Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg!

[G $MONEY$]

Re: Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg?

How many NEW hockey fans are you going to get by putting an NHL team in what many have called the "frozen tundra"? I'll put the over under on that at 100. Hard to grow in a fully saturated market.

Saying everyone in the "Frozen Tundra" is already a big fan of Hockey is like saying everyone in the USA is a big fan of Baseball.

Frozen Tundra? I didn't know Green Bay was getting a team now...... Bettman's moving fast.

LOL!!

Well my point was, was when the Jets moved out of Winnipeg back in 94' its not like everyone in Winnipeg said "Well this kind of sucks, but oh well ill just start Cheering for (and buying merchandise of) Calgary now (which is 12 hours away), or ill just start cheering for Toronto now (which is 20 hours away)".

While many Winnipeg and Manitoba residents did just that, a great many of them also lost interest (and being a fan) in the NHL. Sure they might still have been Hockey fans and supported minor Hockey and their junior teams in the area, but many did quit supporting the NHL. No more buying Tickets to any games, no more buying Jersey's, Hats, T-Shirts and other merchandise, no ordering Center-Ice and so on and so on.

By saying that the NHL hasn't gained any new "fans" by moving this team back to Winnipeg is ludicrous. Do you know how many thousands and thousands of people haven't spent one red cent on the NHL since the team left Winnipeg?? Id imagine there has been a great many people in Winnipeg and Manitoba that haven't spent any money at all on the NHL or haven't even really followed the NHL since the team left. All these people will be returning as NHL "fans" and will be ready to spend their money on the NHL and Winnipeg Jets related merchandise.

 

[G $MONEY$]

Re: Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg?

Don Cherry just (just now on Coaches corner during intermission) said that 35% of the NHL's TOTAL revenue comes from Canada and that will go up now with Winnipeg having a team.

Canada only has 6 teams but 35% of the leagues revenue comes from Canada, that's pretty freaking amazing if you ask me.

 

[BluesBroSJ]

Re: Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg?

I can use many other terms that the media outlets have used to describe WPG, most of which are not as plesant as frozen tundra. So if that's the part of the discussion you want to focus on, feel free.

And gmoney, something you said proved my point. Those people you described that stopped supporting the NHL didn't stop supporting hockey. They supported minor league hockey + other leagues. So by that definition no, your not creating any fans that are new to the sport, which Bettman has said time and time again is the goal. If you dont introduce people to the sport that have no prior association with the sport, the game will not grow and it will stay far behind the MLB, NFL, NBA in terms of the "big 4" sports.

We lost our team to a straight money grab because the NHL didn't want Blackberry money in the owners club, we're well aware that we never mattered to NHL, ASG, or most NHL fans, as our demise has been well celebrated. Mostly by people that think the game should go back to the original 6 and a few more canadian teams. So don't worry, come june 22 i'll be far away from the hockey forums

...........Until Kansas City gets a team. I may be back then.

 

[G $MONEY$]

Re: Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg?

So don't worry, come june 22 i'll be far away from the hockey forums

Im actually sad to hear that, i have really enjoyed you as a member of our Hockey forums and considered you one of our "core" Hockey members here. Hopefully you will still stop by from time to time.

 

[BluesBroSJ]

Re: Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg?

It's been too gut wrenching to go through this process. Never realized an ownership group could tell a fanbase they dont matter. I already sold off a large chunk of my limited logo stuff to junior griffey. I just need to get away from it for awhile. I can't even look at the bogosian and little game used sticks i own, much less my cards. Maybe when the pens-kings come to KC for an exhibition game this fall it may spark my intrest again. I can honestly say I have watched all of 5 minutes of the playoffs ( Last 5 of game 1 of the finals). Maybe after the raw emotion of having my team ripped away from me subsides i will poke my head back in.


Until then. GO BRUINS ( some former thrashers have a shot at the cup this season, gotta go with them)

 

[Guest]

Re: Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg?

Still no announcement on the team name - this has been a daily question in the local manitoba community. I'm assuming True North will respect the hype of the finals, and will postpone the decision for after Wednesday. The excitement here for the NHL is huge, and hopefully will sustain over the off-season.
Just letting you know that my friends and I managed to secure a pair of season tickets on the public sale date, and I'm pumped that I'll get to go to at least 5 games this year (and the next 3 years)!
I sympathize with the hardcore Atlanta fans for the loss (as it happened to us back in '96).
If the ATL thrashers fans are still sick to your stomach over the sight of your thrashers collection, feel free to shoot me off a PM if you wish to get rid of some of your cards.

