Toronto Maple Leafs Are Being Urged to Fix Scotiabank Arena Amid Crowd Concerns
This isn't the first time the Maple Leafs' home crowd has been called out for not having energy in the Scotia Bank Arena and it will probably not be the last time.
The issue has been an old topic of debate for Toronto and the criticism from players like Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews only pushes the idea that Scotiabank Arena often feels more like a corporate networking event than having a home-ice advantage.
Is there really a difference between passionate fans and corporate fans for the Toronto Maple Leafs
One of the biggest challenges is the big cost of attending Leafs games.
Toronto is one of the most expensive markets in the NHL and with ticket prices being super expensive, a significant portion of the crowd consists of corporate people instead of die-hard fans.
This leads to an atmosphere where people are more reserved and are often treating the game as a social to help their networking event rather than cheering for their favorite team.
When you look at places like Nashville, Winnipeg or even Detroit when the Red Wings are doing good, their fans are loud, engaged and it creates an intimidating environment.
The idea of a "Leafs Nation" section for dedicated fans at a reduced price is an interesting one and is similar to the supporter sections seen in European soccer or even Montreal's "Red Section" at the Bell Centre.
Giving the most passionate fans access to lower-cost seating could inject some energy into the arena.
Another idea could be more direct fan engagement which is something like better in-game entertainment, or even making standing-room-only sections behind the benches a thing.
The home-ice advantage is real and if the players themselves notice the lack of energy, it means that it matters and could impact their performance.
At the end of the day, if the Leafs want to create a playoff-style atmosphere at home then something has to change.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 31 | 202 ANSWERS Toronto Maple Leafs Are Being Urged to Fix Scotiabank Arena Amid Crowd Concerns Do you think the Scotia Bank Arena lacks energy during the Toronto Maple Leafs game? | ||
| Yes | 181 | 89.6 % |
| No | 21 | 10.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
