Ticket/Attendance Discussion: The Sequel

[None]

What I want is a proactive org that exercises any option to improve. An org that isn't content to keep a group and staff around that is spinning its wheels and playing apathetic hockey on the ice for years before it gets addressed. What other org in this league keeps things status quo when things aren't working.

Take for example the penalty kill since 11-12:

Season	PK%	League rank	Coach
11-12	80.1%	24th	Huddy
12-13	79.7%	24th	Huddy
13-14	83.2%	10th	Huddy
14-15	81.8%	13th	Huddy
15-16	78.4%	25th	Huddy
16-17	77.5%	26th	Huddy
17-18	81.8%	9th	Huddy
18-19	79.2%	22nd	Huddy
19-20	77.6%	22nd	Huddy
20-21	80.5%	13th	Huddy
21-22	75%	29th	Huddy
22-23	82.7%	5th	Arniel

Total rank between 2011-22, or Charlie Huddy's tenure:
27th ranked PK in the league.

Really showing that pursuit of excellence.

 

[jungles]

That commercial is garbage. Guilt is a terrible marketing gimmick.

Everyone thinks your city is trash and doesn't deserve an NHL team...don't prove them right!

 

[Channelcat]

That commercial is garbage. Guilt is a terrible marketing gimmick.

Everyone thinks your city is trash and doesn't deserve an NHL team...don't prove them right!

It's embarrassing. Not sure what they were thinking.

 

[robertocarlos]

So he just takes an L willingly?

How much can it be with 2000 missing fans at most? It's not even 2000 empty seats yet, more like 1500. So maybe $8 million a year.

 

[Keystone]

Is Winnipeg and NHL city? Yes 100%
Are their management and marketing department NHL quality? It appears not.
I live 2 hours away and will never be a season ticket holder so I just go to periodic games but this campaign borders on offensive.

 

[Cypruss]

2011-2019 = 10 games per year. Minimum.
2020-2023 = 0 games

Will never go into that buildings again.

True North doesn’t want my money.

 

[blues10]

50% is steep but 25% would be a good start. Parking I don't think they could do - they don't own most of the buildings people park at, I don't believe.

Beer. Pizza, popcorn, pop, water etc… is a 25% discount for SSH. 20% off at Jets gear. I have no
Issues with that except expand the discounted food and beverage choices that the discount can be applied to and provide in seat service to the entire 100 level.

I pay $12 for indoor parking at the games and leave my jacket in the car. No parking discount needed. Lots of free street parking for those that brave the cold.

 

[dcypher]

I love going to games. I hate the fan experience.

1. Why tims in the arena for $5 coffee? There should be a local coffee company.
2. Sometimes I sit there and want Sushi. Why can’t we have a variety of food?
3. In game hosts seem fake about the whole event. Not Brody, but the 2nd guy they have.
4. True North needs a “runway pass” for cheap parking.
5. game day Transit rides to the arena for free.
6. T-Shirt giveaways are a joke. If you have been to an NBA game their T-shirt giveaways are MILES ahead of what TNSE does.

 

[tbcwpg]

Beer. Pizza, popcorn, pop, water etc… is a 25% discount for SSH. 20% off at Jets gear. I have no
Issues with that except expand the discounted food and beverage choices that the discount can be applied to and provide in seat service to the entire 100 level.

I pay $12 for indoor parking at the games and leave my jacket in the car. No parking discount needed. Lots of free street parking for those that brave the cold.

If it's 25% already that's pretty good but it should definitely cover all concessions. I do the same for parking.

I can empathize with STHs that feel the experience isn't good but some of the suggestions I feel are out of TNSE's hands (like parking).

 

[Brominator]

The rewards associated with the new Jets app amount to nothing. Collect a bunch of pucks and use them to enter contests. If you don't win the contest (I've never won anything), the rewards amount to nothing.