Will keep you posted with the NHL hype in Winnipeg and surrounding area.
Looking forward to the #7th draft pick!

 

[bmc398]

Lets be honest....how long is a sold out arena going to last?

Last season I went to a Friday night game vs. the leafs at Phillips. It was announced as a sell out and there were legitimately 14,000 asses in the seats for the game.

Then the Thrashers got blown out 9-2 and I didn't see a game reach half that attendance for the rest of the year which also coincided with their 0 win January and their 6 point February.

Are the Winnipeg fans going to continue to support that kind of crap too?

I was actually really excited about some of the trade deadline aquisitions. Blake Wheeler seemed to have found a place where he could be slightly better than mediocre and have that be enough to be the difference maker. Schremp seemed to play better not buried on the 3rd or 4th line somewhere.

I thought the Thrashers had a legitimate shot to turn the corner and be a contender for the 6-7-8 spot in the East. Now I could give two *****.

 

[aarne13]

While I am happy that Winnipeg has a team it does suck donkey that the Thrashers are gone. The NHL should have done a better job guiding the (Atlanta) ownership on how to build a fan base and prescence in the community. To me it seems like a royal cluster****. I'm not sure if you can draw a parallel to the Coyote situation. All I know is that true hockey fans in Atl/phx are getting hosed. I don't doubt that the Winnipeg franchise will do well considering that the ownership is motivated to be successful (financially and on the ice). I can see them selling out for the next 2-3 years regardless of how they do.
I know the feeling of losing a franchise or two. I was a Vancouver Grizzlies fan from day 1 and a Sonics fan too. Talk about getting kicked in the nads again after recovering from the first shot.

 

[hockeyfights]

Lets be honest....how long is a sold out arena going to last?

Last season I went to a Friday night game vs. the leafs at Phillips. It was announced as a sell out and there were legitimately 14,000 asses in the seats for the game.

Then the Thrashers got blown out 9-2 and I didn't see a game reach half that attendance for the rest of the year which also coincided with their 0 win January and their 6 point February.

Are the Winnipeg fans going to continue to support that kind of crap too?

I was actually really excited about some of the trade deadline aquisitions. Blake Wheeler seemed to have found a place where he could be slightly better than mediocre and have that be enough to be the difference maker. Schremp seemed to play better not buried on the 3rd or 4th line somewhere.

I thought the Thrashers had a legitimate shot to turn the corner and be a contender for the 6-7-8 spot in the East. Now I could give two quit swearing

Cope, I believe our average attendance is more than their 13,000 season tickets sold in a crappy year where the Thrashers sucked. Even if they sell out every game in Winnipeg, they will still be near the bottom of NHL attendance in their small 15,000 seat arena. How this makes any sense to move there, I'll never know.

 

[thefatguy]

Lets be honest....how long is a sold out arena going to last?
Are the Winnipeg fans going to continue to support that kind of crap too?

13,000 season tickets sold with a 3 year commitment, plus a waiting list of 7500-8000.

 

[Guest]

My group of 8 friends involved in a pair of season tickets had our ticket selection party last night.
We held a ping-pong ball lottery for draft order, and I ended up with the 2nd overall game pick. I was quite discouraged that I would not get the honor of picking the season home opener game vs. Montreal 1st overall, as it truly is the hottest ticket in town. (Reports of $6,500/ticket offers for first level seating ($500/ticket where our seats are located)).
To my surprise, the individual with the 1st overall pick passed on the season opener - and instead chose the new years eve game vs. Toronto.
A pair of "Welcome Back Jets Game" Tickets fell right into my lap! I was so excited, and literally start to vibrate everytime I think about the craziness in the building on that first day!
In addition to the game against the habs, I will be seeing a game against the Washington Capitals, and The New York Rangers (plus a pre-season game TBD).
Still tons of excitement in the province of Manitoba, but there are some ansty fans frustrated at the lack of Logo presentation.

 

[gt2590]

My group of 8 friends involved in a pair of season tickets had our ticket selection party last night.
We held a ping-pong ball lottery for draft order, and I ended up with the 2nd overall game pick. I was quite discouraged that I would not get the honor of picking the season home opener game vs. Montreal 1st overall, as it truly is the hottest ticket in town. (Reports of $6,500/ticket offers for first level seating ($500/ticket where our seats are located)).
To my surprise, the individual with the 1st overall pick passed on the season opener - and instead chose the new years eve game vs. Toronto.
A pair of "Welcome Back Jets Game" Tickets fell right into my lap! I was so excited, and literally start to vibrate everytime I think about the craziness in the building on that first day!
In addition to the game against the habs, I will be seeing a game against the Washington Capitals, and The New York Rangers (plus a pre-season game TBD).
Still tons of excitement in the province of Manitoba, but there are some ansty fans frustrated at the lack of Logo presentation.

