Oshawa, Ont. (Rajeev Sharma): The Oshawa Generals have issued a public apology after an email sent to season ticket holders asking fans to shower before attending home games triggered criticism and online debate.
The controversy began Tuesday when ticket holders received a message from Jason Hickman, the team’s director of ticket sales and service. In the email, fans were reminded to maintain good hygiene before coming to games.
“If you went to the gym or did something that produced body odour, please shower before attending the game,” the email read. It also encouraged spectators to use hand-sanitizing stations, cover coughs and sneezes, and be mindful of personal cleanliness while sharing space with others inside the arena.
The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) club later posted an apology on social media platforms including X, Instagram and Facebook. “It’s not our place to overstep like we did. We are sorry and hopefully we can wash this one off,” the team wrote.
Hickman told a local news outlet that the email followed a rise in complaints from fans about unpleasant odours during games, adding that such concerns had increased over the past month.
Reaction among fans has been mixed. Some residents pointed out that Oshawa’s long-standing nickname, “the Dirty ’Shwa,” made the message particularly sensitive. One longtime fan, who asked not to be fully identified due to professional ties to the league, said she found the email humorous but acknowledged it reinforced negative stereotypes about the city.
“It just played into that idea that everyone in Oshawa is dirty and needs to be told to shower before going to a game,” she said, calling it “not a great look” for the community.
Others said hygiene issues can detract from the game-day experience. One fan recounted attending a New Year’s Day matchup where a strong odour from a nearby spectator made it difficult to focus on the game. While he did not file a complaint, he said he understood why frequent attendees might raise the issue with team officials.
Despite differing opinions, several fans agreed that addressing the matter through a broad email may not have been the most effective approach. Critics suggested that individual situations could have been handled more discreetly.
The team has not indicated whether it will introduce any further measures but appears to be moving forward after acknowledging the misstep.
