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Calder Cup 2009
Hockey isn’t over for all cities in Canada. It is alive and well in Winnipeg.
The Manitoba Moose have made it to the Calder Cup finals, the AHL’s version of the Stanley Cup, for the first time in franchise history. And the buzz is significant around Winnipeg.
Add to that the world spotlight being cast on the city by endless NHL talk and the admission by Gary Bettman that Winnipeg is the NHL’s desired destination choice should a team need to relocate. Not only the Coyotes, but any team. And there will soon be others in similar situations as Phoenix finds itself in. As www.JetsOwner.com has long predicted, the NHL will find its way back to where it belongs. Everything has fallen into place very nicely over the past 6 years and we are in prime position to snatch a relocated franchise, sooner than most would anticipate. Now, finally, more people are talking as if this former pipe dream can and will happen, where as before, I was a nut case to even suggest such a thing.
Meanwhile, our existing hockey team is about to do battle for the AHL championship to sold out crowds of over 15,000 fans. Yes, you heard correctly. Fifteen thousand fans for AHL hockey. I dare you to reference another time that has happened. That’s because, despite being June, Winnipeg still breathes hockey 24-7.
And so this next two weeks will not only be about the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins, but about the Hershey Bears (Wsh) and hometown Manitoba Moose (Van), who are not surprisingly in the finals being that they held the best record in the AHL regular season with 50 wines and 23 losses for 107 points.
So while the world reads about Winnipeg in the headlines day-in and day-out, they will now see why Winnipeg is in the headlines. Die hard hockey fans, at any level.
We’re ready here in Winnipeg. Not only to win the Calder Cup, but to become the loudest and proudest NHL city once again.
Saturday night is Game One here in Winnipeg. It is sold out with ticket prices ranging from $24-$44, which is the price you can catch NHL hockey for in Phoenix. That is if you even like hockey, want to drive 40 miles to the rink, and really, really like Wayne Gretzky.
In Winnipeg...
Darren Ford
Founder
Return of the Jets Campaign
www.JetsOwner.com
Some Other Articles That You May Enjoy:
Do Fear The Reaper: Coyotes Under League Control
NHL Favours Winnipeg For Relocation Destination
Welcome From Winnipeg!
What Winnipeg Can Afford
New York Rangers’ Alf Pike Passes Away
What Would You Do As Commissioner of the NHL?
We hope you enjoyed this post. As always, leaving a comment below is both appreciated and encouraged. Thanks!
Whether 1,000.. 3,000…. or 15,003 people attend minor league AHL Moose games in Winnipeg, it doesn’t affect our chances at regaining an NHL franchise. Please see the last 10 cities to be awarded NHL franchises for proof of this. Heck, see all 30 franchises for that matter.
All that is required for an NHL franchise most of the time is a suitable arena and ownership group.
What would be interesting to know is if Winnipeg’s NHL ownership group, consisting partially of the group that runs and operates the Moose/MTS Centre (True North), is motivated even *more* to acquire an NHL team for Winnipeg with the success of the Moose… or less?
Lets be frank here. The more successful the Moose are, the more people that jump on that bandwagon, the less people who pine for a return of the Jets. The less people who will be upset if it doesn’t materialize. The more people who accept the AHL as the best Winnipeg can do. More potential people who will be upset if an NHL team replaces the Moose at the MTS Centre.
In my ideal world, the success of the Moose gives Mark Chipman and Co. even greater motivation and will to bring the NHL back to Winnipeg. I’m crossing my fingers that that is the situation behind the scenes.
In my case, as always, I personally will not be supporting the Moose. I haven’t been to a game in years, and have ZERO intention of going to an AHL game in the future. I have to care about 1 of the sports teams in order to pay money to spend 3 hours at a sporting event. And I make no apologies for not embracing a team consisting of Vancouver’s prospects & draft picks (I’m not a fan of the Vancouver Canucks- I’m a Winnipegger). The hockey may be alright and the tema well run, but hey, a New York baseball fan would never spend 3 hours rooting for the AAA affiliate of the Boston Red Sox now would they?
I suppose the only positive thing for me is believing that the more money the MTS Centre brings in, the wealthier our NHL ownership group becomes, and hence can offer a more generous financial deal for the next NHL team to relocate. I can’t even imagine how much $$$ the MTS Centre is making these days. (and yet, Winnipeg still has the unfortunate reputation of being a very cheap, poor city. When will it end?)
