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'Sens mile'

Businesses, fans want to celebrate along Elgin Street after Senators' victories

Ottawa Citizen

Published: Wednesday, May 16, 2007

The faces of thousands of Ottawa Senators fans will be lit by the technicolour glow of television screens tonight as they wait with baited breath for their beloved team to sweep the Sabres. If the Senators win, some fans want the victory cheers to be concentrated one corner of Ottawa in particular: Elgin Street and MacLaren Street.

Inspired by fans of the Calgary Flames, some of the most die-hard Senators supporters have made the move to develop a "Sens Mile" - a zone where fans can congregate after each win on the road to the Stanley Cup. In 2004, Calgary developed the Red Mile during the Flames' pursuit of the cup where fans went wild on 17th Street SW.

"I'm expecting a very large crowd tonight," says Joe Eyamie, Jr., general manager at Swagman Jack's and Fox and Feather, a restaurant and bar located at the corner of Elgin and MacLaren streets. "We had to call in some more staff because of all the advertising that's going on. Ottawa's gonna win, that's guaranteed."

Calgary Flames fans celebrate on the Red Mile.View Larger Image View Larger Image

Calgary Flames fans celebrate on the Red Mile.

Ted Rhodes, The Calgary Herald
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Online networking site Facebook has an Ottawa Senators fan group that counts more than 12,000 on its member list. Led by online user Shane Currey, fans have tried to organize themselves to meet up for celebrations at Elgin and MacLaren if the Senators see victory tonight.

In anticipation of the festivities, Ottawa police said stopping or parking on Elgin Street will not be allowed between Laurier Avenue and Catherine Street. The street will remain open to traffic, however. Police said in increased number of officers will be keeping a close eye on party-goers, with a "zero tolerance" approach to infractions. "The police service encourages hockey fans to celebrate but remind them to do so in a responsible fashion and in accordance to the law," police said in a statement.

Business owners in other parts of the city say that Sens Mile or not, the Senators' winning streak has brought in a fair amount of fans to their restaurants, too.

While Local Heroes manager Morgan Billabough says developing the Sens Mile on Bank Street - where his restaurant is located - would be nice, business on game nights has been good enough to keep him satisfied.

"It's packed full full full every game," he says.

On game nights, Mr. Billabough says restaurant staff show their team allegiance by adorning themselves with temporary tattoos with the Senators logo on them as well as covering their faces with Senators-themed war paint.

The restaurant gives away game tickets and tries to get fans even more excited with draws for prizes like a beer fridge.

In the past, Mr. Eyamie says his Elgin Street businesses have also had promotional giveaways and raffles of Senators memorabilia. He says reservations have already been made tonight for the tables in front of the 52" televisions in the restaurant and bar.

Senators fans have never been out of control following a game victory before, says Mr. Eyamie.

Mr. Billabough says the same is true for his patrons, who are excited, but never rowdy.

"Everybody's great except for the Leafs fans who insist on cheering against the Senators," he says.

While Peter Lehman, district manager at Royal Oak pub on Bank Street at Gloucester Street, says his staff also don Senators-themed outfits, fans have enough enthusiasm that big promotions are hardly necessary.

"(Businesses) are almost self-promoted because if you have a TV, people will come," he says.

Even if Bank Street isn't the location of the unofficial Sens Mile, Mr. Billabough says the street his business is on might eventually see the biggest celebration of all.

"They might as well make the Sens Mile on Bank Street. If we win it all, this is where the parade will be," he says.




 
 

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