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I hate the Manitoba Moose  A rant by: BlackThorne I do, I really really do. It's ridiculous, really, when you think about it... The Winnipeg Jets and Vancouver Canucks had an intense rivalry for 17 years. (Anyone remember the chants of "B.C. Sucks!, B.C. Sucks!" at the old barn?) And now, we're just supposed to shrug our shoulders, swallow our pride, accept Winnipeg as a rinky-dink city for pro hockey and cheer on the Vancouver Canucks FARM TEAM?!?! Nuh-uh. I think not. I love sports- I love hockey, and I love watching sports LIVE and in person. But I have to care about one of the teams I'm watching to enjoy myself. So you can see why I'm very unhappy with this (albeit temporary) "arrangement". I'll never support the Moose - ever- in this lifetime. I don't care if the hockey quality is great. There is no reason for me to ever care about guys who aren't quite good enough to make the Vancouver Canucks. However, I'll be in line for Jets season tickets. You bet your sweet ass I will! I know others think the way I do, but I'm surprised more don't. Do you think the city of Toronto would ever accept the Montreal Canadiens AHL affiliate? I think not. Because they know they deserve better. Do you think the city of Edmonton would ever accept the AHL affiliate of the Flames? I think not- because they know they deserve better. It gets better though (or worse depending on your point of view). The MTS Centre. $40 million of our tax money went into building it. Yet- for its only tenant- half the arena is curtained off because there's not enough interest to sell over 8,000 tickets for a game. We are the only arena in the world that does this. If you're ever at a Moose game, look up at that black curtain surrounding the upper deck and see where your tax money went. Winnipeg is now the hockey equivalent of Lowell, Syracuse, Bridgeport, and Peoria. I know, I've never heard of those places either. Y'see it doesn't matter that the MTS Centre is "state of the art"- that's still "Joe Blow" from Timbuktu skating down the ice. I know it's 100% NHL quality and I believe without any doubt an NHL franchise will return to Winnipeg within the next 2 years, but still. This needs to be said. If True North had any brains and truly were concerned with the genuine interests of Manitoba sports fans, they would have said from the start the facility was 100% NHL quality, and part of the reason it was being built is to do someday house an NHL team should one become available. But no- they've avoided the issue wherever possible. Constantly downplayed the fact Winnipeg can support a team and deserve an NHL franchise. Constantly balked at and avoided the hard questions. I'm sure the NHL will return to Winnipeg. But if it DOESN'T you're looking at the biggest waste of Winnipeg taxpayer money in this city's history when you drive down Portage Ave. $133 million for a new home for the Vancouver Canucks "up and comers". Yeah- that makes sense. Winnipeg is the best hockey city in the world. We also have the best hockey fans. We deserve a team in the best hockey league. (btw for the ignornant (you know who you are), the Jets didn't leave for Phoenix cause they "weren't supported" here- they left because we needed a new arena) Read more about the Return of the Jets campaign at www.jetsowner.com - I'm a big supporter of it. Until the NHL returns, the only hockey I pay to see and watch LIVE will be games that don't feature anyone from the AHL. Sorry that Albany vs. the Vancouver (excuse me, *Manitoba*) Moose doesn't get me excited. << Back Add a Comment Comments ( Add a Comment ) BlackThorne says: 2005-12-20 23:18:06 1. Last year, there was reason to care. a) New arena we've been waiting 20 years for, b) No NHL hockey, c) No other pro hockey alternative in Winnipeg.............. This year, the allure of the new arena has worn off, and the NHL is back on. No one cares about the Moose. 2. The "honeymoon" period for the Moose at the new arena officially ended when they were knocked out of the playoffs last year. Attendance will steadily decline and "bottom out" around 4,000 fans per game 2 years from now- if the Moose are still here. What- you think if the Moose make a long run in the playoffs this year, Wpg will catch "AHL fever"? I think not. A little thing called the "NHL Playoffs" will be on at the same time. People won't be buying tix to see Moose vs. Hickville in the AHL playoffs... they'll be watching their favourite NHL teams on t.v. 3. AHL and NHL are 2 different things. Winnipeg is an NHL city, plain and simple. A new Winnipeg NHL team will sellout 15,500 tickets for every single game; I've no doubts of this. We get 6,000 or 7,000 for Vancouver Canuck farm team hockey- is there any doubt in your mind we'd get 15,000 for a Winnipeg NHL that plays against the Vancouver Canucks? If so, why? Why do the non-competitive Minnesota Wild get 19,000 for every game after poor attendance for the North Stars? 