But also worth noting, if the Moose DO win the Championship, expect many articles in the Winnipeg media- and many Winnipeg hockey fans- to start proclaiming “Who needs the NHL?? We have a championhip minor league team!! … Why would we want a lousy NHL franchise??” (the same people who believe that Barry Shenkarow will be running our new NHL team, but I digress..)
I know this blog entry did not suggest that AHL support means the NHL will come back to Winnipeg faster, but I feel the need to re-state my main point: the sports fans of Winnipeg DO NOT have to go to Moose games in order to somehow “prove” this city would support an NHL franchise. Anyone who thinks otherwise has not done the proper research into the hockey history (re: minor league hockey support) of the current 30 NHL cities in their pre-NHL days.
If you want to go to a Moose game; go right ahead. Enjoy yourself. I’ll save that $40 for a Winnipeg NHL team.
Darren, your blog is incorrect. The Moose are not SOLD OUT. You can still buy tickets.
Go to http://www.moosehockey.com and click on tickets and select it for Game 1. Still lot’s available.
“WPG Pipedream”, your comments and viewpoint regarding the issue of NHL hockey in Winnipeg are fascinating, as always.
You going to throw yourself a little party now that you proved Darren wrong about number of tickets sold for a minor league hockey game?
Winnipeg Deserves The Best!,
No but Darren complains when the media and people don’t have facts right and yet he has fallen into their same propaganda. So I had to point out that it was incorrect. And the party will start once the MOOSE win the CALDER CUP.
As for Winnipeg getting the NHL back, not likely. Most people can’t afford to buy tickets for every home game. And the tickets I am sure will be well over $40 for the lowest ticket.
Once again, Manitoba has the lowest COST OF LIVING in Canada and with that comes lower average wages. Who is going to be able to afford to go to games?
@Pipedream
Not everybody in Winnipeg is a warehouse labourer and lives in the north end. Open your eyes and take a look. Sage Creek, Island Lakes, Southdale, Royalwood, South St. Vital, St. Vital, Fort Richmond, Richmond West, Waverly West, West Taylor, Whyte Ridge, LindenRidge, Linden Woods, Old Tuxedo, New Tuxedo, Amber Trails, St. Andrews, North Kildonan, St. Andrews, East St. Paul, Birds Hill… I’m sure I missed one or two but drive through anyone of those neighbourhoods/municipalities and ask yourself if the people living in those houses could afford to go to NHL games.
A city of 700,000 is composed of many financial demographics. You seem to be stuck on one or think there is only one.
i dont think he said winnipeg is the number one place for relocation, i think he said that it was preferred over hamilton.
also, “being that” is the most grammatically incorrect thing ever, just a heads up
Lowest cost of living equals more dispensible money in the long cold winters. Heck this summer as Darren pointed out does well. For an AHL team, a bunch of nobody players and guest teams from nowhere town, 15,000 is great amazing.
I live in one of those areas that Oracle mentions, I dont make a lot of money relative to the national average, I have three kids and we all love hockey. There are lots of people in my neighborhood (at least 1000 x 2 people per seat easily) who are in the exact same boat with more or less kids. This is one small neighborhood. Filling that small arena will be soooooo easy even at $90 per person (assuming that is average) at least 4/5 times a year. I can’t speak for all 700,000 people in Winnipeg and the 100,000 people within reasonable driving distance but the arena, the fans and the ownership group are not a problem. We just need a franchise we can buy at a reaasonable price. This is on the horizon from what I can see.
Oracle,
I have a few friends who have houses in those areas you speak off and they can’t afford it.
Houses sell in some of those areas starting at 200k up to 1 million. So they are making payments and don’t have money to spend on hockey.
Oracle,
Stop being so negative about prices….If its tooooo expensive for you then “DONT GO”! When we have the team here they will come. Stop complaining and stay at home. I’m sure someone out there will take your seat.
I have no idea why that poster above is negative about the AHL; it is a stepping-stone to the NHL, and is excellent advertising. Imagine if it were not playing, people could freely say, Oh well, Winnipeg, they would just draw 10,000 a game…
anyways, go Jets — and as a longtime Expos fan I hope to see the first of the big-time franchise revivals (Nordiques, Grizzlies,?, etc.) in Canada after a long dark period of losses in recent decades ….
@Pipedream
A few friends living beyond their means? OK then that settles it; they must represent the entire demographic of which I speak.
