For the Love of the Game, part 1
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This TSN Documentary examines the passion for the game of Hockey in Canada & the notion that perhaps the NHL is deliberately keeping Canadian teams out of its exclusive club. This 3 part series looks as all aspects of keeping a franchise in Winnipeg thru interviews with all of the main players. Everyone from the Mayor Of Winnipeg, Premier of Manitoba, Owner of the Winnipeg Jets, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman & Most importantly; The Fans. Something to think about while watching this documentary, If Bettman himself states that if there are not enough fans going to the games to make it successful; Why in 2008 are we stuck still watching failing franchises in the Southern States? Winnipeg had the fan base however; our Arena was not suitable for the NHL to provide revenue for Players Salaries, etc however; other cities such as Pittsburgh were in the exact same position but Bettman did much more to keep that team there then he EVER did for our city of Winnipeg. Also; although our Mayor at the time "Susan Thompson" comes off as a true supporter of keeping the Jets in Winnipeg, Just remember that SHE could have...... "In 1996, Winnipeg's mayor Susan Thompson spent $130 million of taxpayer money to prepare for the 1999 Pan American Games instead of building an arena for the Jets. The Pan-Am funds were used to improve roads and clean up Winnipeg for the 16-day event. Years later, the $130 million Winnipeg spent has amortized into nothing. Susan Thompson was thinking short-term instead of long-term. The benefits of an arena and a NHL team can be had for decades, while the benefits of new paint and fixed roads were felt for less then a single decade. Had Winnipeg not had such an incompetent mayor at the time, an arena would have been built long ago, and the Jets would still in Winnipeg." Part 1 of 3. TSN, Inside Sports July 01, 1996 (Link not available to source) |
Just a matter of time
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Sports business analyst says NHL's return to Winnipeg is a 'no-brainer' With the new CBA bringing both revenue sharing and a salary cap into view, a new arena in downtown Winnipeg that can derive much more revenue than the past Winnipeg arena, Mark Chipman has crunched the numbers. While he won't guarantee anything, he also won't rule anything out, as it pertains to the NHL returning to Winnipeg. Paul Friesen, Winnipeg Sun October 05, 2005 (Link not available to source) |
The Fan 590: PrimeTime Sports with David Asper
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David Asper, Executive Vice President, CanWest Global, speaks with Prime Time Sports about Winnipeg and NHL expansion. David Asper has indicated his interest in being part of an ownership group and is comfortable with the MTS Centre as host. He further indicated that beyond Winnipeg being a rabid hockey market that there is a will to have a team in Winnipeg. The Fan 590 January 23, 2007 (Link not available to source) |
CBC: Ron MacLean and Gary Bettman, All Star Game, Part 1
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Gary Bettman responds to Ron MacLean’s questions at the 2007 All Star Game in Dallas, Texas. The NHL Commissioner does think that Winnipeg can support the NHL again with the new CBA. CBC, Hockey Night in Canada January 26, 2007 (Link not available to source) |
Canwest Global: Local Reaction To Gary Bettman's Support For Winnipeg
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Local reaction to the NHL Commissioner’s support for Winnipeg’s return to the NHL. CEO Edmonton Oilers, Pat LaForge, supports Winnipeg. Global also speculates on potential NHL financials. (Although much was understated or missing.) Claims that $260 million would be required before the first season starts are inflated with no mention how future revenues streams for both hockey and non-hockey events at the MTS Centre may offset a team purchase cost. Canwest Global January 26, 2007 (Link not available to source) |
CKY News: Nashville Up For Sale
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CKY News Winnipeg: Local Winnipeg news broadcast regarding the possible relocation of the Nashville Predators. The story includes some of the key financials of the team. CTV Winnipeg January 26, 2007 (Link not available to source) |
CBC: HNIC Hotstove
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A week following Mr. Bettman’s supportive comments about Winnipeg, the group of reporters speak about some NHL governors support for it, a potential local ownership group has already reviewed two NHL teams books and concluded that the NHL would work in Winnipeg with the current MTS Centre at 15,003 seating capacity. CBC, Hockey Night in Canada: Hotstove January 28, 2007 (Link not available to source) |
The Day the Jets Died, Part 1: Sudden, Painful Death