4. "if they suck, attendance would drop"... sure. The MN North Stars had similar attendance to the Jets... they lost their team, built a new arena and re-acquired an NHL team. Now there's a 4-year waiting list for season tickets. ANd the Wild most definitely are not a competitive team, nor have been in their 5 years. Explain why Winnipeg would be different. I give the hockey fans of this city much more credit than you. Win or lose, fans will come to the MTS Centre for NHL hockey. They'll come to cheer on Winnipeg's team. They'll come for the atmosphere. They'll come to see the best hockey players on Earth. I tell ya- even if our new team isn't a playoff contendor by year 3, year 4, or year 5, I'll still be damn happy to pay money to go to games and cheer 'em on. BigB says: 2005-12-20 23:44:53 Great rant, well put together; BUT... This site has seen the same rant three times in the last 6 months. Check out the history, this topics been done to death. BlackThorne says: 2005-12-21 00:21:43 Yeah you're right BigB. And maybe I am sounding like a broken record. But still... it's pretty quiet around here lately and this is something, one of the only things I actually feel *very* strongly and passionately about. And to be honest, it feels really good to get these feelings off chest... (BlackThorne takes your hand and places it on his chest)... can you feel it? Isn't it wonderful?? .... lol! Seriously though, I think I'm starting to understand why so many here whine about Winnipeg drivers... it feels nice to b*tch about things online. Anonymous says: 2005-12-21 09:33:35 Meh. We\'d get the Jets back. Everyone would complain about the cost of tickets. No one would go (except for the playoffs, which we\'d be in once every 5 years)then the team would leave again. Who cares. Fix our roads instead. FreedomFries says: 2005-12-21 11:39:06 I agree with you BT that it is ironic that we are all of a sudden cheering on the farm team of our arch enemy the Canucks, but if everyone had the same attitude as you and boycotted Moose games I can guarantee we would never have a chance at an NHL team. I agree Winnipeg is a hockey city, but a hockey city supports any kind of hockey, it doesn't matter whether it is NHL or not, we just love hockey, period. If we all boycotted the Moose no NHL team would risk coming here because they wouldn't be able to guarantee seat sales. They wouldn't come just because we say "We love NHL hockey", we have to prove it some way, and one of those ways right now is by supporting the Moose. I look forward to the day that the NHL returns to Winnipeg, but until then I will continue to be a hockey fan and support the Moose. Anonymous says: 2005-12-21 12:10:27 Long winded or what? If Winnipeg is/was such a great hockey town, Where are the Jets?? jack49 says: 2005-12-21 12:44:02 ^^ Your right, if winnipeg is such a big hockey town, "where are the jets?" We should just keep the moose, were not a big enough hockey city for an nhl team. BlackThorne says: 2005-12-21 14:48:48 FreedomFries: If the world still doesn't realize that Winnipeg could re-gain an NHL franchise just like Atlanta, Ottawa, Minnesota, and Denver did, selling out the lower bowl of the MTS Centre for a couple of *Moose* won't likely change their opinion. The people in charge of the Moose & MTS Centre (True North) will ultimately decide if we get a team. Therefore I think the fewer people at Moose games, the better. They must realize we won't just "settle", as Winnipeg has traditionally so many times in the past... you go to Moose games because "It's all we have!" and "It's better than nothing.".... that's unacceptable to me. Not good enough a reason to go to a game. And Winnipeg deserves better.... as for you clowns who say "If Winnipeg is such a great hockey city, why'd the Jets leave?" and "Winnipeg isn't BIG enough for an NHL team!".. (sigh).. I've proved people like you wrong for years. 1. It wasn't the FANS fault the Jets left. We could have sold out every game and still lost money... 