Sorry, I live in one of those areas mentioned, my friends and I could.
Who are they? the same people who pay almost two hundred dollars to see the Eagles, Celine Dion (why?!!), AC/DC etc. and all these other high price acts that come to the city on a regular basis. The same people who have made the MTS centre the third largest grossing venue in Canada.
No, you just have a doom and gloom attitude. I was born and raised here and in my experience there are two negative factions in this city, one from each side of the political spectrum. The poverty sellers and the this city sucks because I didn’t get a taxcut crowd. I don’t care where you fit in they both peddle the same crap from different sides of the spectrum. The final results of both attitudes is continued mediocrity.
========================
@Jonathon, re-read my post. Appology accepted.
well looks like the blue jackets might be another team looking for a bail out. does any one else notice the so alled teams that are proffiting are starting to reveal there pains nhl better do something like relocating the dead weight teams to canada and northern usa fast.
for all those people worrying about affordabiltity look around the league the nhl is gonna have to make it affordable otherwise its back to origional six and some of those teams are in danger too botom line is nhl hockey is surving in canada and we have room for more teams . that being said the nhl is goona have to work with the current economics like it or not. winnipeg and other canadian cities are a little better off then most of the USA cities. the league is gonna have to consider smaller venues poviding there is proffit to be maid and i quote Daren Ford if we could fill it 15 k pluss fans the team would profit and thats what matters. so take your 20 k seat venues with your 6 to 8 k fans and we will see if the mts center is too small . nope its just right
ok go ahead and bash me now nay sayers i deserve it lol
@ winnipeg boy,
Do your homework before you speak. The Blue Jackets are not looking for a bailout. The are exploring options to get a better lease on the arena that they do not own.
So what you’re saying is that although the CBJ have only been in the league for 8 years, you want to move them? Not to bash on the Jets, but you had a team in Winnipeg for 24 years and still you somehow managed to lose them to Phoenix. Would I like to see a team in Winnipeg again? Sure. But you know that the NHL is not going to take a team away right now and give it to you. Look at how hard they’re fighting to keep the Coyotes in Phoenix. These economic times are global, not just singular to the U.S.
I’ll make you a deal, winnipeg boy. Don’t bash on the Blue Jackets and I won’t logically refute you about Winnipeg. Deal?
Winnipeg Boy – Did you attend the Derek Zoolander School For People Who Can’t Read Good and study the works of e.e. cummings as your major? Your posts are impossible to read.
“well looks like the blue jackets might be another team looking for a bail out.”
I stopped reading after that sentence. I wish people wouldn’t make completely loaded statements like that with nothing even remotely plausible to back it up.
So, what in your theory, constitutes a team looking for a bailout? Poor performance? Non-traditional market? I beg an answer to this. Otherwise, Winnipeg Boy, your hieroglyphic comments are half-baked speculation.
You know why Phoenix might be moving (I emphasize *might*)? Because of half-witted ownership making half-witted LEGAL decisions without the league’s consent. That’s why there is a court decision involved in the possible relocation of the franchise. Correct me if I’m wrong on this.
So how in the world do teams like Atlanta, Florida, and even the Islanders, LET ALONE Columbus fall under that category? Somebody educate me, because I’m missing something.
I would personally love to see hockey back in Winnipeg, but it’s not like taking candy away from a baby…or taking hockey away from a non-traditional market.
The fan effort to bring the NHL back to Winnipeg is getting more and more ridiculous at every turn. What the heck is a petition to bring the team back going to do? Do really you expect the league to suddenly cave in and transplant a team because a bunch of basement dwellers that don’t even support the Moose keep whining about it?
You guys can write all the negative stories about the southern US teams and convince yourself that Winnipeg is viable all you want but it’s simply not happening. The reality is there is only one thing needed to bring the NHL back to Winnipeg and that’s the one thing you will never get: AN NHL OWNER. Do you see anyone stepping up to buy a team? Why would any owner spend $200 million to move a team to a town that will only break even at best and never return on the investment?
The NHL is not returning to Winnipeg. You may as well enjoy the hockey you do have and stop wasting your time with this pipe dream. Ditto for Jim Ballsillie being welcomed into the NHL.
el: Have any proof to back up what you say? No? Didn’t think so. Naysayers never do!
1. The NHL isn’t interested with Balsillie. Aside from Balsillie, how many other groups are out there willing to shell out $200 for a pro hockey team? I don’t see any. The next highest bid for the Coyotes is, what, $130 million from the group that wants them to stay in Phoenix?
