Senators VP/Marketing and Customer Engagement Jeff Harrop said there is “no doubt” that the club’s home playoff games against the Maple Leafs are “going to be very much a home team environment,” according to Janson Duench of the OTTAWA CITIZEN. By prioritizing early playoff ticket access for season ticket members, the organization has “made it significantly harder for Leafs fans to recreate January’s road takeover.” This will mark the first time the Battle of Ontario has occurred in the postseason since 2004. Senators season ticket holders could “purchase up to four playoff tickets,” and “many of them were taking the team up on that offer.” Team President Cyril Leeder said that he “expected fewer than 500 tickets to be available” once they went on sale to the general public Thursday afternoon. He added that in the five weeks leading up to the playoffs, the number of season ticket holders “increased by 902.” The “sudden surge had to be carefully monitored,” as the team cancelled more than 125 accounts identified as “garage brokers.” They are “buyers outside of Ottawa attempting to buy and resell playoff tickets” (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 4/17).
Senators assure ‘home-team environment’ for Battle of Ontario playoff series
