Attendance keeps dropping because of the uncertainty of free agents' futures

This early in the season?! That's not a good sign...

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 5 years ago
Attendance keeps dropping because of the uncertainty of free agents' futures
Zuma Press


Some elements you can't control when you are trying to put up great numbers this early in the season. As the Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues are finding out, something you just can't seem to just win one. When it comes to the Columbus Blue Jackets, who gave a 7-4 beating to the poor Blues last night, it seems that despite their respectable record of 5-4-0 that has gotten them sitting in the third place in the Metropolitan division, they are facing issues elsewhere... Fans just don't seem to be giving a damn anymore about cheering them on. 

According to team insider Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, there is one factor that has gotten out of hands and is unfortunately having a major impact on attendance numbers this season. The uncertainty over the futures of pending free agents Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin is amongst the factors  behind the drop in their attendance thus far this season. While other seasons have known tough starts in attendance numbers, this early in the campaign, Portzline was not expected this to take place in 2018-19 when the Blue Jackets "have made the Stanley Cup playoffs in back-to-back seasons and are widely expected to make it three in a row next spring." Attendance is down nearly 1,000 fans per game compared to this point last season and more than 2,000 from the whole of last season.

That hurts. 

Many excuses have been offered up as to why the Blue Jackets struggle at times to sell tickets, however, Portzline strongly believes it is linked to the saga that has been taking place since the summer when it comes down to what will take place with Panarin and Bobrovsky down the line. 

It is easier just to look away, knowing that Panarin is refusing to negotiate an extension with Columbus and could end up getting traded at the Feb. 25 trade deadline seeing that the team could lose him for nothing this summer. The Jackets will also have to do something with their star goalie, who is still looking for a hefty contract and negotiations have gone nowhere. 

"The Blue Jackets have also come in for criticism — from their own players, and from player agents — for not doing more to market their players."

Now, it's the fans that are showing their frustration... and the statement is quite powerful!

Source: The Athletic