Ticket/Attendance Discussion: The Sequel

[blueandgoldguy]

It's kind of funny, back in 2011 everyone thought the arena was in a great location and the new stadium was in a bad one. Now it's the other way around.

A 1000 foot by 700 foot footprint for the stadium would be disastrous in downtown. An absolute deadzone 99% of the time.

With all the troubles happening around downtown, there have been plenty of new residential buildings being constructed over the past decade. Many are happening as we speak. And people keep moving in. ie. the new tallest in Winnipeg is mostly occupied.

The arena and stadium are both in ideal locations given their respective usage.

 

[jetsmooseice]

A 1000 foot by 700 foot footprint for the stadium would be disastrous in downtown. An absolute deadzone 99% of the time.

With all the troubles happening around downtown, there have been plenty of new residential buildings being constructed over the past decade. Many are happening as we speak. And people keep moving in. ie. the new tallest in Winnipeg is mostly occupied.

The arena and stadium are both in ideal locations given their respective usage.

Oh yeah, I'm with you. The arena makes sense downtown. I have a hard time imagining it being anywhere else, even when a new one is eventually built.

I was commenting on how the perception of their locations has evolved... the traffic issues at the stadium have been sorted out after being a real problem the first few years, and downtown has become a less appealing place over the last 10 years but as you point out, the situation is improving after bottoming out during the pandemic era.

 

[Cypruss]

Oh yeah, I'm with you. The arena makes sense downtown. I have a hard time imagining it being anywhere else, even when a new one is eventually built.

I was commenting on how the perception of their locations has evolved... the traffic issues at the stadium have been sorted out after being a real problem the first few years, and downtown has become a less appealing place over the last 10 years but as you point out, the situation is improving after bottoming out during the pandemic era.

Not sure if downtown is really improving much for the better. I have worked down here for over 20 years and certainly much worse since the Covid situation began. There are some key metrics in a report published this week that show Winnipeg as having some very serious issues. Having said this, in all my time coming downtown for evening games, the worst situation I have ever witnessed is some aggressive panhandling....and I'm certain that would/could be prevalent in any major city near their arenas.

Just wonder how many people don't feel comfortable coming downtown with their kids due to these sort of statistics...and we do know the arena is located in the vicinity of some of the hot-spots for these sort of crimes.

 

[Hank Chinaski]

TNSE Sales Department:

I’ve heard more from Jets ST rep(s) in the last 12 months than I have in the previous 12 years I’ve had seasons. They’re asking mostly the right questions: what can we do better (a lot), do you have a hard time moving unused tickets (yup), and on and on. No sleazy attempts at upselling to higher priced seats, which was the only reason any reps bothered to reach out to me in previous seasons.

Problem is they should have been doing this a long time ago, and treating those 13K holders and 8K waitlist members like a precious commodity.

 

[nobody imp0rtant]

Whatever convineice the central location offers is offset by the "ambiance" of downtown

I'm honestly not sure where I'd drop a new one today. PA Stadium is OK for 9 games a year.. but 41?

AFAIC, that baseball stadium is a complete waste of prime downtown real estate. It would be a perfect place to build an 18,000 seat arena and barring further development, plenty of open area nearby for premium parking. Just got to get rid of those stupid Goldeyes but who knows... maybe it won't be long before they and that bush league they're in cease to exist. Now, by the time we need a new arena, might have to build a 10' "border wall" around the whole thing, with armed guards patrolling the area (maybe a few snipers up on the wall for good measure) but hey, whatever it takes to protect your paying customers, right?

 

[nobody imp0rtant]

Some interesting takes, still think that if you had a 16000 seat arena in south Winnipeg it would be sold out every game!

Downtown Winnipeg in 2024 isn't exactly downtown Winnipeg in 2011 and not in a good way, far from it!

And True North is just helping to make it worse. You want downtown to thrive, gentrification, not low income accommodation is the way to go.

 

[blueandgoldguy]

I don't know...I like the baseball stadium and having the Goldeyes as another entertainment option in the city...even if the team and the league is the equivalent of single A baseball and full of failed draft picks and never-weres. IMO, we have the best outdoor baseball stadium in Canada - an all individual seater with an open concourse that allows a view of the field and good protection from elements thanks to the 30 suites above, and a newly added craft beer corner. Really all it would need are 500 bleacher seats in right field to make it perfect.

