The Ottawa Senators’ success last spring has paid off at the box office.

After making the playoffs for the first time in eight years last spring, the Senators have increased their season-ticket sales, with training camp set to get under way on Sept. 17 at the Canadian Tire Centre.

Brendan Duvall, the club’s vice-president of ticket sales and service, told participants in Media Day at the rink on Wednesday that the club has seen a “double-digit increase” in season tickets to start the year.

“We’ve made significant strides, and we’re going to keep working at it,” Duvall said. “By puck drop, all of our 100-level suites will be sold out with the momentum we had from the spring going all the way through the summer.

“We still have a lot of work to do to get that season-ticket base to where we want, but we’re encouraged by the progress that we’re making. The community of Ottawa-Gatineau is significantly helping us to get to where we are.”

The Senators will face the Nashville Predators in their home opener on Oct. 13 at 1 p.m. after facing the Florida Panthers (Oct. 9) and Tampa Bay Lightning (Oct. 11) on the road.

The Senators’ season-ticket base was approximately 7,500 heading into last season, and that number increased heading into the club’s first-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the spring.

Since then, they have been working hard to capitalize on the success of making the playoffs. Winning is the best marketing tool to sell tickets, and the club is buoyed by the increase.

Cyril Leeder, the club’s president and chief executive officer, said season ticket sales are up about 15-to-20 percent from last season. The club is trying to get closer to the league average of 11,000 season tickets, but still has some heavy lifting to do to get there.

“We’re still going and we’re still adding season-ticket holders,” Leeder said. “September is a busy month. We had a great March and April, going into the playoffs, when we added the most season seat owners.

“We’re still well below the league average of 11,000, and that’s our target. We’ve got runway now, and we feel like we can get there. In the next 24 to 36 months, we feel we’ll be at that number. We just have to stay at it.”

The club has also witnessed better corporate support.

“The season-seat numbers have been good, but I’m particularly encouraged by the number of businesses coming back,” Leeder said. “We’ve got a number of businesses buying our seats, two and four at a time, and that’s kind of our sweet spot.

“We’re making great progress in our lower bowl. If we can get another 300 to 400 accounts done at the 100 level, then we see our way clear to selling out the 100 level the whole year.”

Modifications to the rink mean a sellout this year will be just shy of 18,000 fans.

All of the club’s 100-level seats have been changed and upgraded. The club confirmed that Fan Fest will be held on Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., just ahead of the club’s lone exhibition game in Ottawa against the Maple Leafs at 3 p.m.

The Senators have signed deals with 13 new corporate partners this summer, which is a significant increase. The club announced a deal with Dr. Pepper to become the first rink in Canada to include that drink available for its fan base.

While Coca-Cola products will still be sold at the rink, Dr. Pepper is owned by Canada Dry Mott’s Inc., which operates under the umbrella of Keurig Dr. Pepper Canada.

“Guests attending hockey games, concerts, and live events will be able to enjoy KDP Canada’s lineup of leading soft drink brands — including Dr. Pepper, Canada Dry, Nestea and Crush,” the club said.

The Senators also used the day to let the local media test out some of the new foods that will be available at the concessions, as the club celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Canadian Tire Centre on Jan. 17 with a visit by the Montreal Canadiens.

bgarrioch@postmedia.com