Thrashers Dealt to Winnipeg

[Tymaster]

Regarding the Islanders, the new arena in Brooklyn the current Nets (possibly to be rebranded) are building may woo themin . Brooklyn is technically Long Island.

Technically, yes. But that's not where their fanbase is.

And why do the Nets have to be rebranded? I went to New York Nets games at the Coliseum when Dr. J was still playing for them.

It may not be where their fanbase lives, though it's accessible to most. If they aren't going to get the people out on LI to get them a new arena half as nice as the Barclays Center is purported to be, you can't blame them for moving there. Especially if a train station 10 yards away easily connects the arena to the LIRR.

And ask Nets ownership why they want to rebrand. The Nets are usually seen as classic... classic losers! A new look, new arena, and their new ownership that includes Jay-Z would make them more competitive with attracting players.

Regarding Columbus: that's another situation like Phoenix where the NHL team is the only major resident in a new building. Bettman seems willing to work with moving a franchise losing money as long as they aren't leaving an expensive building built especially for an NHL team dark. If there were NBA teams sharing those buildings like in Atlanta, it might be a different tale.

I think all things considered: ticket prices in a shitty economy, competition from Ohio State Buckeyes football and basketball (HUGE!), one winning season in ten, that averaging 13,000 + a night is very respectable. The CBJ also attract NHL tv viewers in Cleveland/Akron/Canton/Toledo/Dayton/Cincinnati/Huntington/Youngstown that would otherwise not be watching hockey.

[Anne_Thrax]

Winnipeg is making the announcement at noon EST today.

[Fast_Eddie_Schenker]

Gary Bettman should announce an expansion franchise for Atlanta immediately.


(Just so Western Canada can get another team within the next decade. Saskatoon, maybe?)

[Anne_Thrax]

Why don't we move all the NHL teams to Canada? That way the NHL can collect $60 million a pop.

[Louis Zypher]

Winnipeg is making the announcement at noon EST today.

While I think this is a good thing, Canada needs more teams....I really feel for you.....if the Kings left LA I'd kill myself.....

So sorry, Anne_Thrax........

[NeverSurrender]

Why don't we move all the NHL teams to Canada? That way the NHL can collect $60 million a pop.

This ain't about 60 million. Buttman has done everything in his power to stock the South with teams nobody cares about. Tampa and THE Preds are doing pretty well and Dallas was until recently. The rest are failing miserably.

Atlanta is the closest NHL arena to me and I wanted them to make it, but you can't blame them for wanting out.

[Bassmaster1984]

I love the city of Atlanta, but let's be honest. It's all about college football in Georgia and it's even somewhat racial. College football is KING. The Braves draw shit, the Hawks draw shit, the Falcons do ok, but only recently 9 last 5-7 years) They drew SHIT at Fulton County.

Plus, Phillips Arena is located downtown. White hockey fans with money DO NOT live downtown and they have no interest in going downtown. They live is the suburbs and do not want to battle the traffic, shitty parking and homeless to see a hockey game.

Plus management was ALWAYS shit with the Thrashers. Waddell was a joke when he was with San Diego in the WCHL. Why he had a job for so long in Atlanta was amazing.

Put the team up in the suburbs with good management and MAYBE they would do ok. Just as long as college football isn't around.

[NeverSurrender]

Your post pretty much speaks for the southeast as a whole. Our local radio is dominated by CFA talk.

[cc117]

I feel bad for the people in Atlanta who were actual fans. As a Predators fan, I remember the feeling when Jim Balsillie was selling tickets in Hamilton and he didn't own the team.

[chungasrevenge]

Atlanta blows. I say that having spent a lot of time in Georgia and ihave many friends down there, and even they don't want to head into the city, or the general downtown area. I worked the Olympics down there. I feel for Anne Thrax and the few fans that cared about the team. They probably would have done better out in the burbs.

That being said, hockey in the southeast has done pretty well in Carolina, Tampa and Nashville. Florida/Phoenix should be moved to Quebec City and a pacific northwest region and the league is good to go.

[KillDevilHill]

That being said, hockey in the southeast has done pretty well in Carolina, Tampa and Nashville. Florida/Phoenix should be moved to Quebec City and a pacific northwest region and the league is good to go.

I agree 100%, except i would stick another team in Hamilton rather than Portland or Seattle.

[Tenacious_Dio]

Tonight, a drunk chick from Winnipeg dances

[NeverSurrender]

Tonight, a drunk chick from Winnipeg dances

FAIL.

