The world may indeed be coming to an end, as the unthinkable has happened: the Toronto Maple Leafs have won the Stanley Cup. 45 years of pent-up frustration and disappointment have been replaced by an eruption of joy and celebration. It's been three days since the beloved Leafs won it all, and with signs showing that the party isn't slowing down, Torontonians are acting like it may never happen again.
And who can blame them? Leafs fans have stayed loyal to their team through decades of mediocrity and mismanagement. They witnessed failed season after failed season, and yet continued to make any Leafs game the hottest (and most expensive) ticket in town. In other words, they've earned their day in the sun. So it shouldn't be surprising that after the final game, Toronto became one big party. But no one could have guessed just how big and how long that party has become.
The city has essentially ground to a halt. It seems that more people are partying than working. One fan I talked to actually quit her job so she could continue to enjoy the festivities. "No chance was I going to miss out on this. Look around you, this is too much fun," said the fan.
Every bar in Toronto is packed with people thinking the same thing. Bars and restaurants are overwhelmed, to say the least. "We can't keep up. We don't have enough staff to meet the demand. But everyone has been understanding. People are too happy to complain," noted one bar owner downtown.
And apparently people are too happy to commit crimes as well. The Toronto Police Department is reporting record lows in crime during and since the cup run. This in spite of the fact that alcohol consumption has been so high during that stretch.
This is just a part of the long list of side effects Toronto's first major championship since 1993 has caused.
Hotels have been sold out for days full of Maple Leafs expats and others just looking to join in the fun. Finding a flight to Toronto has been like trying to get to Mecca during Ramadan, proving that this city's true religion is hockey. The LCBO and The Beer Store are shattering former sales records. Tattoo parlours are overrun with fans getting a blue maple leaf permanently stamped on their body. It won't be clear just how massive the positive economic impact of Toronto winning the Cup will be until the party's over.
The benefits are even spilling into the political realm. Having publicly jumped on the bandwagon a few weeks ago, the mayor is benefitting from the big win. Having failed to deliver on some of his campaign promises, Rob Ford's approval rating was in the dumps. Now just days after the victory, these numbers have jumped 25%. With Ford proposing to name some streets after the players and suggesting a public holiday to mark the Cup win, he will likely continue to benefit from the Leafs' triumph.
Ford may have been elected to end the party at city hall, but surely he'll be happy to let this train keep rolling. With 45 years to make up for, it looks like this party will do just that.
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