The Goldeyes are no longer the hot ticket they once were 20 years ago, but they can still draw decent crowds from time to time. Their last game of the season during the championship drew a near-sellout.

 

[oldcoot]

If someone isn't going to the games because they're afraid of being downtown (in secure walkways), they sure aren't going to be comfortable after dark outside anywhere else in the city. It's just as sketchy. Just today there is a reddit post on an attempted mugging in broad daylight near Abinojii Mikanah.

 

[ps241]

I guess I am in the minority but I love the location of our Arena. When its minus a million degrees out I can drive or Uber from my house (Heated garage) to heated underground parking for a fraction of the cost of most cities. I don’t even need a coat. It doesn’t take me long to drive even though I live in the South East part of the city.

I get that there can be some rougher characters at times but I haven’t had any real problems.

 

[surixon]

I guess I am in the minority but I love the location of our Arena. When its minus a million degrees out I can drive or Uber from my house (Heated garage) to heated underground parking for a fraction of the cost of most cities. I don’t even need a coat. It doesn’t take me long to drive even tough I live in the South East part of the city.

I get that there can be some rougher characters at times but I haven’t had any real problems.

One of the reasons they are doing that portage place redevelopment is to try to address some route cause issues around the arena imo. Hopefully that and the Bay redevelopment can make a positive impact on affected people in that area.

I also am fine with the location and maybe with continued development and public/private ventures we can get to a safe and vibrant downtown.

 

[tbcwpg]

And True North is just helping to make it worse. You want downtown to thrive, gentrification, not low income accommodation is the way to go.

They WERE required to put in low income housing as part of the grant they got from the city but they managed to get that taken out of the grant language.

 

[Scheifele55]

The arena being downtown was very much needed at the time as Winnipeg has been obsessed with rejuvenating the Downtown for 40+ years. Eaton's had absolutely no memories for me. I went in there once to my recollection and found the place boring compared to The Bay. Look at what happened to the Bay building and how no one wanted it and it had a negative value.

 

[Guardian17]

Smith Entertainment Group Announces $2 and $3 Concession Offerings During All Utah Jazz and Utah Hockey Club Games at Delta Center | Utah Hockey Club

Today, Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) introduced $2 and $3 pricing for select fan-favorite concessions that will be available during all Utah Jazz and Utah Hockey Club games at Delta Center, starting with the Utah Jazz preseason game on Friday, Oct. 4. Five popular items have been significantly...

www.nhl.com

 

[voyageur]

One of the reasons they are doing that portage place redevelopment is to try to address some route cause issues around the arena imo. Hopefully that and the Bay redevelopment can make a positive impact on affected people in that area.

I also am fine with the location and maybe with continued development and public/private ventures we can get to a safe and vibrant downtown.

You can't just ignore poverty or put more police in the neighbourhood to make people feel safe...I think True North has to acknowledge that while trying to thrive as a business...I see the old Times bar still vacant, other vacancies on Portage and the area no longer boasts movie theaters, or a bowling alley, scant pubs and eateries (there's a couple walking distance),there is one pool hall in the neighborhood that for many is on the shady side. You walk down Ste Catherine's street on a Saturday night it's buzzing...Winnipeg is what it is...A bunch of smaller cities amalgamated, that have grown their suburbs and downtown is kind of a place that nobody frequents, unless they have to.

 

[Gil Fisher]

Smith Entertainment Group Announces $2 and $3 Concession Offerings During All Utah Jazz and Utah Hockey Club Games at Delta Center | Utah Hockey Club

Today, Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) introduced $2 and $3 pricing for select fan-favorite concessions that will be available during all Utah Jazz and Utah Hockey Club games at Delta Center, starting with the Utah Jazz preseason game on Friday, Oct. 4. Five popular items have been significantly...

www.nhl.com

WHO DO THEY THINK THEY ARE???

 

[ps241]

WHO DO THEY THINK THEY ARE???

One of the most under utilized areas to change the interaction of on premise fans.

