AP While the euphoria will continue in Winnipeg for the foreseeable future now that True North has announced they’re buying the Atlanta Thrashers and moving them to Manitoba, fans there have a job to do ahead of the NHL Board of Governors meeting on June 21.
While the Board of Governors will meet that day to officially approve the sale and relocation of the Thrashers, it’ll be up to Winnipeg fans to help convince them that they’re a more than viable location for an NHL team. How does one do that? True North wants to make it happen by selling 13,000 season tickets.
During the press conference, True North revealed a website, DriveTo13.com, to point fans toward to help them plunk down their money towards securing the future of the team in the city as well as showing the NHL they’re not screwing around. Of course, that all comes at a price, and in this case a commitment of time as well as money. Here’s how things break down:
As you can see, there’s an added tweak to the pricing in that for the best seats in the house, to get a season ticket package you’ll have to commit to them for up to five years. Even for the worst seats in the MTS Centre you’ll need to buy in for three years. At least there you can get a half-season package but still… Whether it’s three or five years you’re asking for a lot of time and especially money from fans. If you want a pair of tickets in the top priced seats you’ll need to pay up $58,050 to do that. Needing to throw down $1,000 right off the bat hurts too.
Even for fans willing to get a pair of seats in the “worst” seats in MTS Centre that will cost $10,530 for the three year commitment. We’re figuring buying a pair of seats is more likely than just a single seat so that’s why we’re measuring the numbers out that way. Obviously if you want just the one ticket number is, cut the figure in half.
Fans in Winnipeg have gotten used to AHL prices over the last 15 years with the Manitoba Moose so there’s legitimate concern that the sticker shock will stun some fans into backing off of buying tickets. Doing that, however, might give the Board of Governors reason to pause on approving the sale.
The other part of the team going to Winnipeg is need to prove it’s a viable market for the NHL. Since the MTS Centre is set to be the smallest venue in the NHL next season, they’ll virtually need to be sold out nightly for the team to not end up another potential financial mess. Of course, that possibility is lessened by having billionaire David Thomson involved with the True North group.
For years the fans in Winnipeg have clamored for the return of the NHL, now it’s their turn to put their money where their mouth is. Only thing we wonder about is just how fast they’ll get to 13,000 tickets sold.
-
- govtminion - May 31, 2011 at 3:20 PM
-
I won’t make the joke about finding 13,000 people in Winnipeg first.
But… I will ask whether they really think 13,000 people are interested in making a multi-year commitment to a team that… well, let’s be honest, is still the Atlanta Thrashers, just wearing a different shirt. Five years of bad-to-medicore hockey? Hmmm. Good luck.
-
- sasksleddog - May 31, 2011 at 5:16 PM
-
Winnipeg fans know all about dealing with mediocre hockey. In the Jets’ first two years in the NHL (after all their good players had been stolen away by the agreement to merge the WHA and the NHL) the team won 29 of 160 games. In the team’s first five years in the NHL they didn’t have a single winning season – the closest they came to one was their third season when they finished 33-33-14. It doesn’t get much more mediocre than that, and the people still came.
-
- 89seminole - May 31, 2011 at 3:22 PM
-
Complaining already about ticket commitments? What did you think was going to happen, it’s always about ticket sales in small markets. Get off your wallets Jets fans, put up or shut up!
-
- hystoracle - Jun 1, 2011 at 10:27 AM
-
five year commitment or you get nothing?? Really? wow, it’s basically a seat license. It will definitely force some people away who want to be in the building.
-
- whatagreatfootballmind - May 31, 2011 at 3:58 PM
-
It might be the Atlanta Thrashers, however at least it is an established team that is coming and not a down right expansion franchise where maybe, if your lucky you can get a player in the draft to help you. It’s not like they are getting a team full of current NHL team castoffs.
