Winnipeg Sun: Jets, Mark Chipman, call for help as attendance decreases

[CharasLazyWrister]

It really is a fabulous example of why you can’t TOTALLY blame “Bettman” for having an irrational hate for Canada.

There’s just not much money overall to draw on in Winnipeg when demand goes soft. Outside of a handful of metro areas, the financial ceiling is low in most of Canada.

 

[cbcwpg]

According to TNSE 15% of their season ticket base is corporate, while that rate in other Canadian markets is 45% or better. Given the 9,500 full time STHs, that's 1,425 for corporate, and 8,075 for individuals.

If the Jets had 45% corporate support , or another 30% of capacity as corporate STHs, that would be an additional 4,500 STHs. added to the 1,425 corporate they have. That would put them at ~14,000 STHs with just 1,000 seats for walkup each game.

The Jets sold out every game until Covid hit. Since then, the economy has been devastated , and what is the first thing that businesses cut out when times get hard? Things like tickets for sports.

 

[StreetHawk]

According to TNSE 15% of their season ticket base is corporate, while that rate in other Canadian markets is 45% or better. Given the 9,500 full time STHs, that's 1,425 for corporate, and 8,075 for individuals.

If the Jets had 45% corporate support , or another 30% of capacity as corporate STHs, that would be an additional 4,500 STHs. added to the 1,425 corporate they have. That would put them at ~14,000 STHs with just 1,000 seats for walkup each game.

The Jets sold out every game until Covid hit. Since then, the economy has been devastated , and what is the first thing that businesses cut out when times get hard? Things like tickets for sports.

Pretty much on par with Chipman's press release several months ago calling upon the corporate sector to step up. Individual STH around the same number as normal. Corporate has dropped off.

 

[joelef]

The whole “ move every sunbelt team to real hockey markets” are pretty silent in this thread

According to TNSE 15% of their season ticket base is corporate, while that rate in other Canadian markets is 45% or better. Given the 9,500 full time STHs, that's 1,425 for corporate, and 8,075 for individuals.

If the Jets had 45% corporate support , or another 30% of capacity as corporate STHs, that would be an additional 4,500 STHs. added to the 1,425 corporate they have. That would put them at ~14,000 STHs with just 1,000 seats for walkup each game.

The Jets sold out every game until Covid hit. Since then, the economy has been devastated , and what is the first thing that businesses cut out when times get hard? Things like tickets for sports.

Funny how sunbelt don’t get this benefit of the doubt

 

[Stumbledore]

The younger fans probably can't afford tickets. If Winnipeg housing is anything like the rest of Canada they are probably just barely making rent.

Don't forget that Winnipeg's AHL, the Manitoba Moose, play in the same arena for much less cost. The younger fans enjoy hockey at $25/seat and many of the games are matinees.

 

[joelef]

Southern team has bad attendance =they don’t “ deserve “ a team and need to move to Canada

Canadian team has bad attendance = every excuse in the book

Eu

It really is a fabulous example of why you can’t TOTALLY blame “Bettman” for having an irrational hate for Canada.

There’s just not much money overall to draw on in Winnipeg when demand goes soft. Outside of a handful of metro areas, the financial ceiling is low in most of Canada.

What’s even more fabulous is t

It really is a fabulous example of why you can’t TOTALLY blame “Bettman” for having an irrational hate for Canada.

There’s just not much money overall to draw on in Winnipeg when demand goes soft. Outside of a handful of metro areas, the financial ceiling is low in most of Canada.

What’s even more fabulous is the seeing hypocrites in full force.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

According to TNSE 15% of their season ticket base is corporate, while that rate in other Canadian markets is 45% or better. Given the 9,500 full time STHs, that's 1,425 for corporate, and 8,075 for individuals.

If the Jets had 45% corporate support , or another 30% of capacity as corporate STHs, that would be an additional 4,500 STHs. added to the 1,425 corporate they have. That would put them at ~14,000 STHs with just 1,000 seats for walkup each game.

The Jets sold out every game until Covid hit. Since then, the economy has been devastated , and what is the first thing that businesses cut out when times get hard? Things like tickets for sports.

Economic downturn can't really be an excuse can it? Its inevitable, with or without pandemic.

A market should be able to withstand it,

Not that Jets should move or will be moved. Just saying its not an excuse.

 

[Gnashville]

The whole “ move every sunbelt team to real hockey markets” are pretty silent in this thread


Funny how sunbelt don’t get this benefit of the doubt

Nope it was always “there is no fans there stop with the excuses” now the same reasons We had are actually valid

 

[Jets4Life]

The attendance issue will sort itself out. Of that I have no doubt.
But what does trouble me is this.
When I go to the games, I like to look around at who’s there. I see easily 60% or more people that have grey hair. I do not see the majority of fans attending in the 18-30 year range.
And that is definitely a problem. If the younger fans don’t go, the older fans will eventually expire. And well… then there is no fans.
Tv viewership is solid, merch sales are solid.
But we NEED that younger group to pick up the torch.

I don't think this is really a problem. Back when I was a kid, having tickets with my Grandparents at midfield in the West side grandstand for the Bombers, it was the same issue. probably 2/3 of the people in the sections were over 40. Of course, the Bombers are super successful for years.

I'm sure if TNSE markets the team the right way, the fans will return. Unfortunately, the game day experience, and customer service with the club has been horrible.

