GDT: Winnipeg returns to the NHL OFFICIAL

[pucka lucka]

if thats the case if 13k is for STH that only leaves 2,015 for non STH according to Wiki's record of capacity for MTS Centre

A bunch of those are in luxury suites. Over 1k I believe.

 

[Confucius]

I just wanted to point it out to keep people from saying Bettman was holding them to some never before standard.....

No doubt TNSE is trying to make the most of the first few years. That being said I agree the place will have to sellout to be an average gate revenue generating team.

 

[headsigh]

@IAmJericho
Chris Jericho
THE JETS ARE BACK BABY!!!!! "I'm from Winnipeg, you idiots!"

Jericho's awesome.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Says the guy he just mentioned the names Penguins, Ducks and Flyers.

It is what it is. The average sports fan sees those names and thinks, "Crosby, Knucklepuck, Bullies". The branding is already firmly established with all three teams, so the silliness of their names is irrelevant.

With the Moose it would just be a silly name, period. Using "Manitoba" instead of "Winnipeg" doubles that effect, as people might at least be vaguely aware of Winnipeg from having played NHL 94 or remembering when they moved to Phoenix or whatever. Manitoba has exactly zero marketing value... which is basically the same as having negative marketing value. After all, they're bumping someone else from the schedule.

FWIW, I'm not saying the Thrashers didn't have the same problem.

 

[Retail1LO*]

Worked in Marketing for a QMJHL team actually. Keep going though.

Past tense? What a surprise. I simply cannot believe that someone that worked in marketing doesn't believe that the name of a team means anything from a marketing standpoint. What are you, one of those new wave marketing gurus?

 

[JackBurton]

This might sound dumb, but it's true.

Imagine yourself as the average North American sports fan, somewhat aware of hockey but not a huge follower. More interested in football, but willing to take in a hockey game every now and then. You are at the arena box office looking at tickets for an early-season game. (I'm going to arbitrarily use last year's Blues schedule)

Oct 9 - Philadelphia Flyers "Nice, I'd love to see the Flyers. Should be a lot of fights."

Oct 11 - Anaheim Ducks "Aren't they the Mighty Ducks anymore? That movie was awesome. Knucklepuck."

Oct 22 - Chicago Blackhawks "Nice. I saw them on TV a couple times, they're really good."

Oct 23 - Pittsburgh Penguins "OMG Sidney Crosby! Ok, I'm getting this one... might as well check the next date just to be sure..."

Oct 30 - Manitoba Moose "What the **** team is that? Are they serious? Dude, the NHL is so weird."


It might be spoken out of ignorance, it might be childish, but it's true that the majority of non-hockey fans will have a similar reaction to seeing that on the schedule. Winnipeg Falcons or Winnipeg Jets might raise some questions, but Manitoba Moose sounds flat-out ridiculous against the New York Rangers and LA Kings of the league.

I have to agree. As a Canadian, the impression I get from Manitoba Moose is, well, a moose in Manitoba. There's nothing riveting in that. It just sounds flat, awkward and a little silly.

 

[pucka lucka]

Unless I'm somehow confusing what "name" means, "Model T" was the accepted name for that Ford model. You don't have to call something the "Hot **** Mobile." Even some apparently random collection of letters and/or numbers works, if it gains traction with the public. Like, say, RX-7 or 300 or 500 or whatever.

Totally and completely missed my point.

 

[TheStranger]

Stars (Lone STAR state...somehow plural?! MIND ASPLODE!)
Ducks
Maple Leafs
Canadians
Wild

There's just a few OMGSTUPIDNAMESILLNEVERBUYTICKETSTOSEETHEM names. Watch out, the mighty LEAFS are in town. Christ, I honestly question why I come here sometimes.

Canadiens*

 

[RandR]

I'm seeing tweets that 13k ticket drive is what TNSE wanted, not a requirement of NHL (apparently it's 12k limit).

I wouldn't be surprised that they wanted that extra 1000 to really show the BOG they mean business.

I think TNSE set the target at 13,000 because they think that is a realistic target to aim for. That number could also be part of TSNE's calculation for making money on an annual basis.

I think it is smart business. Heck, if you can't sell 13,000 season tickets for the first few years, then it doesn't say much about long-term viability.

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

Classic example of only seeing what you want to see.

It's a fact Atlanta didn't have enough die-hard fans to attend their games. It makes me feel bad for those that bought tickets to see their team no matter what, but there simply wasn't enough of those, and then there was ownership who wanted out.

Ownership was a big issue in Winnipeg in 1996, as was a run-down arena, and a Canadian dollar that was in the toilet.

ASG wanted out as soon as they landed the team. The plan was that the new CBA and salary cap would increase the value of the Thrashers enough so that they would make a quick profit by selling the team.