The old Jets Rewards program gave me multiple cool free perks every year (upgrade to row 1, free concert tickets, signed memorabilia, etc). They replaced it with an app that gives us nothing. With softer ticket sales they should be INCREASING the STH perks, not decreasing them.

But I still plan to continue to be a season ticket holder. NHL hockey is pretty much the only thing that will get me out of my house and have some fun on a Tuesday night in January at -35. As far as I'm concerned, TNSE pulled off a miracle bringing the Jets back over a decade ago. I won't forget that (and frankly I'm perplexed at the so-called Jets fans who effectively boycott the team).
And while I don't like the idea of veiled threats, the Jets DO need fan support in the form of ticket sales. That's the only way the smallest city in the league continues to have a team in the best hockey league in the world. I never want to go through that loss of a team again, so I'm doing my part.

 

[AussieBomberJet]

FRIESEN: Jets, Mark Chipman, call for help as attendance decreases

While the Winnipeg Jets fought for their playoff lives, Tuesday, the team's marketing department launched its own Hail Mary.

winnipegsun.com

Has anyone else seen this yet? After reading this article I feel like he is blaming the fans alone for poorer attendance without comprehending the poor on-ice performance is likely the most significant factor. That is without considering the world is in economic turmoil and times really are tough for many.

I get that Friesen wrote the article, but it still rubs me the wrong way if Chipman is truly blaming fans alone for the lackluster attendance, and subtly threatening we may lose the team again.

Curious to know what everyone else thinks.

 

[Monty9]

It's embarrassing. Not sure what they were thinking.

Isn’t Chipman‘s daughter in charge of marketing? If she isn’t in charge she has a key role.

 

[Trojien]

See that always bothered me as a former Thrashers fan. When it became apparent that the Thrashers were about to be moved to Canada a lot of Canadian fans taunted the Thrashers fan base that they would love the game not as much as they'd do, that they would not deserved an NHL team and that Canadien fans would line up for tickets for ever and all home games would be sold out.

I'm trying not sound too bitter because I'm loving the Jets now as much as I loved the Thrashers back then. But it seems like that the love for hockey does not automatically fill seats at least in the long run. I'd agree that in a non-traditional market the threshold for cheering for a bad product might be not as high but given how ASG neglected the Thrashers it was not the missing passion but rather the one PO appearance in 12 years.

 

[oldcoot]

He's telling it like it is. People are free to spend their money how they want, and it's understandable that they feel a team that has made the playoffs 5 of the last 6 years doesn't deserve their support, but that action will ultimately have consequences.

Winnipeg is a third-tier NHL team, population and money-wise. There is no room for feelings of entitlement.

 

[R Zardo]

It's 100% the fans fault.

 

[surixon]

FRIESEN: Jets, Mark Chipman, call for help as attendance decreases

While the Winnipeg Jets fought for their playoff lives, Tuesday, the team's marketing department launched its own Hail Mary.

winnipegsun.com

Has anyone else seen this yet? After reading this article I feel like he is blaming the fans alone for poorer attendance without comprehending the poor on-ice performance is likely the most significant factor. That is without considering the world is in economic turmoil and times really are tough for many.

I get that Friesen wrote the article, but it still rubs me the wrong way if Chipman is truly blaming fans alone for the lackluster attendance, and subtly threatening we may lose the team again.

Curious to know what everyone else thinks.

I don't have an issue with a marketing campaign to increase ticket sales. I do take a bit of an issue with the tone of the message. It's a bit tone deaf imo. Most of the league has seen a reduction in attendance this year. It's not just the Jets. The economy in both countries is struggling and we are still coming out of a pandemic. It's no real surprise with the hyper inflation we are experiencing that luxury items like pro sports have seen a bit of a hit in terms of attendance.

Honestly they could have offered all those perks without the quilt trip messaging.

I don't think he's blaming the fans at all but I think he felt he needed to send a reminder not to take NHL hockey for granted. I don't think now was the appropriate time for said messaging.

