Leafs announcer slams home crowd as 'very disappointing'

Longtime Toronto Maple Leafs radio announcer Joe Bowen wasn't shy about his frustration with a listless crowd at Scotiabank Arena Wednesday night, as the team dropped game three of its first-round playoff series with the Boston Bruins.

Bereft of many opportunities for his signature "Holy Mackinaw" goal call as the Leafs skaters were held to just two goals — continuing a recent trend over the last several playoff games where the team can't seem to score — Bowen teed off on the crowd for being quiet.

"The idea of going to any sporting event to support the home team is to be PRO ACTIVE!!," Bowen wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"Give the team energy when they need it … not sitting down waiting to be REACTIVE. The players can't say it but I will tonight's crowd was VERY DISAPPOINTING."

The idea of going<br>To any sporting event<br>To support the home team is to<br>Be PRO ACTIVE!!!<br>Give the team energy when they need it Not sitting down waiting<br>To be REACTIVE. The players can’t say it but I will tonight’s crowd was VERY DISAPPOINTING

Criticism of quiet crowds at Scotiabank Arena is nothing new. Though Leaf fans travel well and tend to take over some visiting arenas in boisterous fashion (see Buffalo and Ottawa especially), Scotiabank Arena is often considered a comparatively reserved rink.

Many fans responded to Bowen with an age-old criticism — that lower bowl seats are reserved for corporate types because they're incredibly expensive:

Joe. When you charge $600 for a lower bowl seat, the real fans aren’t attending. <br>I have had season tickets for 8 years and can’t afford my own seats in the playoffs. It’s ridiculous.

JOE, the real fans are priced out! You've been around long enough to know that!<br>The fun, noisy, crazy