2. Winnipeg does have an NHL ownership group. They’re just not blabbing everything to the media every week like Balsillie. That’s what the NHL wants. That’s why Winnipeg will get a team before Hamilton.
source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pORpOIcZys
3. “Just support what we have”. Um, no. No thanks. I, like many other Winnipegger’s, don’t support the Moose, but will gladly support an NHL team. The problem with Winnipeg is that too many people accept medicore without question or complaint. That’s why Winnipeg is the kind of city it is.
Now perhaps you’ll think twice in the future before spewing more negative, visionless, “Winnipeg can’t do it/Winnipeg can’t support it” drivel.
Umm I already made the point that the NHL wasn’t interest in Ballsillie. Although he actually has money, and a valid business model, unlike chipman, who admits admits in that very youtube interview that they don’t have enough money for an expansion team.
There are at least 5 ownership groups with over a billion dollars each in assets that have recently applied for an expansion franchise or to move an existing team. The locations include Kansas City, Las Vegas, Northern Toronto, and of course Hamilton. The suitors include Anshutz, Bruckheimer, Beedie, Carnagie, and Ballsillie. Tell me where Winnipeg is again?
If you knew anything about the NHL business model, you would quickly realize that the league is a lot more concerned about maintaining their current television footprint than they are about moving a team to Winnipeg. Gary Bettman is simply not willing to admit that he was wrong. He will do everything in his power to keep the southern franchises where they are. Do you not realize this by now?
Look at Nashville, Pittsburgh and Phoenix. Ballsillie basically offered double that of any competing ownership group, but the league would not budge. The NHL instead found new owners and forced those teams to sell for half of what they could have got from Ballsille.
Considering that, why on earth would the league let a Winnipeg group come in and offer half of what Ballsille would and then allow them to move the team to Winnipeg? It makes absolutely zero sense. If the league is going to cave in and let the Southern franchises move they will look to the ownership groups that have money first and move them to locations that THEY WANT THEM TO MOVE TO.
Honestly: do you actually believe that New York TV execs want to see a team move to Winnipeg or Hamilton before KC and Las Vegas? This is what these decisions will come down to. They have a media mogul waiting in the wings in Jerry Bruckheimer. If you do a little research you might discover that the league covets this type of owner.
It’s 13 years and counting. How much do you want to bet that it hits 20 in the blink of an eye?
Who cares what the New York TV execs want to see? — nobody is watching hockey on TV down there anyway. At least with a team in Winnipeg, the players will be playing in a full building rather than one that is half empty. Does anyone seriously believe that Kansas City would be successful just because of a new building? Atlanta, Miami, Phoenix, etc all have new buildings and it hasn’t helped them attract fans. Once the novelty wears off, Kansas City would be no different that any of the other southern U.S franchises. It’s not that the people there are bad — they just aren’t into hockey.
It’s funny how some people always question whether Winnipeg could financially support an NHL franchise. This impoverished town is well known for having the highest per capita ranking for charitable contributions (i.e United Way) in comparison to any other location in North America. Just because the people of Winnipeg are not flashy with their money does not mean that it isn’t here. The people will support what matters to them — and hockey matters!
The NHL cares more about New York TV execs and billionaires than Winnipeg. That’s what you people don’t get. I’m not saying I agree with Bettman or his vision. Those are just the facts.
el: Facts are usually backed up with sources.
You’ve never had *one*.
There are numerous reports in the media regarding various ownership groups that want into the NHL. The NHL also has a very documented history regarding their motives. If you want to remain oblivious to reality and believe that Winnipeg is in the NHL’s plans go ahead. People outside of the peg don’t have such a provincial attitude.
Let’s all remember WHY Kansas city moved in the first place: lack of fan support (they moved to Colorado then New Jersey). Will it be there renewed if they secured a team? Maybe, but the old marketing adage of “people will buy it because it’s there” doesn’t apply anymore, and the NHL I think is starting to see this, even though they’ve obviously been trying to hide it, but would never admit it publicly. I’ve mentioned this on other message boards but I’ll mention it here too: I wouldn’t be opposed to a team in Hamilton again (they folded due to corruption in the 20’s), but I think Jim is going about it the wrong way, even if you don’t agree with the rules of the NHL or like Bettman; I think Toronto and Buffalo would have something very strong to say about it.
