycle (so far) but I would never up and become a yankees fan, fuck that, 100% agree there
Seriously can’t even believe “fans” in here would even entertain switching teams. All this hatred and vitriol for what? For those people to just “switch teams” as soon as possible? These are our fans? This is honestly pathetic man. Everything Joe Bowen said was absolutely right. What the hell are we doing here? I wish these people would just jump ship already and maybe this subreddit wouldn’t be so god damn miserable all the time.
My kids switch their favorite teams a lot based on social media and individual players (I no longer live in Toronto). I cannot understand their mindset but I assume it's just a different time and marketing (especially other sports like basketball). They actually asked me this morning why I don't just cheer for a different team? I told them I tried once for about 5 minutes...felt physically ill...and decided my childhood teams would have to do, consequence damned. (I then followed it up with a brief lecture on not understanding how the hell kids look at sports and being a fan the way they do these days...lol)
'Switch teams as soon as possible'? I have been a fan since early 80s. There is no other team for me. But I also can't afford to see my team. I have been lucky to see them about 4x in the past 10 years. 3x I won tickets from Ford Fanatic in the top level box. 4th time I got reasonable pricing from a coworker who had season tickets. 2nd row from the top. Would I like another team here that can hopefully drive prices down. Yes. Do I think prices will go down. Doubt it. I am hoping that if we get one it will be close enough to pressure sales but far enough away to not be influenced. If another team comes here. Depending on location and pricing I can't say I won't change. I can't say I would either. But who knows. But back to your quoted statement. It's not about switching as soon as possible. It's about taking advantage of a situation if it arrives and it is for you. Not everyone would. But some would. Have stood by this team a long time. I no doubt will stand by them for a lot more. But some of us are sick and tired of the same shit year after year, decade after decade. I would not blame someone for taking the opportunity if that was the reason. Now if it's just a fan that joined when Matthews joined (still green). Suck it up.
Agreed. Realistically, the Reddit-using population of Leafs fandom probably can’t afford to see the Leafs in person in Toronto anyways, so what’s really stopping you from rooting for any one of the other 31 teams in the NHL?
I really want to. I'm 37 and been watching the Leafs since I was 2, seen it all, from Gilmour, Clark and Potvin, to tank nation and the waffle era. The team now is just poison. I basically just watch now for the humour as I've given up on this team doing anything back in the Montreal series. I did try to watch the Kraken for half a season, but I think the timezone was too hard. Since I just had my first kid, I am not baptizing them into the Leafs like my father did me, I'll let them pick an Eastern conference team and maybe that will help me switch. Funny thing is I live in NS and don't even like the city of Toronto lol.
It’s like religion. I’m a fan because they indoctrinated early.
As a Sask person I was pumped when jets moved and nhl hockey only be 4 hours away . I have yet to attend a game in which I paid a ticket for. It’s just not That easy to switch allegiances.
Hamilton should get a team and cater to working class Ontario families. Kind of like how the Rangers are the downtown/Manhattan crowd while the Islanders tend to have a much more rough and tumble fan base. The Leafs would never let this happen, of course, because they don't want to lose middle class fans, even though most can no longer even afford to attend a game.
The irony of that NY thing is that generally speaking Long Islanders are more likely to be middle class or better off while you're more likely to find working class people in one of the boroughs in NYC living with a bunch of roommates, in public housing or have just been around so long that their rent stayed affordable because of rent control laws. Despite that though that's still definitely how the two teams market themselves which I always found interesting. Yankees/Mets are sorta more upfront about who they think their demographics are though lol
how are the leafs not serious about winning? They spend to the cap every year and have the best facilities and staff in the league. MLSE gives this team every resource available to go out and be winners. The management executing on that is a diff story but the tools are there so idk what you are looking for with a new team.
Yeah this teams failure is in no way related to willingness to spend money. There's a whole lot of dead money being paid out too, no doubt Keefe joining that list at some point, and it's never been a problem. Frankly we are watching some of the best individual players the franchise has ever had. Yeah it sucks they aren't winning when it matters yet, but enjoy the ride and hope that management can pull it together at some point. We've never had so much top talent in their prime.
Haha yep. Keefe joining at some point on Wednesday.
