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| Winnipeg's MTS Centre |
The move still needs to be approved the league's board of governors. The Manitoba capital has been without NHL hockey since the Jets moved to Phoenix in 1996.
Meanwhile Atlanta is saying goodbye to an NHL franchise for the second time. The Flames moved from Atlanta to Calgary in 1980.
Winnipeg may have landed its NHL team, but owners say they haven't decide whether it will be called the Jets.
Mark Chipman, chairman of True North Sports and Entertainment, says talks on the deal to buy the Atlanta Thrashers continued until the last minute, so there hasn't been time to think about a name. He says he knows fans are eager to know what the team will be called.
The NHL owns the rights to the name.
(The Canadian Press)
31 comments:
This is going to be a memorable day... a big wrong is about to get righted!
There may be an announcement from True North or/and Atlanta but I'm betting there's nothing from Gary Bettman until after the Stanley Cup is won.
TLR
cjob is reporting gary bettman will be in winnipeg for the announcment today
It's about time
Time to bring NHL back to Canada were CDNs love their game
2 more teams yet to come to Canada
The only thing sweater to hear would that Battman lost his job
Its on TSN2 starting at 930 with the annnouncement at 10 our time. Bettman will be there.
Marshall
Bettman will be there, front and centre, taking all the credit. Weasel.
The team better be named the Jets and not someone other lame ass name.
When can we expect an announcement from CKRM that they are Saskatchewan's voice of the Jets? Make it happen RP, you can do it!!!!
Any inkling of being the radio or TV voice of this team?
So how is that a havenot province like Manitoba can build a brand new arena, a brand new football stadium, and attract an NHL franchise? I thought we were the ones with a booming economy?
WHO CARES ???
-- it's great they're back
-- hope they're called the Jets
-- change the dark blue to black
-- wonder if they can expand the arena. Are not most arenas in the 18-20 K range?
They couldn't support the team with a $17M payroll, and now they will? Winnipeg's population hasn't increased since they left. The economy also hasn't diversified.
The only thing going for them is a building that is debatable whether it can sustain an NHL team long term, and a high Canadian dollar.
Get used to "Nashville North". They'll draft Western Canadian guys, and lose them after the first entry level contact expires. They'll hire a Coach from the AHL, and never attract a marquee Free Agent. You think Shane Doan would ask for a trade there if Phoenix goes under?
Oh well Winnipeg will suffice until the American economy turns around, and they can move to Kansas City where an NHL building awaits them.
Obama
Obama.
Shut up
Winnipeg fans must be beaming with joy as Don Waddell is not moving to Winnipeg.
Tell us more Obama. You're so smart.
Once again Father Obama doesn't have a clue. All one has to do is check out the CBC website where they list a bunch of comparisons between then and now. From reading those it's easy to see why a team CAN now work in Winnipeg. But hey, Obama always has to go against the grain and prove his supposed wisdom. That's just how some people are.
Rex
Rex,
Quoting CBC or referencing it is akin to "Hey, Dickie Dunn wrote this it's gotta be true."
Look the reality is they had to move the furniture somewhere. When the US economy turns around, and True North bails on the losses, here is what will happen. Las Vegas or Kansas City come into play.
I'm happy Winnipeg has a team. In this time and place, it is deserved. Long term is a different issue.
Obama
As long as there is a solid ownership group with a willingness to spend money (and lose money, should things go sideways, though I don't think that'll happen) the team should be able to survive in the small market/small arena.
The population of Winnipeg has increased by over 80,000 since 1996 so I'm not sure if Obama's census was totally accurate. Regardless of the population, even if the team operates at a loss and doesn't sell out every game there is enough financial backing in that ownership group to support Phoenix-type losses for decades.
BH
BH,
Not going to happen. Edmonton's group could only take it for so long until they bailed it off to Daryl Katz. His long term ownership is contingent on getting a new rink built.
Calgary's group are Billionaires who are truly doing it for, "love of the game."
Million Dollarman said, "Everyone has a price." Winnipeg is not set up to develop long term financial gains. They are a small market, that will on an economies of scale model minimize future losses.
They're starting out in the hole as it is with the purchase of the team. Long term how do they make that up with $39 tickets?
It's a short term (10 year) solution. The 80,000 population increase I agree with, but want to be frank about it.
Manitoba was way ahead of the curve attracting immigrants. That along with a growing First Nations sector is where that population growth is coming from.
