I think the comments are funny and the post is funny and well done. Japers is always welcomed in our arena, in my box and in my in basket.
Good for Japers and our fans for caring so much.
My question to all of you is this: Do you think I don’t care or we don’t care about the quality of the ice?
Of course we do! We care about everything related to our players. We try to go first class everywhere. We are focused on this issue, which is my point. We don’t need fans to tell us to focus on it, IT IS OUR JOB to focus on it. The drum beat is just getting old. Quoting players from a game last season has zero to do with what is happening in our building today.
We care. We hear you. We listen to our players. I just don’t get why you think this is a bigger issue than we think it is? Just saying…
Ted, just fix it. Then you won’t have to deal with this.
Your team, perhaps more than any other, would benefit from fixing this problem. There are very few ways in which you can directly and unquestionably enhance your team’s advantage by spending money. This is one. if you were as committed as you say I don’t understand why the problem persists.
What will you say if Ovi has a career…well I can’t even say it. What will you say if we make the Cup finals (in June), the ice situation is ridiculed on TV, and we lose to a slower team because of it?
The salary cap doesn’t stand in your way here. Just spend what it takes to obtain and maintain a first class surface. This team deserves it and I don’t see why it should take more than 3 months to implement.
You are the best pro sports owner in DC (no comparison) and one of the best in the world. If this propblem lingers I’ll still feel that way. Just so you understand where I’m coming from.
Its makes me feel like i know everything when i say the ice at verizon ctr. is not very good and Mgmt needs to do a better job
This —-> “But even arriving at a somewhat empty arena last season, I never felt like I should have brought a jacket. Again, not an expert or anything. Maybe overall temperature has less to do with it than other aspects, but I can’t imagine a warm arena helps matters.”
Crank the A/C and the dehumidifiers. There is no good reason why an ice rink of any size should be warm enough to not wear a jacket or a hat. Plus, the seats at VC are not big enough to sit in with the coat you will need for the Metro ride home, jammed in your back.
I understand your frustration with this issue.
There is an easy solution to the problem. Lay out the issues…what did Dr. Ice say? What are the technical troubles, what are the ice grades assigned by the refs (after last night though such grades to me are dubious), what is the temp in VC at game start, what is the standard set by the building engineer, etc… Lay out the details and let them speak for themselves.
Fan complaints (especially in the cryptic world of hockey) are almost always based on lack of all the info.
If there are embarrassing details…so what. Perhaps the location of VC, plus being over a Metro station are just plain impossible to fix the problem completely. Your relationship with the fans is very, very strong…take advantage of it.
On some issues maybe a fully informed fan base could even help solve problems…Though I don’t think even the mighty Caps fans can change the weather.
Mr. Leonsis;
With all due respect we hold management accountable for the conditions associated with running the team. Just as our politicians and corporate execs should be held accountable for their failings, we as CAPS fans need for you to step up to the plate and improve the ice conditions.
It’s amazing to me how much you love the team et. al, and yet deminimize the importance of the ice surface (for the betterment of your team).
Remember we fans are all shareholders relatively speaking. Our sincerity matters (maybe not so much in the short run but definently in the long run).
Here’s to improving the ice surface with all due respect Mr. Leonsis.
I don’t think we as a collective group of fans believe the Caps MGMNT doesn’t care about the ice. We know and trust you do, as it is akin to making sure you have good tires on your car. Your shiny sports car won’t be as good rolling on flat snow tires.
My primary concern over the past 2 seasons of being a STH is the overall temp in the arena. Sure, as the game goes on the temperature will rise. But even arriving at a somewhat empty arena last season, I never felt like I should have brought a jacket. Again, not an expert or anything. Maybe overall temperature has less to do with it than other aspects, but I can’t imagine a warm arena helps matters.
Disingenuous. To say the least.
Come on Ted, why can’t you make it snow on Christmas as well?? If you really cared about your fans… you’d do that!!
(sarcasm off)
Unreal. I’m not sure how you are able to tolerate the constant hammering and still maintain open communications with the fans (although I greatly appreciate that you do!).
You said in your post that the ice “isn’t bad.” Well, I see games all over the league. And from my STH seat, the VC ice is pretty atrocious most of the time. Not saying it’s your fault, just saying it’s usually a slushy-messy sheet.
I don’t know that I think it’s a bigger issue than you do, Ted. But the ice surface at VC is as bad as ever. That doesn’t mean I care about it *more* than you do, it just means I like watching hockey played under the best possible conditions.
I ROFLMA’d when they got to the Baghdad Bob pictures. Oh my lord, that was funny. Thanks.