Unfortunately, the court battle with Belkin got in the way, and they had to postpone their sale until now.

It is not a coincidence that the season that Thrashers are being sold is the same season that they are legally able to be sold. The owners have wanted out from the very beginning, come hell or high water.

 

[Huis Clos*]

Classic example of only seeing what you want to see.

It's a fact Atlanta didn't have enough die-hard fans to attend their games. It makes me feel bad for those that bought tickets to see their team no matter what, but there simply wasn't enough of those, and then there was ownership who wanted out.

Ownership was a big issue in Winnipeg in 1996, as was a run-down arena, and a Canadian dollar that was in the toilet.

I see. Atlanta doesn't have die-hard fans, but the lack of support for the Jets was just poor ownership. We only see what we want to see.

 

[TaketheCannoli]

I think TNSE set the target at 13,000 because they think that is a realistic target to aim for. That number could also be part of TSNE's calculation for making money on an annual basis.

I think it is smart business. Heck, if you can't sell 13,000 season tickets for the first few years, then it doesn't say much about long-term viability.

The pricing seems pretty reasonable to me. For seats comparable to the ones I buy in Philadelphia, it's pretty close to the same price. They are a little bit more than my Columbus seats, about 30% more. Not bad. If I lived there, I'd buy them unless they continue the same ineptitude the franchise exhibited in Atlanta.

I wouldn't pay $114 per seat for 45 games if they go another 10 years without winning a playoff game and making the playoffs one time in ten.

 

[southpaw24]

I am a leaf fan, last fall I moved to Brandon, MB with my fiance. I will continue to be a leafs fan because since I was a little gaffer they have been my team. That being said, I will also support the Winnipeg team as much as I possibly can, regardless of what they are called.

For the people that say they wont support the team if they are not called the jets....

Chipman, Thomson and TNSE, could go away from the team name because they want to start a new brand a new era of hockey in Winnipeg. You should not be so childish to say you wont support the team if not called the jets. NHL hockey is not a right for us Canadians, we should have learned this after Winnipeg and Quebec left the first time. Sure you can say it was all Bettmans fault but that is the easy way out. This team will need every Manitobans support, as well as the fans in Northern Ontario and Eastern Saskatchewan. It is great to have the NHL back in Manitoba, but lets not start it out on a sour note with people not supporting it just becasue of a name.

Note: I would like the name to be the Jets but if not I'd be fine with it. Also sounds like a bunch of the guys on the team Kane, Ladd and others would like to be a Jet.

 

[JackBurton]

So who makes the final call? You people really think that people will not show up to "Moose" games, if they are the best team in the league? Holy smokes.

No, but it's a lot easier to establish a team profile around the league, with fans of other teams, with media outlets, with sponsors, and so on, if people don't chuckle to themselves when they hear the team name.

Think of the XFL. Even if it had worked, could it be taken seriously with the ridiculous team names it had?

 

[IkeaMonkey*]

Wow. What a post. Where to begin?

They're called the Stars because the team came from Minnesota and had previously been the North Stars. The name had NOTHING to do with Texas being the Lonestar state. Zero. The Ducks name came from a wildly popular Disney movie. Disney owned the team. It's not a real shocker they'd cash in on that kind of relationship or popularity. If you knew where "Maple Leafs" was derived from, you'd hardly be criticizing it, same with Canadiens (which you misspelled). I'm not a fan of the Wild name. I can't defend it.

And for the record, I too question why you're here. It is indeed an honest question.

You seriously just validated my point. How low do I need to dumb this down?

The Stars didn't even change their name when they moved. They dropped the North because...they are not in the North. There is obviously no sort of importance between the City of DALLAS and STARS.

 

[RonJon]

Real question ... Are the die hard fans who have been screaming they want NHL hockey back in the Peg, are seriously not going to buy tickets if the team isn't called the Jets??

Although the majority of people want Jets, and I believe that from a marketing point of view that makes the most sense, it's the NHL they want more than anything. I have yet to talk to a single person who would refuse to buy tickets if the name isn't what they want.

 

[CarlWinslow]

I see. Atlanta doesn't have die-hard fans, but the lack of support for the Jets was just poor ownership. We only see what we want to see.

Let's drop you in the old Winnipeg Arena for three hours and see how much you enjoy the experience. Had the Jets built a new building back in the day, I would say they likely may not have moved.

 

[EpochLink]

I'll still support the Vancouver Canucks, even though Winnipeg has a team back. I grew up with the Jets since I was born and raised there so there is some history there. The Jets were number one then the Canucks were second.

It's weird now, since were back..Winnipeg people on my Facebook are coming to terms with the season ticket commitment..some of them want to but some are holding back. If I was them, I'd do it up in a heart beat.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Approaching 1,000. New thread opened. http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=919492

Closed.