2. We're big enough for an NHL team. The stat that REALLY matters isn't population of a city- it's the number of die-hard hockey fans. And FYI Winnipeg has more than about 3 or 4 "sunbelt" NHL teams combined. We will be a very successful NHL franchise. The Winnipeg of 2006 is a much different Winnipeg than it was in the late 80's/early 90's. Go Jets Go. www.JetsOwner.com Anonymous says: 2005-12-21 15:16:00 ha ha loser! You\'re all fired up over nhl. not gunna happen! JT says: 2005-12-21 16:25:03 The Moose are ridiculous. I will never take my kid to a moose game cause I don't want my chilren growing up thinking it's ok to be almost good enough. At least when the Jets were here you had a chance to go see guys like Lemieux and Gretzky. Anonymous says: 2005-12-24 21:16:12 AHL hockey is worth the money we pay for it, just like NHL hockey would be worth paying double what we do for AHL tickets. BlackThorne says: 2005-12-24 22:12:50 I estimate that ticket prices for a new Winnipeg NHL team at the MTS Centre will cost between $25.00 and $110.00 (avg ticket price about $55.00). Season tickets will likely be from $2000-$5000 HOWEVER, many (if not all) NHL teams special "payment plans" where you can pay that off in installments, *and* most people who actually buy season tickets split the cost along with friends, co-workers, and family. You take those factors into consideration, suddenly NHL hockey in Winnipeg becomes affordable. If it still isn't affordable to you, I'm quite certain MTS will offer a special pay-per-view service for any games that aren't on CBC, TSN, or CTV sportsNet. How about pay-per-view games you can watch on your computer via official team site? How about pay-per-view games you can watch at SilverCity St. Vital and SiverCity Polo Park? (Calgary and Vancouver already do this)... the possibilities are ENDLESS! A Winnipeg NHL team in the 21st century can make buckets and buckets of more money our previous NHL franchise was capable of. BlackThorne says: 2005-12-29 05:13:42 http://beerforbreakfast.org/Jets/fansign.JPG That sums it all up right there... Anonymous says: 2006-04-30 17:08:02 I don't think anyone cares about the team. But it's all Winnipeg has and tix are cheap. I guess that's good enough for the few that go to games JetPilot says: 2006-04-30 21:57:45 BlackThorne, You are still a dreamer. This topic is DEAD. BlackThorne says: 2006-05-01 01:28:12 Well, I'd rather be a dreamer than a guy like you. I want a better future. You just want "a future". Much to learn, you still have... BigB says: 2006-05-01 15:08:30 If your idea of a good future is having a NHL hockey team then you need a girlfriend or atleast a friend or two! Poor imbred jeds. JetPilot says: 2006-05-01 19:50:55 I guess BlackThorne must beat-off at every Winnipeg Jets picture he ever sees. He prefers to wear a dress and let the "palm sisters" do the work for him. Good Luck Dude. BalthazaarRamrod says: 2006-05-01 21:07:23 Hey Blackthorne, you must use a lot of duct tape to keep your woody down as you walk through the streets seeing jets merchandise on young impressionable boys.... BlackThorne says: 2006-10-06 15:19:53 Thought this rant of mine could use another look-see by the FINE people of Winnipegrant.com with another hockey season upon us. I'd be delighted to hear your thoughts! Overjoyed! Rigel says: 2006-10-06 20:05:06 Now that a Canadian has bought the Pittsburgh Penguins, I'm surprised no one is telling us that this is the next step on the road for NHL's return to Winnipeg. The problem is that the team is in the process of trying to secure at least partial rights to the betting slots in Pittsburgh and to use the proceeds to help finance construction of a new arena. In the meantime, if the Penguins, with young stars like Crosby and Malkin, become more competitive, crowds will improve and there will be little reason to move anywhere. Remember that this city has had a long hockey history since it had an NHL team during the 1930s, the Pittsburgh Hornets were in the AHL for decades, and the Penguins won consecutive Stanley Cups in the early 90s. So it's not as if they're operating in some area like Phoenix, Atlanta or Miami where hockey knowledge and tradition are pretty-well non-existent. In addition, a new arena would be a strong incentive for the NBA to locate a team there because Pittsburgh had an ABA franchise some thirty years ago, and it would mean another 40-50 game nights besides what hockey would provide. Conversely, the absence of pro basketball now means that more of the entertainment dollar is potentially more likely to be spent on hockey. Also people like Gary Bettman, Mario Lemieux and Jim Balsillie are currently committed to keep the team there unless the situation gets really hopeless. Besides Balsillie is reputed to have entertained the idea of moving the team, if he's ever allowed to do so, to somewhere in southern Ontario close to where his company is located. There are obviously many factors and possibilities at play here, but in the remote possibility that the league moves a team back here, it's unlikely to be the Penguins. BlackThorne says: 2006-10-06 20:45:58 Rigel, Pittsburgh is a TERRIBLE hockey city. They've been bankrupt twice (even the Jets never went bankrupt), would have moved decades ago if not for Lemieux, and play in a city where the NFL, College football, MLB, and College basketball will always, always, always come before "pro ice hockey". I doubt the Penguins will move to Winnipeg, but they were always a