-
- ThatGuy - May 31, 2011 at 4:23 PM
-
Plus the Thrashers aren’t that far off talent wise, their D is solid, Chris Mason is fine and net and they have a young crop of forwards. Kane and Burmistrov are both only 19. Cormice is 20, they have a lot of young talent that could make a playoff berth in the near future.
-
- ikcotol - May 31, 2011 at 4:18 PM
-
I’m in Winnipeg and am actually concerned I won’t be able to get tickets. I have no issues signing up for 5 years at any of those prices, and will do my best Saturday at noon.
The difference between Winnipeg and Atlanta is that 90% of the city is made up of hard core hockey fans. We will support this team through thick and thin, because no matter what happens we still get to watch LIVE NHL HOCKEY.
The economics from 1996 are completely different, and we have an ownership group THAT CARES. (another HUGE difference from Atlanta).
This drive will go smooth and fast.
-
- ThatGuy - May 31, 2011 at 4:34 PM
-
So who is your new favorite player?
-
- ikcotol - May 31, 2011 at 4:48 PM
-
Not sure yet, got to see the new team live.
-
- ikcotol - May 31, 2011 at 4:50 PM
-
I should say though, that I am concerned that I won’t get tickets because demand will far outstrip supply. I will be surprised otherwise.
True test is 10 years down the road….if the bandwagon has some bumps only the true fans will hang on.
-
- hystoracle - Jun 1, 2011 at 10:29 AM
-
Your building still holds less than any other in the league. Your sell out capacity would be seen as an attendance failure in some NHL cities. The first thing they need to do is build a bigger barn.
-
- bcbailey64 - Jun 1, 2011 at 12:10 PM
-
LOL! According to your reckoning about 8 US teams should be eliminated due to their poor attendance. That’s about right. Put hockey in markets where fans will support it. Canada.
Winnipeg will sell out every game – guaranteed. Also, ticket prices in Winnipeg will be much higher than the prices in the cities listed. Put that in your pipe and smoke it!23 Stars
14,916
80.5
14,940
14,421
15,168
16,990
24 Avalanche
14,798
82.2
14,915
14,416
15,535
15,790
25 Ducks
14,653
85.3
14,738
14,153
13,947
15,429
26 Devils
14,152
80.3
14,060
13,861
17,215
17,680
27 Blue Jackets
13,495
74.4
13,122
11,762
15,416
15,543
28 Thrashers
13,056
70.4
12,410
11,625
13,607
14,626
29 Coyotes
11,434
65.3
10,840
11,069
12,735
13,773
30 NY Islanders
10,214
62.7
9,961
10,418
11,989
14,875http://www.mynhltraderumors.com/2011/03/14/nhl-attendance-for-each-team-after-30-home-games/
-
- mdak06 - Jun 2, 2011 at 4:31 PM
-
Good luck! I’m glad that the economics have changed so that hockey can be viable in Winnipeg again.
Bettman commented several times at the press conference that the only way it would work is if there was a sellout each night. I’m guessing that probably won’t be a problem.
Is there any chance that the MTS Centre could either be expanded slightly, or have standing room tickets?
-
- ThatGuy - May 31, 2011 at 4:33 PM
-
Looking at that website one thing I find extremely odd is that the $1000 dollar deposit does not go towards the price of the tickets themselves. It is gets refunded after the first 3-5 year commitment is up, and can either be taken as cash or applied to future season tickets. Seems wierd to me that they would have them have to shell out a grand now, and another 2-6 grand later.
-
- hystoracle - Jun 1, 2011 at 10:32 AM
-
That’s a seat license or PSL. It’s been done in several US cities for Football. Gets the ownership a sustained commitment that they can build their economic model around. I have a feeling it was a requirement from the NHL to allow them to move the team. So, the NHL would be assured they wouldn’t have to move it again.
The one thing I don’t understand is if they were going to move a team to Winnipeg any way why not just relocate Phoenix there. That’s where Phoenix came from originally and that team is a mess too.