Congrats on the luck and either have fun at the Game or GL on your upcoming Sale! :lol:

 

[Sly]

My group of 8 friends involved in a pair of season tickets had our ticket selection party last night.
We held a ping-pong ball lottery for draft order, and I ended up with the 2nd overall game pick. I was quite discouraged that I would not get the honor of picking the season home opener game vs. Montreal 1st overall, as it truly is the hottest ticket in town. (Reports of $6,500/ticket offers for first level seating ($500/ticket where our seats are located)).
To my surprise, the individual with the 1st overall pick passed on the season opener - and instead chose the new years eve game vs. Toronto.
A pair of "Welcome Back Jets Game" Tickets fell right into my lap! I was so excited, and literally start to vibrate everytime I think about the craziness in the building on that first day!
In addition to the game against the habs, I will be seeing a game against the Washington Capitals, and The New York Rangers (plus a pre-season game TBD).
Still tons of excitement in the province of Manitoba, but there are some ansty fans frustrated at the lack of Logo presentation.

That is awesome! If the day comes that Seattle ever gets a team, I will be doing whatever I can to make it to the opener. Definitely enjoy it, it should be a great atmosphere.

 

[thefatguy]

So why is Winnipeg successful with the same team that Atlanta had? Yes, this team showed flashes of brilliance last season, but was this expected?
Is it just the home crowd bump? Or the fact that the rest of the teams in the conference have to go to Winnipeg so much?

I don't think Atlanta would have ever supported the team the way WPG is.

 

[BluesBroSJ]

So why is Winnipeg successful with the same team that Atlanta had? Yes, this team showed flashes of brilliance last season, but was this expected?
Is it just the home crowd bump? Or the fact that the rest of the teams in the conference have to go to Winnipeg so much?

I don't think Atlanta would have ever supported the team the way WPG is.

Congratulations. This just drew me back to the hockey boards. Let's go over your post shall we?

Same team....yup, pretty much. Same team That was in first place in the SE division on December 13 of last season.
The division as a whole is weaker this year. Last season the 5 teams in the SE division combined to go 198-155-57. As of this time the SE is a combined 137-125-42. The discrepancy is bigger than a "we have to travel to WPG" reason. Also, realize that the ThrasherJets are one Florida OT loss away from being right back to where they were last season, plus Florida has 4 games in hand.

As for your last comment, I present this photo evidence to render that idiotic and uninformed comment about Atlanta "wouldn't support the team like WPG"

There's 18,000+ reason's you're wrong about not supporting the team. We quit supporting the Atlanta Spirit Group ( go do some research, they didn't want the team, didn't invest in the team, and fan support showed it. There's a LOT to do in Atlanta, ergo, there is a lot of competition for entertainment dollars, and if you show you don't care about the fans like the ASG did, we stop showing up. And that's not even getting into how they let the team be horribly mismanaged for a decade)

 

[thefatguy]

:lol:
A picture from 5 years ago, their only year in the postseason
:lol: :lol:
WPG will be sold out for the next 3 years (and beyond presumably). I did say yes, mainly the same team as last year, and that division is not the strongest. But playing in front of a packed crowd every night, and not just in the playoffs 5 years ago, has to be uplifting.

 

[BluesBroSJ]

:lol:
A picture from 5 years ago, their only year in the postseason
:lol: :lol:
WPG will be sold out for the next 3 years (and beyond presumably). I did say yes, mainly the same team as last year, and that division is not the strongest. But playing in front of a packed crowd every night, and not just in the playoffs 5 years ago, has to be uplifting.

Laugh all you want, fact of the matter is your comment is 100% factually incorrect. Atlanta did support this team. I wonder what would happen if WPG spent the cap floor for 6+ straight seasons, drafted poorly (with a few rare exceptions) and ownership allowed a decade of mismanagement (highlighted by the GM and team president going on TV during a game with a handwritten sign asking to buy tickets). I wonder how they would draw then. I'm not arguing that playing in front of a full arena is anything negative at all, I was addressing your misinformed comment that the thrashers were not supported by fans.
And with that, I'm out.