I also think it's inappropriate given the billion dollars of other assets they have down town making the org cash. The org shouldn't have a money issue on the whole right now.

Honestly fans are also likely a little gun shy about the product after a couple of years of crappybon ice play. The second half of the year collapse likely didn't help matters.

 

[drumzan]

The Jets don’t need to offer parking to STH’s. But they could organize more transportation options. Like - shuttle buses that go to/from various bars/casinos/malls throughout the city. The Blue Bombers do this, I believe.

 

[Gil Fisher]

A hands out plea to the business community at a Chamber lunch is good. Every business benefits over the long term from a major league franchise presence in their city. It's difficult forna business to measure that on a one year P&L though.

A hands out plea to the general population (a mini Save Our Jets campaign) is cynical. Let's see some renewal on the ice and not trudge out the same thing year after year for mid table results.

 

[blues10]

Do we really need two threads for this?

 

[blues10]

The Jets don’t need to offer parking to STH’s. But they could organize more transportation options. Like - shuttle buses that go to/from various bars/casinos/malls throughout the city. The Blue Bombers do this, I believe.

The Bombers do it because traffic is a major concern getting in and out of IG field. Traffic concerns before and after Jets games is not an issue if any significance. The arena is in a fantastic location.

I agree the Jets puck perks is junk. With the old rewards I was able to collect an Ehlers autographed jersey, signed Laine photo etc….nothing with the pucks unless you win a prize draw.

The amount of swag given out at fan appreciation was about as much as the Bombers give our on an average game day.

I was recently at a Leafs game and if the Leafs score 1st in the 1st everyone in attendance wins a slice of pizza. Both teams have the same crappy pizza sponsor.

My observation is that the lower bowl is pretty much sold. The majority of empty seats are up top.

As I have said and many others the general theme of this marketing campaign is poor. I wouldn’t be surprised if the adds are pulled once they attract enough public backlash. They sure don’t seem popular from some discussions I’ve had with people.

 

[leer2006]

He's telling it like it is. People are free to spend their money how they want, and it's understandable that they feel a team that has made the playoffs 5 of the last 6 years doesn't deserve their support, but that action will ultimately have consequences.

Winnipeg is a third-tier NHL team, population and money-wise. There is no room for feelings of entitlement.

Who has a sense of entitlement? The owners or the fans?

 

[White Out 902]

I'm of 2 thoughts on this that I hold at once
1) We need to support the Jets and keep them in Winnipeg
2) TNSE can't treat their fans like shit and threaten to move the team unless we buy season tickets. They are clearly taking the path of "f*** them, we arnet trying, and if our lack of effort translates to fewer seats sold well threaten the city".

 

[jungles]

Do we really need two threads for this?

It takes all of us!

 

[DRW204]

I really don't see what they said as a huge deal? Maybe I'm desensitized to this org talking down (whenever they do talk to the fans, which is seldom) or taking the fan base for granted a bit. Idk.

What I do know is I enjoy watching an nhl game live, however watching and the overall experience of one at Canada Life Centre stinks. Paying for season tickets or full price for one?.... Yeah can miss me with that. You can get tickets for way cheaper on gameday. And the perks do not sound enticing enough at all to commit.

More on the actual experience imo:
Unless you're a child idk how the seats are comfortable for anyone, terrible food options, not to mention the prices. The giveaways or whatever, not a huge deal to me (maybe bc I'm not used to nice things at Jets games), but I've read some other experiences on here and seems like we lag behind other teams.

They have not made spending face value on a ticket, or a STH commitment worth it to me.

Figured this thread needed a bump considering the Jets are laying out a new season ticket incentive program.

Here's the raw press release:





EDIT: I personally have many thoughts on this program from a comms perspective, but that's pointless when I feel it doesn't address my concerns as a potential season ticket holder.

 

[SSCBLUEJET]

I said "Jesus, why are you driving a bus?"
He replied " Child, it's a recession!"