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The good old hockey game is the best game you can name' -- Stompin' Tom Connors One of the best summaries of the events surrounding the Jets demise. For some this read will be a painful reminder of not only what was lost but of the politics and egos that became as much a roadblock to securing the Jets' future as anything else. It explains the sometimes public struggle it was to gain the commitment to build a new arena and practically at the same time, to sell the team to another local group. Much of this content was not public during those days. Included at the end of the story is a dateline of critical events. There is simply no better summary of these chain of events in existence, wrote by the Winnipeg Free Press' own Randy Turner. Randy Turner, Winnipeg Free Press March 31, 2007 Source |
The Day the Jets Died, Part 2: Big-league dreams, small-town fears
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PEOPLE SAY HOCKEY IS A RELIGION. IT'S BIGGER THAN THAT.' --Sports psychologist Cal Botterill One of the best summaries of the events surrounding the Jets possible return. For some this read will be a painful reminder of not only what was lost but of the politics and egos that became as much a roadblock to securing the Jets' future as anything else. It explains the sometimes public struggle it was to gain the commitment to build a new arena and practically at the same time, to sell the team to another local group. Much of this content was not public during those days. Alot of the sentiment shared by some of Manitoba's business community may shed light in the future as to their motives and future involvement. There is simply no better summary of these chain of events in existence, wrote by the Winnipeg Free Press' own Randy Turner. Randy Turner, Winnipeg Free Press April 01, 2007 Source |
Ford thinks NHL's return to 'Peg is near
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Mark Chipman cautiously yet positively responds to Gary Bettman’s assessment about Winnipeg. Darren Ford brings up the topic of hockey market size and supply and demand effects for creating ticket scarcity with the proper sized arena. Avi Saper, WinnipegFirst.ca April 03, 2007 Source |
Fuzzy NHL Winnipeg picture could clear
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You had to wade through the customary allotment of bafflegab and doublespeak, but when Gary Bettman invoked the name of Winnipeg during his state-of-the-union address earlier this week, it appears he did so for one of two reasons. The Vancouver Province's Ed Willes speculates on why Gary Bettman would bring up Winnipeg at his State of the Union news conference. "Mark Chipman, the Moose's owner, has maintained a dialogue with the NHL, studied the books of both Ottawa and Edmonton and he believes he could operate an NHL team on a break-even basis in his town." Willis adds, "Ten years ago, the NHL thought it had outgrown Winnipeg. It appears they've had time to reconsider." Canwest News Service June 01, 2007 Source |
Mike Beauregard reports; Peter Mansbridge with Mark Chipman
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Mike Beauregard reports from Winnipeg focusing on the state of pro hockey, past, present and future. Following Mike’s report is a live, candid discussion between CBC television newsanchor Peter Mansbridge and Mark Chipman, governor of the Manitoba Moose hockey club, regarding the various aspects of the return of the NHL to Winnipeg. CBC Newsworld February 06, 2008 (Link not available to source) |
Winnipeg is Changing
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A collection of architectural drawings from some of the many developments happening in Winnipeg, Manitoba. YouTube/scarman1973 July 01, 2008 (Link not available to source) |
Hockeycentral with NHLPA's Paul Kelly
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The Fan 590: Paul Kelly, NHLPA Executive Director, joins Hockeycentral to discuss the financial state of the league and relocating franchises to Canada. Paul Kelly directly points to Hamilton (even with territorial rights issues), Winnipeg and Quebec City. A second team in Toronto would sellout every night, Paul Kelly says as well. Paul also indicates that some teams may be in financial difficulty. Further, he indicates if they can't be resolved after 3 to 5 years of losses, those teams should be relocated with those Canadian prospective cities at the top of the list of destinations. The Fan 590 July 25, 2008 (Link not available to source) |
Destination Winnipeg
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Destination Winnipeg September 10, 2008 Source |
CJOB 680 AM Radio: Bob Irving
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Daily Sports Commentary with Bob Irving, with comments regarding NHL expansion to Europe, his reaction to Wayne Gretzky's and Jim Rutherford's recent comments, and how he believes Manitoba Premier Gary Doer and Mark Chipman will come up with the "deal of the century" in the next decade to bring the NHL back to Winnipeg. Bob Irving, CJOB 680 AM Radio September 15, 2008 (Link not available to source) |
