Does the atmosphere at the ACC cost the Leafs?

[Kin]

This came up in the gameday thread and I thought I'd take a little look at the numbers to see if there's any appreciable evidence to suggest that the Maple Leafs have a worse than expected record at the ACC.

What I did is I took the Leafs' home record over the last seven seasons and compared it to the home records of the seven teams whose records most closely matched the Leafs in each season. The difference between the Leafs and these teams never exceeded three points and only totaled 5 points over the five seasons. In the case of more than one team that closely matched the Leafs record, I went with the team with the better home record so as to give the theory the benefit of the doubt.

Anyways, the results were:

Toronto: 135-108-44 for an average of 43.4 points a year and a points winning percentage of .530

The Closest Comparable Teams: 144-107-36 for an average of 46.3 points a year and a points winning percentage of .564

Anyways, if there is an effect, it's almost impossible to see. The closest comparable teams to the Leafs were slightly better than the Leafs over those 7 years(averaging 84.3 points per year as opposed to the Leafs 83.7) so the three point gap seems fairly insignificant. The Leafs had some fairly terrific home records in their better years(26-12-3 in 05-06) so clearly they're possible of playing very well in front of their home fans.

 

[TML fan]

The atmosphere in the ACC is fine. The fans pay attention to the game and react when it is appropriate to react.

 

[Redleaf]

I don't get to too many other rinks besides the ACC to see if there is any difference in the crowd. I will be in Phoenix in March to see the Phoenix-LA game. Should be interesting to hear the crowd there. I think fans at the ACC are a little more knowledgeable about the game, and a little less raw-raw when watching. It is, however a completely different atmosphere at the ACC for a playoff game, if anyone still remembers that.

 

[nutman]

The atmosphere in the ACC is fine. The fans pay attention to the game and react when it is appropriate to react.

No its not. it is missing that noise that makes a place rock. I dont know if I can remember when the fans last lit up that place. I'm talking goose bump loud.

 

[Bender]

The atmosphere in the ACC is fine. The fans pay attention to the game and react when it is appropriate to react.

I agree with this. And at any rate they're professional athletes. If the fact that the ACC isn't goosebump loud affects their performance then they're in the wrong profession. I bet they barely pay attention to the crowd and are paying more attention to the game at hand.

 

[Deebo]

The atmosphere in the ACC is fine. The fans pay attention to the game and react when it is appropriate to react.

No its not. it is missing that noise that makes a place rock. I dont know if I can remember when the fans last lit up that place. I'm talking goose bump loud.

The ACC is loud when the team gives them something to be loud about. Those instances have been few and far between for almost 10 years.

 

[TimKerr]

I don't get to too many other rinks besides the ACC to see if there is any difference in the crowd. I will be in Phoenix in March to see the Phoenix-LA game. Should be interesting to hear the crowd there. I think fans at the ACC are a little more knowledgeable about the game, and a little less raw-raw when watching. It is, however a completely different atmosphere at the ACC for a playoff game, if anyone still remembers that.

I've been to the ACC, the old Forum and the Wells-Fargo centre in Philly. The crowds in Montreal and Philly are definitely louder than Toronto.
However, they aren't as knowledgeable. I mean they just yell and scream about everything. Like how every offside in Montreal is booed?

I've been to the ACC for a playoff game, OT nonetheless and the atmosphere was electric.

 

[TML fan]

The atmosphere in the ACC is fine. The fans pay attention to the game and react when it is appropriate to react.

No its not. it is missing that noise that makes a place rock. I dont know if I can remember when the fans last lit up that place. I'm talking goose bump loud.

Being loud for the sake of being loud is obnoxious and juvenile. That's what people who use sporting events as an excuse for midweek drinking do.

 

[Redleaf]

I don't get to too many other rinks besides the ACC to see if there is any difference in the crowd. I will be in Phoenix in March to see the Phoenix-LA game. Should be interesting to hear the crowd there. I think fans at the ACC are a little more knowledgeable about the game, and a little less raw-raw when watching. It is, however a completely different atmosphere at the ACC for a playoff game, if anyone still remembers that.