Really this current thread is degenerating into a difference of opinions, as opposed to earlier factual arguments (or at least attempts at).
Well, well, well…. look at that: games 6 and 7 (if necessary) completely sold out in Winnipeg. It is also interesting to note that the moose have among the highest (if not THE highest) ticket prices in the entire AHL. It’s great that Hersey is selling out their building too, but the cheapest seat in the MTS centre is basically the price of the most expensive one in Hershey…
‘Pegger, Winnipeg does not have to support the Moose in order to somehow “prove” we’d support an NHL team.
Personally, I think 1,000 people at Moose games and True North Sports & Entertainment receiving 10,000 letters a day proclaiming “You’ll have my money when there’s an NHL team in the MTS Centre” would help speed up the process rather than blind devotion to the Canucks farm team.
It’s not up to the NHL to get Winnipeg a team- it’s up to True North, the people that run the MTS Centre.
I’m not going to ANY Moose games and don’t support the team at all (and never will), but I’ll be in line for NHL season tickets at the MTS Centre. I’m sure thousands of other Manitobans can say the same.
“winnipeg deserves the best” — I didnt say we had to support the moose (or NHL exhibition games for that matter, even if no one spoke about that on this current blog to date) in order to get an NHL team back. Im just making the point that if that many people are ready to pay that kind of money to see AHL hockey (which, in all fairness, is not close to the quality of NHL hockey), then even more people would be going to see NHL hockey at double, or even tripple the price charged for moose games.
All that said, I’m with you: I dont really follow the moose at all. I can name you maybe 3 or 4 moose players, while i can name half the players on an NHL team i barely follow/like. I go to maybe 2 games a year (and usually the tickets were given to me for free). This year was a bit of an exception as I ended up going to a couple games in the Finals. However, if we did have an NHL team, I’d go to 10 (if not more) games a year, and even consider getting season tickets (even if it costs 3 to 5 grand, because to me, and many of my friends, 41 our of 365 nights of the year would be garanteed a great time). Many of my friends are with me (and you) on that one.
We will never see an NHL team back in Winnipeg for a long time. All this talk was just wasted hype.
We have no corporate support at all. The True North couldn’t even afford to build the new arena and had to ask the government for help. How do you think they will be ablw to afford to buy an NHL team that costs more than what the MTS Centre cost to build.
And I can tell you the government won’t step in to help buy and NHL team. Example Gary Filman’s broken promise to save the Jets.
The reason why we have the moose is because it’s cheap and affordable for the masses.
Why would True North put up ALL the money for a new arena if the government is willing to pick up part of the tab? I can just see that conversation…
TRUE NORTH: Would the government be willing to pay for part of a new arena?
GOVERNMENT: Yes.
TRUE NORTH: Wait. On second thought, no thanks. We’d like to pay for all of it ourselves.
@Pipedream,
Almost all jurisdictions with pro sports teams get the government to either pay the whole shot or or a significant sum to build major arenas, stadiums,or ball parks. Part of the reason why Phoenix can’t just up and leave is because Glendale built them the arena on condition of a tight lease.
While Winnipeg is not a major Canadian corporate HQ city like T.O. or Calgary there is a decent corporate presence in this city, like Edmonton (don’t they have a team?). How many multinationals call Buffalo, Raleigh etc. home?
Shaddap already, you’re a clown who doesn’t have a grasp of anything going on in the city. Stop proving it with your uninformed generalizations. Oh yeah, and tell your three friends who just pay mortgage and can’t afford to eat to move to cheaper accomodations.
Oracle.
I would like to see proof that we have corporate support in this city. It’s all talk and no action.
Where was the corporate support in 96? No where to be found. There was talk, but that’s just it, it was just “TALK” and no action.
Where is the corporate support now? Why didn’t they put a bid in for the coyotes or any of the other teams?
Hate to say it but those southern teams will be staying put under the current CBA and NHL rules and regulations.
All I can say is KEEP DREAMING WINNIPEG! It will be a long PIPEDREAM before we ever get a team here.
Pipedream,
Well, there you go again proving once again that it doesn’t take an informed opinion to yell and scream in caps on a blog.
Now if you would have paused and thought for a few minutes before going into, I’m angry and want to crap all over everything mode, you might have realized a few things.
