psowrc
Registered User
- Feb 21, 2015
- 388
- 0
I think having the AHL team in Winnipeg has worked out very well for both the Jets and the local fans. It's very affordable, making it family (budget) friendly. You see lots of kids at Moose games. They close off the upper bowl except for special games, leaving around 8800 seats. Really good size for the AHL. Even with an average size crowd, it doesn't look sparsely attended.
It's also more fun oriented. Man, I've heard some really "intense" people at Jets games. Nobody gets worked up at a Moose game, even if they're playing badly (the norm last year). One of the promotions they had last year was free pancakes at a local pancake restaurant if the Moose hit a selected goal target in the third period. There's nothing quite like 7000-8000 people chanting "We want pancakes!"
Comparing apples and oranges. Winnipeg had NHL, then years of IHL/AHL. Never lost a hockey fanbase and continued to have support for cheaper hockey.
I believe Las Vegas needs to focus on developing a following for the NHL team at this point and not have the team contend with a cheaper option in the same city.