[WOLF]

Somehow, I think these "tickets sold" won't be coming to the games dressed as empty seats!


WINNIPEG - True North Sports and Entertainment says it has reached its goal of selling 13,000 season tickets for Winnipeg's new NHL team.

The company opened up online sales to the general public on Saturday and hit its target in less than an hour.

For the last three days, only the 2,000 or so fans who had season tickets to the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose could buy NHL seats.

As of Friday afternoon, those Moose fans had scooped up more than 7,100 season tickets.

"We would like to take a special moment to thank all of our fans in Winnipeg and Canada for their support over the past week, in particular, the overwhelming response of our fans which has resulted in a successful 'Drive to 13,000' campaign," True North's president and CEO, Jim Ludlow, said in a statement.

Ludlow said the season tickets campaign was a key ingredient to ensuring the viability to NHL hockey in Manitoba.

The as-yet unnamed team was bought by True North from owners in Atlanta earlier this week.

The company had hoped to sell 13,000 season seats ahead of the NHL's vote on the approval of the sale later this month.

The speed of the sellout took many by surprise, including NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

"While I had no doubt the 'Drive to 13,000' would reach its destination, the remarkable speed at which it got there certifies the fans' hunger for NHL hockey and their commitment to True North's initiatives," Bettman said in a statement.

There was no lining up for tickets. All purchases had to be made online.

With all 13,000 season tickets sold, there will be just over 2,000 tickets remaining for each game at the MTS Centre. It is the NHL's smallest arena, holding just over 15,000 people.

But unlike the old Winnipeg Arena, where the Winnipeg Jets used to play before they for left Phoenix in 1996, MTS Centre has corporate suites, ranging in price from $105,000 to $197,000 a season.

True North added it will be starting an official membership-only-based waiting list for tickets, which will require a fee.

"We look forward to seeing everyone this fall at MTS Centre for opening night of regular season NHL hockey in Winnipeg," Ludlow said in the release.

Ludlow isn't providing any hints about what the new team will be called nor exactly when the name will be announced, but he said it won't be long.

Many fans would like to see the return of the Jets name.

Other names bandied about include the Manitoba Falcons, which would assuage those who live outside Winnipeg and feel the name should reflect the entire province while paying homage to Canada's first Olympic gold-winning hockey team, the 1920 Winnipeg Falcons.

[Tommy]

"While I had no doubt the 'Drive to 13,000' would reach its destination, the remarkable speed at which it got there certifies the fans' hunger for NHL hockey and their commitment to True North's initiatives," Bettman said in a statement.

Ugh, why can't this jizz stain fuck off and die already?

[WOLF]

"While I had no doubt the 'Drive to 13,000' would reach its destination, the remarkable speed at which it got there certifies the fans' hunger for NHL hockey and their commitment to True North's initiatives," Bettman said in a statement.

Ugh, why can't this jizz stain fuck off and die already?

I know, like it's a big shock to anyone that folks in a frigid Canadian town, who were waiting 15 years for NHL hockey to come back, snapped up every available ticket as soon as they could.

[Kid-Wicked]

it took 2 minutes to sell 13,000 season tix for the next 3-5 years.

sorry atlanta.

[Taco Torres]

it took 2 minutes to sell 13,000 season tix for the next 3-5 years.

sorry atlanta.

Lucky enough to get tix via Moose pre-sale, thank fuck. Today was an absolute gong show. Vehicle traffic was non-existent, half the city was logged in hitting refresh at 11:59:59. 2 minutes might be an overstatement, I can't tell you how many friends of mine are borderline suicidal because they were shut out from the second the site opened.

[Taco Torres]

Also, what the article doesn't say.... season tickets come with a minimum 3 year commitment, up to 5 years for the priciest seats (which sold out first).

[Tommy]

Also, what the article doesn't say.... season tickets come with a minimum 3 year commitment, up to 5 years for the priciest seats (which sold out first).

WOW, for real? That's actually awesome for the game and the team.



As long as they stay at least mid-range salary cap-wise (so they stay competitive) this is fantastic.

[Taco Torres]

Also, what the article doesn't say.... season tickets come with a minimum 3 year commitment, up to 5 years for the priciest seats (which sold out first).

WOW, for real? That's actually awesome for the game and the team.



As long as they stay at least mid-range salary cap-wise (so they stay competitive) this is fantastic.

yup, walking out on the commitment means losing the deposit put down.... ranging from $500 to $1000. And if anyone does walk.... there's a waiting list capped at 8,000 (for which people pay a hundred bucks just to be on). So no worries on attendance revenues.