Chipman has already stated on the national news (it’s on the net, go see yourself) that there are people in place ready to go if/when the right opportunity presents itself. If none of this was in place would he so willingly put himself in a noose? I guarantee you he and his family have a hell of a lot more on the line and more to lose than you do. Because if it turned out he was full of crap he would do irreparable damage to his business and his reputation in this city. How many things have you literally bet your house on? Not figuratively but in reality because that’s what Chipman did when he made that public statement.
Would he go that far if he didn’t have the people in place? Would he go that far if he hadn’t already performed a proper business analysis of all the revenue and expenditure variables such an analysis encompasses? (Fan support, luxury suit support, ticket and suite pricing, operating and salary costs, currency exchange etc.)
Chipman knows how to operate a business. Would he consider entering such a venture without doing his homework. It’s obvious you can post a comment without doing your homework because it cost you absolutely jack to sit at your computer and hold down your caps key but he doesn’t have the luxury of screaming from the backseat like you do. So until you have performed a proper business analysis showing that Winnipeg could never support an NHL team you are going by your own angry/negative perception which means you are swinging blindly an a piñata.
So far your only evidence is you and a few friends of yours are house poor, so excuse me if I enlist more informed opinions on the possibility of a return of the NHL to Winnipeg.
Do you think they should take RimJim’s approach? Use gobs of money to try and kick down the doors to get into the NHL, yeah that’s working wonders for him right now.
True North made there presentation to the NHL, in the proper and accepted manner, as has been reported in the press. Bettman’s e-mail (dated before Phoenix declared bankruptcy) says if no local buyer then Winnipeg should be given the opportunity, would Bettman suggest that if he didn’t like what was presented to the NHL by True North, if there wasn’t something there? What was True North doing during this time letting things play out and not shaking the cage, which is how the NHL operates.
13 years ago, what can I say, come join us in the present, Cobain is still dead and grunge faded away so if you’re still hanging around the 90’s looking for him I’ll save you the time, you won’t find a thing.
Now don’t go thinking, look where it has gotten you so far, that I’m sitting here telling you for certain that this or that will happen. I have just come to the conclusion from all the evidence (what has been said and done by those who matter) that the chances are decent (better than not) that if the right opportunity comes along Chipman’s group will grab it.
Hopefully I will see you at a game, whoops, I forgot about your mortgage. Well, there is always the highligh reel.
Cheers.
Oracle,
Wow you’re totally niave believe what Chipman said is true. He was just taking advantage of some PR.
Look at the Aspers. Back in 96 he was going to take over the Jets. He talked and talked, but when it came down to it, he never put his money on the table.
As for the NHL email, Good ole Gary said that he would like to see it go to Winnipeg “IF” there was no other offers. However, there will always be offers. Winnipeg once again will DREAM.
Face it, there is just no corporate money in Winnipeg to Shell out 180+ million for a team. It just is not going to happen.
It’s time to get REAL and live in the real world.
Get real, haters. this is 2009. For the first time in my 32 years of Winnipeg has more money than any other city in North America. While every sector is hurting bad we are building airports, libraries, museums.schools, I don’t know where you haters are hiding, but these last few years has been the best economically and culturally for Winnipeg.
With that being said, the only thing needed for confidence in this city is an NHL team, 41 nights a year packed arena , rejuvenated core, and a thriving city that will embrace and support thier heart and soul on those cold winter nights. We ain’t got much in the winter, if it came down to a winter vacation, a summer cottage, or Jets Seasons, it will be tough. I would be inclined to get the Jets seasons, more bang for your buck.
Go get your Money Winnipeg,
In my experience, the ONLY people that make ticket price for a new Winnipeg NHL team an issue are not the type of people that even go to big-league sporting events.
Which honestly makes their whole weak “argument”, moot. Irrelevant.
Ya think the hockey fans at Oilers, Flames, and Senators games would rather have AHL hockey because of the cheaper tickets?
Go to any of the 30 NHL arenas. Listen to how many people whine about the ticket price.
I find it ridiculous there’s so much debate and argument over whether the NHL will return to Winnipeg. The Jets left because we desperately needed a new arena. The Winnipeg Arena was never designed with the NHL in mind. The new arena wasn’t built. The team owners sold the team to a group that moved them to Phoenix. We now have a modern NHL-quality arena. And we’re a Canadian city; hockey’s in our blood.
What’s there to argue or debate?
Look at the entire Coyotes Saga.
There will be no relocation of any NHL team North of the Border. Even the Judge is considering full dissolve of the team.
What we have here is a pipedream for Winnipeg to ever get any NHL franchise.