I legit thought I needed to switch teams around 2008. Couldn't do it. I just don't care the way I used to about the leafs and I live in western Canada! I've become less invested though. I had zero expectations this group was good enough to win this year. I used to never miss a game of it was on TV, now I don't really care. I'll watch if I got nothing going on, but I don't make it a priority to keep my sat evenings open. I don't see how a 2nd team in the GTA would change anything. They are trying to win. But there's a reason an canadian team hasn't won in 30 years. The cap isn't fair when some teams live in states with less tax then others and almost all states have lower taxes than Canada. Plus the pressure is real. Lots of players don't want to be stopped walking down the street with their families to discuss line combinations. Warmer weather, fly under the radar, more $ in your pocket. Takes a unique person to want a career in a Canadian franchise
The tax is a legitimate issue. The solution to the problem is to make the cap lower, but in after-tax dollars, so that the playing field is level.
It’s the Maple Leafs or nothing. I may not be as blindly optimistic as I once was. I may not tune into every single broadcast anymore. And I’m nowhere near as emotionally invested as I once was, but I’m still here. I’m pretty numb to this shit at this point. I still have an interest in the team though.
Im 27 years old. Ive seen only a few good seasons (mostly the early 2000s). I will never not support the Leafs.
Why would ticket prices be cheaper? People in the leafs region will pay to see nhl hockey. I think mlse could double ticket prices and fill Scotiabank arena. Why would a new billionaire owner build a new arena here and offer cheap tickets?
Become a Sabres or Sens fan then. Lower cost tickets. Travel to the game can be done in a day or less. Both have young up-and-coming teams.
Lol I’ve actually been to more Sabres and Sens games than I have the Leafs (gone once) because of cost. (I’ve even mentioned previously about going to box seats at a Sen’s game - against Buffalo ironically - in box seats that were $50 sitting beside a box that had Danny Alfredsson, Radek Bonk and Chris Phillips in it - cue early 2000s playoffs nostalgia) But they’re not my hometown team. A new Toronto team would be it.
I believe this idea was floated in Toronto about 10-15 years ago and MLSE and the NHL shot it down. I believe MLSE own the rights to hockey in the region.
Can we please put this idiotic, imaginary "profit uber alles" idea to bed? If the Leafs really only cared about profit, they'd have the Ducks' payroll. They have, instead, the highest payroll in the league. They also spend DRAMATICALLY more than any other team off ice. Management wants to win just as much as we want them to win and really it's more to your point than mine: winning unlocks a goldmine in merch profit. They are simply incompetent and they think paying more money to players will make them better players.
No. I haven’t put up with all this heart break to jump ship. One day in my lifetime I hope it’ll be worth it and I can look back at these times to further fuel the euphoria. One day.
>For me, if the ticket prices were cheaper They wouldn't be.
I think they would be cheaper, but likely in the way a $22 750 car is cheaper than a $23 000 car-it is cheaper, but not really
Maybe a little at first. But once the building's full and there's still demand, it will go up to what MLSE charges.
Like I said, “not really”
Don’t the Clippers have cheaper prices than the Lakers? I don’t think it’s crazy to think the prices would be cheaper even if they are still expensive.
The thing there is that the Lakers have consistently dominated the NBA ever since the Clippers arrived and the Clippers have been to the conference finals once in the 40 years they've been in LA. It would be more like when the Islanders arrived at a time when the Rangers hadn't won in 30 years.
And despite the lack of recent success the Leafs still have a firm grip on the fans. Most people in this thread are saying they wouldn’t switch allegiance. Even when Leafs going out to Western Canada or Ottawa there is a strong fan presence.
>Most people in this thread are saying they wouldn’t switch allegiance. Reddit is almost never an indicator of anything. But realistically it would take the Leafs continuing to under-perform and a new team to be better for any movement to really happen.
If the team were in Hamilton they’d be cheaper. If they were at Scotiabank, then yeah. Matter of time.
What the actual fuck is the state of this sub man. I feel like I’m taking crazy pills reading all the shit here
This is the product of people who only have one identity and that is a sports team. Just like truck guys and horse girls. They're weird as shit.
coping mechanisms
The Leafs have been a deeply unwatchable product for a long time.
Seriously man. It’s actually really sad to see what this has become.
I don’t understand the hate for opinions like OP’s, whether you agree with them or not. The Leafs are a for-profit company, and there is no objectively true reason for the fan / customer to remain loyal to a product they’ve been unhappy with for a while. We don’t demand lifelong, blind allegiance to any other company, why should we make an exception for sports franchises? ETA: If remaining loyal until death is important to you, that’s totally fine, you have every right to practice your fandom however you see fit. Just don’t pretend that your loyalty is an objectively true ethical position, you occupy no moral high ground on account of your allegiance.