[alecjonsludge]

"While I had no doubt the 'Drive to 13,000' would reach its destination, the remarkable speed at which it got there certifies the fans' hunger for NHL hockey and their commitment to True North's initiatives," Bettman said in a statement.

Ugh, why can't this jizz stain fuck off and die already?

I know, like it's a big shock to anyone that folks in a frigid Canadian town, who were waiting 15 years for NHL hockey to come back, snapped up every available ticket as soon as they could.

It was plain to see,going by Bettman's mannerisms,that he did not want to be at that press conference last week.His passive aggressive "this isn't going to work if those seats aren't sold" speech was pathetic.He's a man who can't admit when he was wrong,ever.

[Earl Skakel]

What I find hilarious is that Atlanta seemed to go out of their way in having African American players on the roster:
#33 Byfuglien
#9 Kane
#29 Oduya
#22 Stewart
#15 Dawes*

I've been to Winnipeg recently and there are not 5 black people there, well I guess there are now but good luck up there with that marketing plan! I always found it funny here in Los Angeles that the Kings have a fairly extensive billboard campaign and do you know where Simmonds picture was? No shit, it was on the back of all the buses so I think it's safe to say Rosa Parks is not head of the marketing department for the Kings.

On a sidenote, this year when Kane scored a goal from Stewart and Byfuglien assisting it marked the first time in NHL history that 3 African American players combined on a goal. I haven't seen that kind of team work by 3 black guys since the porn 3 Black Sticks In White Chicks.

Earl

*not on the team anymore

[Taco Torres]

What I find hilarious is that Atlanta seemed to go out of their way in having African American players on the roster:
#33 Byfuglien
#9 Kane
#29 Oduya
#22 Stewart
#15 Dawes*

I've been to Winnipeg recently and there are not 5 black people there, well I guess there are now but good luck up there with that marketing plan! I always found it funny here in Los Angeles that the Kings have a fairly extensive billboard campaign and do you know where Simmonds picture was? No shit, it was on the back of all the buses so I think it's safe to say Rosa Parks is not head of the marketing department for the Kings.

On a sidenote, this year when Kane scored a goal from Stewart and Byfuglien assisting it marked the first time in NHL history that 3 African American players combined on a goal. I haven't seen that kind of team work by 3 black guys since the porn 3 Black Sticks In White Chicks.

Earl

*not on the team anymore

Here's the thing: we don't give a shit if the players are black, white, yellow, whatever. Kane and Buff will own this town.

[Earl Skakel]

What I find hilarious is that Atlanta seemed to go out of their way in having African American players on the roster:
#33 Byfuglien
#9 Kane
#29 Oduya
#22 Stewart
#15 Dawes*

I've been to Winnipeg recently and there are not 5 black people there, well I guess there are now but good luck up there with that marketing plan! I always found it funny here in Los Angeles that the Kings have a fairly extensive billboard campaign and do you know where Simmonds picture was? No shit, it was on the back of all the buses so I think it's safe to say Rosa Parks is not head of the marketing department for the Kings.

On a sidenote, this year when Kane scored a goal from Stewart and Byfuglien assisting it marked the first time in NHL history that 3 African American players combined on a goal. I haven't seen that kind of team work by 3 black guys since the porn 3 Black Sticks In White Chicks.

Earl

*not on the team anymore

Here's the thing: we don't give a shit if the players are black, white, yellow, whatever. Kane and Buff will own this town.

I'm sure they will but I do think it's funny as you can't tell me that Atlanta with 5 African American players wasn't a marketing idea to a degree by somebody there? I know it sounds insane to say that but I believe it to be true to an extent and in Winnipeg well let's just say it ain't Atlanta demographics wise if you know what i mean.

Earl

[chungasrevenge]

I've been to Winnipeg recently and there are not 5 black people there, well I guess there are now but good luck up there with that marketing plan!

I hear people are cancelling their season tickets on account of them blacks. Really?

[Earl Skakel]

I've been to Winnipeg recently and there are not 5 black people there, well I guess there are now but good luck up there with that marketing plan!

I hear people are cancelling their season tickets on account of them blacks. Really?

I don't think that's happening but in this world i guess anything is possible?!! I'm just saying that demographics wise you couldn't get 2 more polar opposite places than downtown Atlanta and downtown Winnipeg. Take from that what you will!

Earl

[Anne_Thrax]

half the city was logged in

So that makes a total of about 12 people.

[Taco Torres]

half the city was logged in

So that makes a total of about 12 people.

Or the Thrashers season ticket base?