 

[Jumptheshark]

for me the warning signs came last season when he was going after the business who did not become sponsors and buying the boxes and other things

 

[MMC]

Only 11,521 tonight against Vegas

 

[nhlfan79]

Nope it was always “there is no fans there stop with the excuses” now the same reasons We had are actually valid

Now imagine if we were to tweak the current facts just a hair. Instead of a "mediocre" team with many recent playoff appearances, the team at issue almost never made the playoffs. Instead of a ham-handed ownership that was nevertheless fully committed to the market, there was an ownership that was outright hostile to anyone buying tickets and would literally call them expletive-laced names to their face in a public forum. Also, imagine a scenario when all of the most talented players were not re-signed and/or were traded away for peanuts, and the payroll was only at the salary floor. And ticket face value prices were among the league's highest.

 

[oldunclehue]

Only 11,521 tonight against Vegas

Cup champs, 4 Manitobans, a Thursday night which was beautiful. And 11,521 AGAIN. This is bad.

 

[AZDesertKnight]

I was told for over two decades that every game ever would sell out because it's Canada. What happened?!?

 

[Yukon Joe]

Southern team has bad attendance =they don’t “ deserve “ a team and need to move to Canada

Canadian team has bad attendance = every excuse in the book

I'm certainly concerned about the attendance issue in Winnipeg.

However, there is a huge difference between a team that until very recently had a huge sellout streak and is now struggling, and teams that have struggled with attendance for their entire existence.

 

[StreetHawk]

I'm certainly concerned about the attendance issue in Winnipeg.

However, there is a huge difference between a team that until very recently had a huge sellout streak and is now struggling, and teams that have struggled with attendance for their entire existence.

The question is what are the Jets doing to improve their corporate sales?

 

[Yukon Joe]

The question is what are the Jets doing to improve their corporate sales?

Very good question.

I think I already said there's a sense that the Jets didn't put much emphasis on sales - the tickets pretty much just sold themselves after all at first, and they had a huge waiting list. They were complacent up until now.

Hopefully they've hired some good marketers and are trying to both put more effort into retaining STHs and getting new ones. If nothing else they should be working the phone lines for every single former STH and wait lister to see what they can do to get them into the building.

One thing I heard is that an awful lot of STHs were really groups of friends or family who would split the tickets 2,4,8 or more ways, but many of those groups have fell apart over time.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

I'm certainly concerned about the attendance issue in Winnipeg.

However, there is a huge difference between a team that until very recently had a huge sellout streak and is now struggling, and teams that have struggled with attendance for their entire existence.

I hope you're not saying this is a southern market thing. A lot of your traditional teams have had huge stretches of poor attendance. Chicago, NYI, Boston, Pittsburgh, etc. Before moving, Winnipeg, QC and Hartford had abysmal attendance for a long time.

Let's also not forget that Winnipeg currently has to full a 15K arena for a sell out

 

[GreenHornet]

I hope you're not saying this is a southern market thing. A lot of your traditional teams have had huge stretches of poor attendance. Chicago, NYI, Boston, Pittsburgh, etc. Before moving, Winnipeg, QC and Hartford had abysmal attendance for a long time.

Let's also not forget that Winnipeg currently has to full a 15K arena for a sell out

The reference to the Thrashers as a team that "struggled with attendance for their entire existence" is also a bit hyperbolic.

They averaged 15,000 or more per game for six of their 11 seasons in Atlanta.

 

[Bostonzamboni]

@AtlantaWhaler

QC had abysmal attendance for a long time?

Hmmm...I don't exactly recall that, but I do recall some/several crowds of 12,000-13,000 at times, maybe not initially but I think in some or most later years?

In other words, I don't think most seasons in QC. at least after the initial glow were total sellouts -- unlike some or most may believe?

The reference to the Thrashers as a team that "struggled with attendance for their entire existence" is also a bit hyperbolic.

They averaged 15,000 or more per game for six of their 11 seasons in Atlanta.

And I think think 16,000-17,000+ the first couple years due to the novelty?

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

@AtlantaWhaler

QC had abysmal attendance for a long time?

Hmmm...I don't exactly recall that, but I do recall some/several crowds of 12,000-13,000 at times, maybe not initially but I think in some or most later years?

In other words, I don't think most seasons in QC. at least after the initial glow were total sellouts -- unlike some or most may believe?


And I think think 16,000-17,000+ the first couple years due to the novelty?

According to the Googles, The Nords only hit 15K (barely) 3 times in their 15-year history

 

[Reaser]

Before moving, Winnipeg, QC and Hartford had abysmal attendance for a long time.

Not sure I'd include the Nordiques in that.

How many times each averaged under 14k in their respective existences:

Nordiques: 3 in 16 seasons (2 were first 2 in NHL, 79-81)

Thrashers: 4 in 11 seasons
Current Jets: 1 in 11 seasons (1 was covid effected / excluded covid year)

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

Not sure I'd include the Nordiques in that.

How many times each averaged under 14k in their respective existences:

Nordiques: 3 in 16 seasons (2 were first 2 in NHL, 79-81)

Thrashers: 5 in 11 seasons
Current Jets: 1 of 11 seasons (1 was covid effected)

I think you're cherry-picking. Nords barely tapped 15K only 3 times.

 

[Reaser]

I think you're cherry-picking. Nords barely tapped 15K only 3 times.

Your comment was "abysmal attendance," implying sub-[insert cutoff #.] As opposed to the other way, over-[insert cutoff #] which after seeing the numbers, trying to change the narrative would be said "cherry-picking."

I chose 14k and applied that standard because the league-average attendance in Quebec's final few seasons in the NHL was in the 14.5-14.7k range, that'd be average. "[A]bysmal," to me would be below average so I dropped it to a round 14k that would be below average and a fair comp.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

You guys with the chips on your shoulders about Southern teams are literally just as obnoxious as all those annoying relocationistas. My lord.