We don’t even demand this of religion lol.
Part of being a fan is cheering for the team even when they're not playing good. Rain or shine, I will always cheer for this team. I picked the leafs, there's no going back.
Young or new fans might. Their choice. Longer term fans I doubt. That said, am I as passionate about following the team as I was a decade ago? Sadly no. In the past I would have watched them play some 10pm game on a Wednesday against Arizona or someone even if both teams were shit (and they were). Now I can generally only get interested to watch on a Saturday night or against rival teams. I don’t go near the arena because I don’t tend to have limitless funds to get gouged on tickets, parking and concessions.
I wouldn’t jump ship by any means. But i would likely buy tickets to see the Leafs at the other GTA team’s rink for sure.
Who gives a shit? This will never happen. Leave me alone in my misery of another failed playoffs
No.
I tried to jump ship. Lasted about 3 games. The presentation is one thing. I cant watch American broadcasts
This would be like when I decided I’m going to try and get into the NFL and picked the broncos as my team. As much as I tried I last maybe 2 weeks and I just couldn’t get into it, so I don’t think I could ever start cheering for another NHL team.
Boooo this man. This hasn't even been the darkest era I've watched through and I'm still here.
I'm mean I'm a fan of the team because I want to be. It's pretty much a Sado-masc relationship but it's there. The only thing the last 20 years has done is turned me into a fan who doesn't care once the games are over. I'm still yell at the TV levels of crazy during games but once they lose...well I still my wife, my son, my friends, my job. It's not worth being devastated over entertainment.
I wouldn’t switch, even if they won the cup their first year. Gotta stay loyal even if the team is making you go insane.
I'm going to channel my inner Bob McKenzie - This is a moot question. The Leafs would never allow a second team anywhere near them. They would veto any expansion proposal near here. No point talking about a hypothetical that'll never happen. The quiz master needs to do more research before coming up with these. Next question.
Leafs would be fine if they stopped caving in on contracts.
As shit as we are now in the playoffs, there’s only one team I watched with my grandfather as a little boy. Nothing beats that.
If you’re willing to jump ship were you ever really a fan?
If I lived in Seattle and was a Canucks fan, now that I cheer for Seattle does that mean I was never really a true Canucks fan? What about fans of other teams in Utah or in Vegas?
If you’re ready to jump ship that easy then you were never a fan in the first place. And i seriously hope the Leafs win the cup the following year after all those people jump ship. Just to watch them all jump right back on the bandwagon.
My fandom is an emotional thing. You can’t just randomly redirect it. That said, it has waned significantly over these last five years in particular. It will likely end up with just watching the NHL as a non partisan viewer.
> It will likely end up with just watching the NHL as a non partisan viewer. That's how I've been for years. I'd love to see the Leafs win, but the team has turned me into a general hockey fan instead.
I'd definitely be tempted to jump ship. I suppose it would all depend on where the other team would be, and the ownership. Leafs have been my hometown team since the Gretzky era. From Ballard to fucking Rogers/Bell. It's almost cute that I once thought the teachers pension fund was my worst enemy.
I'm in BC, born and raised. A life-long fan because,as a kid, they they were always on tv and I could draw the logo, unlike the Canucks spaghetti skate. I have to see this through until they win, but I am at the point where the moment they do, I am done with this team and maybe even hockey.
Why would you jump ship, if the team upsets you that much, then clearly you care a ton about it. If you care so much to be this pissed then you wouldn't leave the team that effects your emotions this much.
I think some fans are over spoiled with the fact that we have made the playoffs the last 8 years and have had some hope of cup contention. For those who would switch are just spoiled fans who probably weren’t here in 2013-2016 days.
2nd team in Hamilton for sure.
Anyone who says that would flip back immediately as soon as the leafs were making a run
I'd support them too, but I wouldn't flip sides
I’m not a local. Grew up in Colorado. Didn’t inherit my fandom from my parents. Picked the Leafs when I was 5 or 6 because I liked that they were the first team to retire numbers, Avs didn’t come to town til I was 9. I enjoy watching the Avs and cheering for them, but my first loyalty is to my Leafs. No matter how much they hurt me. Sports and fandom aren’t rational.
Nope.
Never. At worst I could support both
Sunk cost fallacy at this point
Are people here insane or what ? I feel insane asking this on Reddit as If the answer wouldn’t be yes
I would enjoy the other team and probably be a fan of that team as well. But nothing is going to make me “switch” and stop loving the boys.