I've been to the ACC, the old Forum and the Wells-Fargo centre in Philly. The crowds in Montreal and Philly are definitely louder than Toronto.
However, they aren't as knowledgeable. I mean they just yell and scream about everything. Like how every offside in Montreal is booed?

I've been to the ACC for a playoff game, OT nonetheless and the atmosphere was electric.

Did Steve Thomas score the OT winner?

 

[TML fan]

I don't get to too many other rinks besides the ACC to see if there is any difference in the crowd. I will be in Phoenix in March to see the Phoenix-LA game. Should be interesting to hear the crowd there. I think fans at the ACC are a little more knowledgeable about the game, and a little less raw-raw when watching. It is, however a completely different atmosphere at the ACC for a playoff game, if anyone still remembers that.

I've been to the ACC, the old Forum and the Wells-Fargo centre in Philly. The crowds in Montreal and Philly are definitely louder than Toronto.
However, they aren't as knowledgeable. I mean they just yell and scream about everything. Like how every offside in Montreal is booed?

I've been to the ACC for a playoff game, OT nonetheless and the atmosphere was electric.

I've been to Wells-Fargo as well. I didn't find it to be any more consistently loud than the ACC. I've also been to Scotiabank Place and the only time the fans made any noise at all was when they were trying to drown out "GO LEAFS GO". Ottawa has the most pathetic fans I have ever seen. But I haven't been to Phoenix...

 

[louisstamos]

The atmosphere in the ACC is fine. The fans pay attention to the game and react when it is appropriate to react.

I agree with this. And at any rate they're professional athletes. If the fact that the ACC isn't goosebump loud affects their performance then they're in the wrong profession. I bet they barely pay attention to the crowd and are paying more attention to the game at hand.

I agree with this.  Atmosphere and noise can lend itself to the fan experience, but the question of the thread is does it cost the Leafs?  And unless people in the crowd can take up a stick and skate, they won't really have impact on the games at all.  There have been a number of teams who have won several games playing in half-empty arenas as much as there has been teams in full ones.

BUT

All that being said, I do remember an interview with Jeff O'Neill (true, not the most credible person in the world. ) on Cybulski's show a year or so ago, and he said that while he was with the Leafs and they'd be pushing for that tying goal, he and the team would be hoping for more energy from the fans, and would be met with more so humming and indifference.

But then again, it might be just a player putting his misfortunes somewhere else...

 

[TML fan]

The atmosphere in the ACC is fine. The fans pay attention to the game and react when it is appropriate to react.

I agree with this. And at any rate they're professional athletes. If the fact that the ACC isn't goosebump loud affects their performance then they're in the wrong profession. I bet they barely pay attention to the crowd and are paying more attention to the game at hand.

I agree with this.  Atmosphere and noise can lend itself to the fan experience, but the question of the thread is does it cost the Leafs?  And unless people in the crowd can take up a stick and skate, they won't really have impact on the games at all.  There have been a number of teams who have won several games playing in half-empty arenas as much as there has been teams in full ones.

BUT

All that being said, I do remember an interview with Jeff O'Neill (true, not the most credible person in the world. ) on Cybulski's show a year or so ago, and he said that while he was with the Leafs and they'd be pushing for that tying goal, he and the team would be hoping for more energy from the fans, and would be met with more so humming and indifference.

But then again, it might be just a player putting his misfortunes somewhere else...

About that last part, it's pretty hard for the fans to get pumped up about pressing for the tying goal when the Leafs are running around in their own end just trying to get the puck.

Half the time it's the Leafs themselves taking the crowd out of the game.

 

[TimKerr]

I don't get to too many other rinks besides the ACC to see if there is any difference in the crowd. I will be in Phoenix in March to see the Phoenix-LA game. Should be interesting to hear the crowd there. I think fans at the ACC are a little more knowledgeable about the game, and a little less raw-raw when watching. It is, however a completely different atmosphere at the ACC for a playoff game, if anyone still remembers that.

I've been to the ACC, the old Forum and the Wells-Fargo centre in Philly. The crowds in Montreal and Philly are definitely louder than Toronto.
However, they aren't as knowledgeable. I mean they just yell and scream about everything. Like how every offside in Montreal is booed?

