The general manager of the Windsor Spitfires wants more fans excited about his team.
Warren Rychel, who is also a part-owner of the OHL club, says disappointing attendance numbers during this year's playoffs have prompted him and the rest of team management to come up with ways to boost fan attendance.
The Spitfires were eliminated by the Sarnia Sting in the first round of this year's OHL playoffs, just a year after they overcame great odds and won the Memorial Cup. Speaking to reporters Monday during locker clean-out day, Rychel says the organisation as a whole has taken previous success for granted and they need a different approach.
"When we came into this rink back in the day, we came in with a team that never lost a game," says Rychel. "We got a little spoiled. I got spoiled, the owners got spoiled, the players got spoiled, the fans got spoiled. But for $20 a game to come walk up, I don't know where you'd go for that much fun."
During the three home games played for this year's playoffs, average attendance was 3,397 in an 6,500 seat arena. Game 6 on Sunday drew an announced crowd of 2,759.
While Rychel understands Game 6 fell on Easter and many Spitfires fans put family first on that day, he says throughout the season players have come to him to express concern about the attendance, considering the calibre of hockey the team played during the home stretch of the regular season.
He has also heard criticism about parking at the WFCU Centre, which he thinks is unfounded. The complex boasts one of the largest parking lots in the OHL and an overflow lot is used for significant events if needed. Rychel points out that parking is at a premium around other venues, such as the London Knights' Budweiser Gardens, and games there typically sell out.
Rychel says the team's biggest off-ice priority during the offseason is to boost season ticket numbers and do more to attract younger fans to see the Spitfires play.
"The season ticket base is kind of staying the same," says Rychel. "We need to increase that. $14 a game for a season ticket is pretty darn good. I don't know where you to go to get entertainment and see Mikey DiPietro play. We need to get season tickets up. We need younger fans. We need to get group sales up."
Dipping attendance is an issue across the OHL, with an average of 2% fewer fans passing through the arena gates league-wide. While specific numbers were not available, Rychel says that decrease is lower in Windsor.