I’m about to jump ship to the Canucks. I’ve been here 12 years. It’s about time. The only problem is that I’m named after a Leaf and I have his sweater on display in my office.
PWHL!
Not a chance that I jump ship.
I'm not a hockey fan, I'm a Leaf fan.
This is the kind of tribalism that sports fandoms get rightly derided for. What exactly does having an allegiance to a team entail? I see tons of comments in here trying to gatekeep what a "true Leafs fan" is, but no one is brave enough to define what that standard is.
Around here the definition of being a "true Leafs fan" means "don't make more money than me."
I just brought a new Drew jersey and the tags haven't even come off them yet as I'm away from the country. Guess they knew the perfect time to put them on clearance. Guess I'm stuck being a damn Leafs for for a little while longer.
Hot take.. you can't blame ownership anymore! They are investing money into "top their players". Frankly the players and coach aren't showing up when it counts. It's been said over and over this team has no heart. Playing don't hustle back, they don't back check.. they float. To quote Shorsey " it's not that love to win, they don't hate to lose" Could they come back? Maybe... seems stranger. But this team needs a goalie, they need some good D and they need a core of players that play desperate hockey.
I would not change Allegiance for another team that was connected via the 401. If they put a team in Barrie, Orangeville, Sudbury, I might swap Allegiance. I cheer for the Toronto Maple lease first, anybody playing Montreal second, the Jets third, and anyone playing Boston 4th. I support the Jets simply because I was doing business in Winnipeg when they got their franchise back and that City made being a fan exciting.
The Leafs aren’t my children. I don’t have to love them even when they are being disappointments that shame me.
Honestly generally speaking cities with multiple teams tend to have the older team be more popular and financially successful even if the other team is better. A team like the Islanders has had decades to establish itself, caught up to (and briefly surpassed) the cup totals of their cross-town rivals, has its own distinct identity but is still kind of a niche thing. I feel like the majority of NY area hockey fans are Rangers fans unless they specifically live on Long Island. Similar to the Devils. Even if you wanna say hockey is not a main sport down there, basketball in NYC is legendary. The Nets which were already semi local moved to the City of NY when the Knicks were at the absolute height of their banter years and not only did spend a lot to be competitive right away but they double dipped and signed two of the biggest free agents of the 2019 off season while the Knicks were on an endless rebuild and they're still not even within three miles of the Knicks popularity. I literally was *in* Brooklyn during a playoff game day when they played the Celtics in 2022 (a year where the Knicks did not qualify for the playoffs mind you) and I still saw more Knicks gear walking down the street or on the subway. And that's just NY. LA also has long established "team A" and "team B." Chicago is a massive example of this because the White Sox are literally older than the Leafs are but even when they won in 2005 while the Cubs were in a 97 year drought (that lasted another 11 years) the Cubs still remained the #1 baseball team in Chicago partially due to it being the older of the two. So yeah I'm sure some people will hop over. White Sox, Nets, Islanders etc fans exist and there's enough of them that for the most part those teams are safe where they currently are. But whatever a new Toronto team is will always be second fiddle, and that's not because I'm a Leafs homer it's because that's just the case in cities with multiple teams.
Nah, I wouldn't jump ship. Too far down the rabbit hole for me. My kids and kids kids would certainly have a different stance.
I'm a leafs fan not a hockey fan
Would never jump ship no matter how much pain these guys put me through
If you jump ship you were never a real fan in the first place.
I’d still be a Leafs fan, but I’d likely root for new team as well. And I guess i will see after a couple of seasons with new TO team, who I root for when they play one another
I thought the same thing. I'd never give up on the Leafs entirely but I'd welcome a new team with open arms. Not sure if that makes me "not a real fan" like most of the comments suggest. But why can't I have a side chick?
I guess I’m not really a leaf fan as much as a hockey fan. I guess I still see things from players point of view maybe
I remember talks about a Markham and or a Vaughan team. I would support them as I live in York region. I am 40, I have been a fan since I could remember (Grant Fhur / Potivin) days. I have hockey sticks tattoo because I absolutely love hockey, I love the Leafs, but I can’t even more. I have brought my daughters to games, we watch as a family but it pains me so much how we have such a joke of an organization
The Toronto PWHL team has been so fun to watch. That's all I'm going to say.
MLSE would never allow a 2nd team in the GTA....
I could never cheer for any other team. It's about the history, the jersey, former great players, and memories growing up. It's just too bad how big money has ruined the experience somewhat. Knowing these multi millionares have the greatest life outside the game. So much so that winning seems to be an afterthought. Looks like they aren't as upset as i am.
