By Tim Pattyson
Despite mounting losses on the field, the popularity of the Ottawa Rebel and lacrosse in Ottawa is at an all-time high.
Though the Rebel have struggled to date, with zero wins and 11 losses, fans have responded well, flocking to the Corel Centre in droves.
The Rebel average more than 8,000 fans a game, fourth best in the nine-team National Lacrosse League (NLL).
Attendance is not the only area where the team has created a buzz. Minor leagues in Nepean and Gloucester are nearing capacity due to increased registration. The team’s merchandise is also selling well, although it can only be found in a few places.
One of those places is Ritchie’s Sports-Fan Apparel Shop on Sparks Street.
Owner Herb Gosewich says caps, T-shirts, sweatshirts and jerseys came in a month late, but he says people were waiting and calling the shop daily to find out when Rebel gear would be arriving.
“It’s not as popular as the Ottawa Senators, but we’ve probably sold 10 times what we’ve sold in XFL merchandise,” says Gosewich.
Ted Montour, the manager of public and community relations for the Rebel, says that side of the business is right on track.
“I think that the souvenir, merchandise operation, that side of our house, has come along pretty well,” says Montour.
“There’s a lot of little kids running around in jerseys now.”
Al Gallagher wasn’t running around in a jersey of his favourite Rebel player, but he still took time to watch the Rebel’s most recent game with his wife and friends.
“The game is fun. Lots of action, lots of hitting, lots of nice plays. But it would be nice to see Ottawa win,” says Gallagher.
Montour agrees and he says that’s the next step for the team.
“Clearly I think we’d rather have at least a couple of wins under our belt by now,” says Montour. “But I think it’s fair to say the team as a whole, individually as well, is improving with every game.”
Centretown resident Pat Collins, a defender with the Rebel who wears number 27 and is in his first year in the professional league, agrees.
However, he says the team had a disadvantage because this is its first year of existence.
“Because of the age and the lack of experience, next year we’ll be better,” he says.
Though Collins, zero goals in six games, has struggled along with the team, he still says there’s nothing he’d rather be doing.
“It’s really exciting,” says Collins. “It’s a lot of fun to play in front of that many people in your hometown.”
Along with improving on the field, the team is trying to promote lacrosse throughout the city.
They’re trying to find potential fans and possibly players.
They have held instructive clinics at local schools and had a game between minor lacrosse players at half-time of their game on March 2.
Collins and another Rebel player from Ottawa, Jason Tassé, were honourary coaches.
“It was a Gloucester against Nepean half-time game so they kind of wanted us to teach the kids to keep playing, that there is somewhere to go,” says Collins.
That somewhere may be the Ottawa Rebel one day. The team’s owners have said the team is doing well and they plan to be around for a long time.
“I think with the exception of our win-loss record, we’ve been a success this year,” says Montour.
If they stay, they’ll have stores stocking their merchandise.
“As long as they’re here, we’ll sell it,” says Gosewich.
With the support Ottawa has shown so far, there is no reason to expect the Rebel to be leaving any time soon.
“I never expected lacrosse to grow this fast in Ottawa,” says Collins.