Neither demographic supports NHL Hockey. The demographic of 18-35 year old upper middle class males are absent from that population equation.
Right now it's novelty purchasing from a wide area stretching into Saskatchewan that will sell the tickets. Remember they are the Thrashers. 4 years of missing the playoffs in Winnipeg you think guys in Regina are up for a February road trip to Winnipeg?
Obama
Uh, Obama, if you look in this case what they wrote actually IS true. Check out the stats for each of those figures if you don't believe me. But you also said that Gormley's book is a work of fiction so I shouldn't expect anything less when you lose an argument.
Rex
Winner Obama
Winnipeg has the smallest arena. The payrolls are going up, how are they going to afford players? Winnipeg is nice to have in the NHL. They are Canada's version now of Columbus and Nashville.
Rex, quoting CBC then Gormley as accurate? You are all over the map. The population increase to Manitoba is precisely how Obama stated it. You can check that out in the Federal Government's statistics bureau.
Clinton
Hanna, Alberta
sorry Stats Can is the official name
Clinton
Don't be so quick there. I understand there will be those questioning the long term viability of Winnipeg's team. But totally writing them off before the puck drops would be erroneous.
Firstly, let me say, I HOPE Winnipeg will be "Nashville North" they've been a model of consistency for not being a big spender on free agents, have drafted well and built a winning organization (this year's playoffs are the proof). They show that you don't need to spend to the max to put a good product on the ice.
Secondly, as a Winnipeger I would agree most of our increase in population has been from immigrants. However most young hockey fans are scared of losing the team twice, they'll support the team. As well, having an NHL team will attach more hockey-loving fans to move to the province (perhaps the one's who left when the Jets left). It's not all bad.
Thirdly, Obama's "their economy hasn't diversified." Biggest untruth in his diatribe. Actually Manitoba was the province least affect by the recession BECAUSE of their economic diversity. Look it up if you want.
Fourthly, the idea that the team will suck because they were the Thrashers need also to be addressed. There is hope here because this is a young team built for the future. Those that follow hockey know the huge upside on this team. Kane, Bogosian, Burmistrov, Little, Pavelec, Cormier--these guys are all 23 or younger. Remember how the Avalanche won the cup after they moved to Denver? Yeah that's not going to happen here, but who knows? It's more exciting than being a Coyote or Flames fan (with their old teams).
Lastly, I will concede one point--the Canadian dollar. If it tanks back to levels when the Jets left...and we're paying twice as much in salaries (because they're in American dollars), well...I don't want to think about that.
Oh yeah, and please, please, PLEASE don't name them the Moose. That is all.
Obama,
Again, shut up. Do you have a job? if so, do that rather than annoy us with your 'insight'?
I will concede on the employment side one thing only. Manitoba has diversified only by creating some "value add" type of employment from their main sector of Agriculture. Seed Processing Plants, Feed Mills, Meat Processing etc. This is why they pushed so hard to get the immigration side going. Who do you think works there?
Manitoba is basically the land of the $12 to $15 per hour job, and these people are not buying tickets.
Obama
They aren't starting out in a hole. There is value in the franchise - it isn't a sunk cost. The Atlanta Spirit Group were even able to at least get $110M of their investment back.
The $39 ticket price is misleading. That's the average price per game if you purchase season tickets in the cheapest section (P7) and sign on for a 3-year commitment. My guess is a single game ticket would be at least 20% higher than that.
I agree with Broken Schtick - the dollar is a real X factor. Although that's a reality for all Canadian clubs as long as salaries are paid in US dollars. There is no saying how long ownership would withstand losses, although a 40% or more premium on salary costs if the dollar returned to pre-2005 levels would be very bad indeed.
BH
Answer the question nimrod (Obama)...Do you have a job? If so, why don't you worry about that? Based on your 'sports/life/economic knowledge', and you inability to avoid the question, is it safe to assume you work for the government in some capacity?
So Anon, what are you saying? Only unemployed, misinformed idiots are allowed to offer opinions?
No, I think what Anon is getting at is Obama has far too much time on his hands to comment as regularly and at such length on a seemingly daily basis.
Really? How does Rod get all his work in, yet do this Blog on his free time? Maybe they both type fast what do you think?
When Obama doesn't post there are maybe 5 or 6 comments. He puts something on here, and you all shit your pants trying to tell him off. You idiots are reading it and replying.
Clinton
I think Obama is Rod.
Just playing the devil's advocate to keep people coming back for more!
/I kid.
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