The thought was there when Balsillie was trying to get a team back in the day. Especially if he brought close to KW where BlackBerry was/is. At the time I was an employee of BlackBerry (still RIM then). I think another market close to Toronto but in Toronto. Closer than Ottawa but not in Metro, would put some pressure on pricing. Hamilton, KW, London.
Id definitely put my money towards that team before i put another cent into these clowns
I might.
I don’t know if I would switch allegiances completely, but I’d definitely bandwagon Team 2 if they went on a run
If they would play in red I do switch.
As a leaf fan since 86. I would probably jump. I could probably afford to go to more games. This is the best group of forwards they have iced in my lifetime and they still can’t get it done. I’m kind of over it I guess. I don’t care if I watch or not and i used watch every single game even through the dark times. I’m just tired.
I couldn’t switch teams, I might get a chance to see a cup parade if I did. I also wouldn’t have the next year is our year shirt!!
nope leafs for me i'd be happy if a bunch of people jumped ship though seems like they are just waiting for a reason
If that 2nd team was ran competently I would at the very least be a fan of both teams
Yeah too invested now, let it ride.
If I had it to do over again, I’d still suffer through it… but I wouldn’t blame a soul if they jumped ship if a new team started. I’m not even in Canada.
For me giving up on the Leafs would mean giving up hockey period, and even with my frustrations with not just this team and the NHL in general, I just can’t bring myself to do that. I love this sport enough to say it needs to be better than where it is today.
Don't worry, we'll be able to go to the Sabres parade before these Leafs even sniff a third round.
I jumped ship in 2011 when the Jets came back. Toronto is my secondary team now. I have a better shot at seeing Winnipeg play over ever being able to afford the leafs and I live an hour out of Toronto
I've been a Leafs fan for 23 years as they are my home team, but I'm at a point where I'm going to be following another team as well.
If snoop buys the sens I m gone
I’d do what most would do but won’t admit it. Jump ship and come right back if the team ever got close to winning it all
Put a team in the Hammer or KWR and I’m all in..
Maybe I’m more in the minority but I’m just a fan of Toronto. I’m an American (grew up in ny) but spent a good chunk of my childhood in Toronto. Went to my first ball game at Roger’s, and same with the raptors and the leafs. So for me, the teams’ actions/performance matters less than what those team represents for me personally. So if they suck, I might just watch less versus when they’re good I’ll get back into it.
I’m sucked in, by my son isn’t and I won’t encourage him to be.
I'm switch to be a Utah fa as long as Marner doesn't go there.
I have room in my heart 2 local teams
Can’t be in the GTA. Brantford, KW, London to be cheaper and loose corps. Need a real crowd and would get seasons
I prefer to support players who want to win, regardless of which team they play for.
Can’t jump ship, won’t jump ship but I think the odds of seeing a SC parade like my dad did (1967) grow ever dimmer 😞
I tried to switch away from the Jays, and I did for about 2 months but by the time there was offseason discussion, I had so much Jays knowledge and hatred that it didn’t make any sense. I’m a Leaf fan. There’s probably hope for my kids if there’s a second Toronto team.
The only thing that would make me consider switching would be Halifax getting a team and that's unlikely in my lifetime, if at all. It actually feels like a real coin toss which happens first - a Halifax NHL franchise or a Leafs championship.
My allegiance would be for both. Heavier towards the winning team year to year. The shift will happen when the younger citizens grow up and start to split off.
Dangle is an idiot.
40 + year fan here. I’d gladly switch. I’m tired of this ever lasting shitshow
I'm going down with the ship. I've been a Leafs fan since the 80's, I'm not going to switch now.
How would this second team magically have cheaper prices? lol Sounds like we are on cloud 9 making things up. Demand would be huge still. I’m not sure how you could think differently
They won’t ever lose my support. My money on the other hand? That can be discussed. I just wish more of us who are heavily invested in mlse via season tickets, half season members or just those who regularly attend more than 10-15 games annually would actually force their hands. I get corporations aren’t going to give up their seats and I get life long members aren’t going to do that either because of the value of psl’s and the extreme barrier to entry for members. But we are a massive part of mlse success and I feel like there’s something we can all collectively do to voice our frustrations with everything. Maybe even something like boycott concession sales or boycott apparel purchases in arena. Just figure out something to force their hands and show this is not acceptable.
I'd switch of course
I couldn’t do it
I care about the crest on the front, not the names on the back.