Pivot from overpriced, generic, sameness. Create variety and “value”. Use flex pricing like Uber does. Lose the 3rd party chop shop vendor partners (Centre plate) and run it in house as a division to elevate the fan experience.

It’s not rocket science but just mailing it in and taking the easy money of the big cheque for the 10 year contract, and 40% of gross sales, is a massive lost opportunity.

 

[Jets 31]

Smith Entertainment Group Announces $2 and $3 Concession Offerings During All Utah Jazz and Utah Hockey Club Games at Delta Center | Utah Hockey Club

Today, Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) introduced $2 and $3 pricing for select fan-favorite concessions that will be available during all Utah Jazz and Utah Hockey Club games at Delta Center, starting with the Utah Jazz preseason game on Friday, Oct. 4. Five popular items have been significantly...

www.nhl.com

Converted to Canadian, bottled water 10 bucks
Popcorn 10 bucks
Nachos 12 bucks
Hotdog 12 bucks
Ice cream 12 bucks......

 

[DRW204]

imo
ppl will spend money if it's worth it. the games aren't worth the prices when there's cheaper and arguably better alternatives. it isn't a problem going/coming from downtown, transportation isn't an issue other than cost. the perception of downtown is: crime, undesirables, ppl pissing, shitting, bleeding god knows what else-ing all over, clean up downtown and the perception will change & maybe more folks will be giddy up to go downtown (not just isolated to Jets games). but i think the main issue will still be $$$.

 

[JetsWillFly4Ever]

Think it might be bad this year. My personal experience nobody is excited for this years version of the Jets. They will need to be good to fill seats imo.

A whole lot of 'we've tried nothing and we're all out of ideas from TNSE'.

 

[SensibleGuy]

gotta admit, I'm pretty un-enthused for this year's version of the Jets myself.

 

[SLAYER]

Use flex pricing like Uber does.

This is an awful concept imo, especially for goods instead of one-off services like ride sharing where there is sudden demand and then a sharp drop-off.

Also, if you've ever been anywhere after a large event (50k+ people), the pricing is definitely predatory. I've personally waited somewhere and had a couple more drinks *then* got a ride and it was still cheaper than the peak of the surge pricing.

Would never buy anything or patronize anywhere that implemented surge pricing for goods based on the number of people in the venue/store.

 

[ps241]

This is an awful concept imo, especially for goods instead of one-off services like ride sharing where there is sudden demand and then a sharp drop-off.

Also, if you've ever been anywhere after a large event (50k+ people), the pricing is definitely predatory. I've personally waited somewhere and had a couple more drinks *then* got a ride and it was still cheaper than the peak of the surge pricing.

Would never buy anything or patronize anywhere that implemented surge pricing for goods based on the number of people in the venue/store.

Happy hour is a similar concept but more in reverse.

I love surge pricing for Uber because I can usually get a ride home from a busy venue. I am happy to pay extra if I have been drinking if it will lure drivers off their couch to take the ride.

 

[SLAYER]

Happy hour is a similar concept but more in reverse.

I love surge pricing for Uber because I can usually get a ride home from a busy venue. I am happy to pay extra if I have been drinking if it will lure drivers off their couch to take the ride.

Well, I'm all for reverse surge pricing hahaha

 

[DeepFrickinValue]

gotta admit, I'm pretty un-enthused for this year's version of the Jets myself.

No real storylines to captivate the audience.

I find this board quieter than previous seasons.

 

[Hank Chinaski]

gotta admit, I'm pretty un-enthused for this year's version of the Jets myself.

Can’t argue with that, and it certainly seems to be the sentiment of a growing part of the Jets fanbase. I guess it does beg the question: what does Jets brass need to do get fans enthused again?

I have a hard time with the ‘on-ice product’ argument. This was a 110 point team least season, same core coming back. They’ve made the postseason 6 of last 7 seasons (5 if you really want to argue semantics on that pandemic season in the bubble). I get the argument about them being closer to the mushy middle than true contention. All I’m saying is the ‘on-ice product’ is arguably as good or worse for at least 16-20 other NHL franchises.

Would fans embrace a full rebuild? I hear a lot of people that say yes, but I have a hard time imagining people being re-enthused by a bunch of sub 80 point seasons.

Interested to hear other perspectives. Maybe it has nothing at all to do with the roster..