longshot. Personally, I can foresee Atlanta, Florida, Tampa, or Nashville finally putting up the "For sale" sign in the next year or two and Winnipeg being one of the major bidders for 'em. Stay tuned... BlackThorne says: 2007-01-13 19:25:14 I don't know what I hate more about the Moose... the fact they're the Canucks farm team, the fact they're the main (and only) tenant in our $133 million facility, the fact that Winnipeg is the hockey equivalent to Peoria and Lowell, or the fact it's all we have here in Winnipeg... Don't buy Moose tickets. That's my advice to all of you! Show True North we deserve better. Because really, going to a Moose game at the MTS Centre is saying "I'm satisfied with farm-team hockey in Winnipeg" (even though I know most go just because it's all we have).... The MTS Centre is an NHL calibre arena. We should be enjoying NHL hockey. Period. 24roughing says: 2007-01-14 00:49:38 So...you want True North to bring an NHL team here, but you're encouraging people to not give them their money? So, they'll buy a team....how exactly? Do you have gravity in the world you live in? I'm just wondering because nothing else in your universe is based on reality. BlackThorne says: 2007-01-14 00:59:07 24roughing, you just don't "get it". True North will ultimately be the ones responsible for helping to buy an NHL team or partner up with existing owners. Do you honestly think a successful Moose franchise will entice them to replace them with something else? Does buying Moose tickets tell them "I want the NHL in Winnipeg- NOT the AHL"?... who has the *least* to lose if the NHL doesn't return to Wpg? That's right- True North. .... I'm not going to bother on bringing you up to speed on the return of NHL hockey to Winnipeg... I do enough as it is. You don't want the NHL in Wpg (at least it seems that way), and seem perfectly content with the way things are in Winnipeg right now, hockey-wise. That's just wrong, so I don't really want to waste much more time speaking to you. 24roughing says: 2007-01-14 01:46:44 If True North is responsible for helping to purchase a team, wouldn't you want them to have as much money as possible? Let's review the cities that have expressed interest in the Pens, shall we? I've heard Winnipeg....Kansas City...Oklahoma City (they may have pulled out), Las Vegas, Houston, Hamilton, Portland. That's 8 cities, in case you're keeping track. Now lets say even 3/4's are credible. That's 6 cities. Winnipeg then, is in competition with 5 other cities for a team. That means...at some point...Winnipeg will have to out bid another ownership group in another city. Now...gee whiz...what to you need to outbid someone....oh...right! MONEY!!! So...are you seriously saying, that you want to see a group that you just finished admitting will be the ones responsible for helping to buy an NHL team have as little money as possible? If people boycott the Moose, as you suggest, then the group of people you expect to go get us a team will not have any money to do so!!! That's insane! You have to see it! tmbrwlf says: 2007-01-16 18:27:42 I am so feed up with all these ppl saying Winnipeg is an NHL city, what a bunch of bull crap. Winnipeg became an NHL city buy default when the WHL became part of the NHL we are a second level hockey city we dont have the ppl or major buisness to support an NHL team. Does that make us loosers, only if all you care about is the NHL some of the best hockey is in the highschool and UofM games GoldenEye says: 2007-04-12 19:36:49 tmbrwlf = clown. Why don't you back up what you say? tmbrwlf says: 2007-04-16 20:20:30 Ok to pls pinkeye 1 Wpg only got a NHL team because the Jets were part of the WHA. We became an NHL city by default that does not make us an NHL city what was the best the Jets could do the second round in the play-offs if that 2 If you want to see good hockey go to a high school or even UofM game the players there are not looking for money they are playing because they love the game. 3 Winnipeg does not have the big companies needed to pay the big bucks to backup an NHL team. All one needs to do is look at Calgary or Edmonton they are both hurting for money, and yes I do know this as I spend 2-3 weeks a month working the oil patch no Goldeneye prove me wrong and you can claim your prize |
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I don't know, every time I go to a game they announce attendance of 7700 people. Last year it seemed like they always had more people than this year, even a number of sell outs. I can't believe their numbers, looking at the stands. I feel they are over-stating attendance. It's probably more like 5500-6000. If this is the case, I don't know how they could fill the uper level even with an NHL team. Maybe they would sell out for a year, and if they suck, the attendance would drop. Just a thought.