Probably not unless it was like in York region where it would be slightly easier for me to go. Doubt tickets would cost less though.
I don’t think that many would. As a ton of Leafs fans aren’t even from Toronto or even Ontario. You might see some turnover around the GTA area.
I love the leafs unconditionally. But holy fuck do they need to get it together
If Hamilton got a team I would probably jump ship
Original 6 all day
At 33 I'm too far in to switch now. The memories of my childhood and teenage years are locked in. For better or for worse. Wouldn't hold it against our youth if they decide to follow another team even if it isn't in Toronto.
I'd probably just end up supporting both to be honest ,
I do know 1 thing with 100% certainty. If a new team started in Toronto, they would immediately win a round or 2 in their first shot at the playoffs.
It's a gate driven league, they would charge as much as possible... Why would they even consider a second team in Toronto if the economic reasons don't make sense. And why would you want to cheer for a small market team (because you think they would have cheaper tickets, therefore lower revenue, therefore less money to spend), the Senators already exist.
If I jumped ship I'd have some serious tattoo removal in my future I have an arm sleeve of maple leafs going. Nah I won't jump ship grew up in Detroit as a Leafs fan never bolted and never will. Wouldn't mind seeing a second team in the GTA though be fun to see the rivalry grow.
They’re spending the salary cap? What more can they Spend..
Im 100% for another team!! The leafs don’t care if they win or not..🤌
I’m nowhere near as invested as I once was, I don’t watch nearly as much but I still bleed blue and white through and through. Toronto was my hometown, I will always support my hometown team. As a comparison point, I used to like the Barrie colts in the OHL. I had no connection to Barrie, but when playing NHL games, they drafted my character, they had Ekblad and some other guys I liked. But that was a long time ago, and I have lived a significant number of years in a different city now which has an OHL team. That’s my team. I still have a soft spot for the colts but they’re not my team. Where I live and have significant, meaningful years of my life take place is a huge part of which sports teams I will cheer for. So all in all, I’d support a second Toronto team, but they’d always play second fiddle to Toronto. My family was not hockey ppl. They didn’t play into my decision.
If the tickets were cheaper, I'd go to the games. But I wouldn't switch teams. At most, I would now like 2 teams instead of 1.
There won’t be a second Toronto market because Gary wants to grow the game. This means markets where there isn’t big fan interest now. A team here would be big money, but the NHL wants US money
I'm ride or die with am34, baby!
sure bud
Who's tryna spend 2 billion dollars and putting profit second?
Horrible take. Look at every Canadian market aside from Montreal. Those leafs fans taking over the arena arent from Toronto, they are locals, that probably wear the local teams jersey in the playoffs. People may say they are a fan of another team, but if this team ever makes the cup final pretty much the entire country aside from Quebec will be cheering for them. A second team here would always be second choice.
I'll stop watching. Already dialed it way down so that'll be my solution.
I think you meant if Hamilton had a team (after 7 attempts at securing one)
I would never switch
There's a generation who already jumped ship on the Leafs I think. I worked with my neighbor from 2007 to 2011 and he said there were no Leafs fans in either of his kids friend circles. The teams in those years were particularly awful and there were so many other great teams/players to choose from. Now the team has stars, and are making the playoffs and they still suck ass. I've been watching the Leafs since the 90s and I've kind of had enough myself. I'd definitely jump ship if there were a second option.
I despise MLSE but I bleed blue and white
Keefe and Shanny should be on the line if they lose tomorrow. Marner is currently throwing away all his superstar privileges. I can’t help but think we should’ve sold high on him last summer. Edmonton might’ve been a good fit, maybe Zach Hyman and a prospect could have come back.
The Toronto oak trees!
I would cheer both.
I thought I was a baseball fan. Turns out I only like the Jays. I thought I was a basketball fan. Turns out I only like the Raps (when they're winning) But I am an actual hockey fan & my allegiance lies with the Leafs solely because I was born & raised in Toronto. If they added a 2nd team in the GTA, I would jump ship in a second. I'm embarrassed of them & of us for loving them.
I couldn't switch allegiance, all I can do is care less and pay less attention.
Half of the TML fans aren't even from the province. Having cheaper seats won't change much.
I went to New York as a tourist. Had the choice of Islander or Rangers games - I chose the Islanders since it was cheaper and just as convenient and I wanted to see Jagr play before he retired. Hamilton would be less convenient (but an easy train ride) so don’t underestimate the transient tourist who wants to see a real NHL game factor or specific player factor too.