I've been to the ACC for a playoff game, OT nonetheless and the atmosphere was electric.

Did Steve Thomas score the OT winner?

I think it was Travis Green against the Flyers.

 

[TimKerr]

I don't get to too many other rinks besides the ACC to see if there is any difference in the crowd. I will be in Phoenix in March to see the Phoenix-LA game. Should be interesting to hear the crowd there. I think fans at the ACC are a little more knowledgeable about the game, and a little less raw-raw when watching. It is, however a completely different atmosphere at the ACC for a playoff game, if anyone still remembers that.

I've been to the ACC, the old Forum and the Wells-Fargo centre in Philly. The crowds in Montreal and Philly are definitely louder than Toronto.
However, they aren't as knowledgeable. I mean they just yell and scream about everything. Like how every offside in Montreal is booed?

I've been to the ACC for a playoff game, OT nonetheless and the atmosphere was electric.

I've been to Wells-Fargo as well. I didn't find it to be any more consistently loud than the ACC. I've also been to Scotiabank Place and the only time the fans made any noise at all was when they were trying to drown out "GO LEAFS GO". Ottawa has the most pathetic fans I have ever seen. But I haven't been to Phoenix...

I've found Wells-Fargo to be consistently more obnoxiously loud than the ACC. That is what I was trying to convey.

 

[TML fan]

I don't get to too many other rinks besides the ACC to see if there is any difference in the crowd. I will be in Phoenix in March to see the Phoenix-LA game. Should be interesting to hear the crowd there. I think fans at the ACC are a little more knowledgeable about the game, and a little less raw-raw when watching. It is, however a completely different atmosphere at the ACC for a playoff game, if anyone still remembers that.

I've been to the ACC, the old Forum and the Wells-Fargo centre in Philly. The crowds in Montreal and Philly are definitely louder than Toronto.
However, they aren't as knowledgeable. I mean they just yell and scream about everything. Like how every offside in Montreal is booed?

I've been to the ACC for a playoff game, OT nonetheless and the atmosphere was electric.

I've been to Wells-Fargo as well. I didn't find it to be any more consistently loud than the ACC. I've also been to Scotiabank Place and the only time the fans made any noise at all was when they were trying to drown out "GO LEAFS GO". Ottawa has the most pathetic fans I have ever seen. But I haven't been to Phoenix...

I've found Wells-Fargo to be consistently more obnoxiously loud than the ACC. That is what I was trying to convey.

Ahh. Yes I'd agree with that.

 

[Bill_Berg]

I think the point Nik was trying to make was that if the crowd at the ACC is quieter and less excited than those in other stadiums, it doesn't seem to affect the chances of the Leafs winning the game.

That is to say, if we had the loudest building in the league, we'd still be in the midst of a long playoff drought.

 

[bustaheims]

I've found Wells-Fargo to be consistently more obnoxiously loud than the ACC. That is what I was trying to convey.

Which goes nicely with the point I made in the GDT - loud fans are not necessarily good fans. I much prefer watching or being at a game where the fans clearly understand what's going on and react when there's need to react, rather than watch or be at one where they're just loud and obnoxious for no apparent reason or because their teams gets called for being offside, or doesn't get a powerplay when they don't deserve one, or for whatever other reason Habs fans boo. Seriously, Habs fans at the Bell Centre are the worst.

 

[Kin]

Seriously, Habs fans at the Bell Centre are the worst.

And not the worst fans. Just the worst people. Like neck and neck with those Somali pirates.

 

[The Red Polar Bear]

I don't get to too many other rinks besides the ACC to see if there is any difference in the crowd. I will be in Phoenix in March to see the Phoenix-LA game. Should be interesting to hear the crowd there.

What crowd?

 

[Kin]

I think the point Nik was trying to make was that if the crowd at the ACC is quieter and less excited than those in other stadiums, it doesn't seem to affect the chances of the Leafs winning the game.

That is to say, if we had the loudest building in the league, we'd still be in the midst of a long playoff drought.

Exactly. We can go back and forth about whether a louder arena is a more enjoyable experience but if it doesn't have any outcome on the games themselves it's really just a matter of personal preference.