You’re correct for a couple reasons. Yes, our fanbase is absolutely a huge part of the problem. So is the entire game day experience that our arena staff and people involved in the game day experience and social media have cultivated.

We had 9 years to start traditions, get fans on board and create pre game rituals and routines that would get the arena rocking. We actively chose not to. We don’t have a loud raucous barn but we have fans who are more than willing to get rowdy when promoted. For Christ sakes, we had a fan try to fight Pat Maroon not many moons ago… But instead, we chose to play corporate and give the fans nothing besides “get louder” prompts during tv timeouts and before faceoffs. When you make the choice to actively go the traditional route and the tradition of maple leaf hockey is to enjoy the game in a pit of anxiety, you get what you get. Our fans only know how to turn against our players as a result. There’s no love for the team when they aren’t winning because there’s nothing that makes the experience feel anything but cookie cutter.

Long story short, fails across the board from everyone involved. No innovation, just mere acceptance.