By Kera Wilkinson
The owner of the Ottawa Senators is pushing for financial support from local businesses, but most Centretown entrepreneurs say the Senators should take care of themselves.
Robert Giacobbi, co-owner of Wildes on Bank Street, says he believes the Senators should be treated like any other business.
“I don’t think they should get unfair treatment,” Giacobbi said. “The City of Ottawa has already pumped millions of dollars into the team. I’m not getting any funding, why should I start paying for them? Maybe if Bryden comes in here and [buys some of my products] I’ll think about it.”
The response comes after team owner Rod Bryden’s suggestion that local businesses should step up and support the team by buying ticket packages to compensate for poor ticket sales. He went on to hint that fans should boycott those businesses that don’t support the team.
“We’re not here to prop up his business,” said Valley Eagle, owner of Beaded Dreams on Bank Street. “A boycott is pushing it too far.”
Businesses are being targeted to buy the more expensive tickets, particularly the 100 and 200 level seats, which cost an average of $100 per seat per game. These tickets have been the hardest to sell.
For some businesses, hearing about the lack of sales has pushed them to buy tickets.
“I didn’t realize how bad it is until I saw the numbers,” said Chris Risdon, assistant manager of Elgin Sports Lifestyles. “We may be a small business, but we’re going to help in any way we can.”
For Risdon, this has meant purchasing ticket packages.
“I thought it was time to put my money where my mouth is.” Risdon and five others discussed buying one package of tickets.
Season tickets at the 100 level of the Corel Centre range from $115.27 for a single game to $5,543.60 for a Flex 40 Package. This is a price that some businesses are having a hard time swallowing.
“Businesses are tight these days,” said Rob Spittal, owner of The Comic Book Shoppe, also on Bank Street. “For a small business like myself we are not here to get rich, we are here because we like what we do and we have fun doing it. I’ll promote them as much as I can, but I just can’t afford it.”
Some business owners say the Senators are not the only ones who are suffering low numbers.
“It’s hard when our customers are getting laid off on a regular basis,” said Spittal. “Some businesses, like myself, just don’t have the money.”