Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs probably have the most frequently used bandwagon of all teams. With a team that can be amazing one day, and look like a bunch of amateurs the next day a lot of fans tend to jump on and off the bandwagon faster than kids getting on and off a yellow school bus.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of those teams that people have a true nostalgia for. They haven’t won a Stanley Cup since 1967, until last season had not even been in the playoffs for 10 years, and when they finally got to the playoffs, they had the biggest team collapse in playoff history by giving up a 4-1 lead with just over 10 minutes to play to lose 5-4 in overtime.
When the Leafs lost to Boston last year in the playoffs, they lost a lot of fans. The team, who had done so well gaining momentum and building fans had the biggest collapse in history and probably lost more fans than they brought on board.
Why do people love the Leafs though? Is it the fact that this team has a nostalgia factor amongst fans? Are people just masochists who enjoy watching the team let them down time and time again? Who can say truly. When hockey first made it’s debut the reason the Leafs gained and maintained popularity was the fact that people didn’t know as much about the other teams. If you lived in Toronto, you cheered on the Leafs. When Hockey Night in Canada started on television, the Leafs gained further popularity as anyone who had a television on the east coast got to watch Toronto, (or Montreal on French channels). Consequently, when this all started, the Toronto Maple Leafs built quite the fan-base. It continued with the fact that with families, if “dad” cheered on the Leafs, chances are, the kids cheered them on.
Whether you love them, or hate them, the Toronto Maple Leafs are here to stay. To make things frustrating for fans too is the cost of their tickets. Toronto is the most expensive team to see in all of the NHL. When the team does make the playoffs, while most teams increase ticket prices by 50%, Toronto decided to increase closer to 75%! Let’s get a franchise that can prove themselves game in and game out before gouging the fans. If you are a true Leafs fan though, it won’t matter and that bandwagon will continue no matter what. Some days there will be loads on the wagon, and other days there will be fewer fans. No matter what though, people will chant Go Leafs Go!
Michael Chantler
Follow Mike on Twitter @mchantler