Maki: Jets' return still on radar
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Allan Maki blogged about the Manitoba Mythbuster flyer and Winnipeg’s continued to desire to return to the NHL. Allan Maki, WBhockeyblog September 23, 2008 Source |
CJOB 680 AM Radio: Richard Cloutier with Mark Chipman
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CJOB Radio: Richard Cloutier talks corporate support in Winnipeg with Mark Chipman. Mark calls Gretzky's comments about Winnipeg not having that corporate base "folklore" and that Gretzky "very well may be" wrong. Mark also says how much stronger the corporate community has become since 1996 and that a team would not come here without proper validation on a high degree of certainty. The committments for season tickets and corporate-base revenues streams would need to be demonstrated before an ownership group could move ahead and purchase a team. Those committments could not be for just for 1 or 2 years. Mark Chipman believes that with his group owning the arena and all its revenue streams, that they would love to become owners of an NHL team in almost any way conceivable. As an illustration of the robust economy, Mark Chipman says that currently, there is a waiting list of over 50 companies for the MTS Centre. Mark also presents the Manitoban economy as one of the most stable that can be pointed to. Richard Cloutier with Mark Chipman, CJOB 680 AM Radio September 24, 2008 (Link not available to source) |
Daren Millard and Mike Brophy with Chris Mackie
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HockeyCentral at Noon on the Fan590 had Manitoba Mythbusters’ Chair Chris Mackie as guest. Both Darren and Mike seemed emotionally supportive yet financially skeptical at the start of the conversation. But as the flyer’s numbers showed over the course of the chat, the brain wins out over the heart and still supports Winnipeg’s return. The Fan 590 September 24, 2008 (Link not available to source) |
ShawTV: NHL's Possible Return to Winnipeg
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With the Calgary Flames and Phoenix Coyotes playing an exhibition in Winnipeg Sept. 24th, Manitoba Moose owner Mark Chipman discusses the possible return to the city in the future, after Wayne Gretzky's comments about the corporate support. ShawTV September 24, 2008 (Link not available to source) |
The Fan 960: Sportsline with Rob Kerr, Darren Ford
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Rob Kerr at Calgary’s Fan 960 interviews Darren Ford of Jetsowner.com on exhibition game day between the Flames playing the Coyotes. Darren indicates an ownership group led by True North Sports and Entertainment is ready, with several prominent yet quiet local money people in touch with the NHL. Darren also explains why the MTS Centre size of 15,000 is not a roadblock to anyone including the ownership group. Darren indicated corporate support in Winnipeg is in place for Mark Chipman to even consider a venture like this. Darren confirms that David Asper’s involvement with a new stadium may not hold him back from being part of the NHL ownership group. Darren then also contrasted the Jim Balsille approach to the NHL to that of the Chipman group. The Fan 960 September 24, 2008 (Link not available to source) |
Gretzky says Jets return unlikely
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With a backdrop to the 2008 pre-seaon game in Winnipeg, Host Phoenix Coyote head coach Wayne Gretzky doesn't believe Winnipeg has the necessary corporate backing to sustain an NHL team. Although supportive of Winnipeg's return to the NHL, he explains that the fans are terrific in Winnipeg but that they aren't the issue as he sees it. CTV Winnipeg September 25, 2008 Source |
$1.6 billion? Really?
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This story illustrates the revenue streams for the Maple Leafs. "The club reaped $78-million US in ticket revenue alone last season. That covered the two largest expenses — player salaries ($50.7-million US) and revenue-sharing ($12-million US) — with $15-million US to spare. The club generated another $35-million US from television, radio and merchandise sales, plus undetermined millions from concessions and luxury suites. While matching those numbers in Manitoba would obviously be impossible, it does the league high marks for all of these items. David Shoalts, Globe and Mail November 01, 2008 Source |
NHL appears equipped to deal with economic turmoil
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Can the National Hockey League's economic boom survive the recent economic crash? Edmonton Journal, canada.com November 04, 2008 Source |
The name's no longer the game
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Mike Steinberger presents a new angle to pro sports economics and how it has changed. "The emphasis put on corporate clients and affluent fans, which among other things resulted in much higher ticket prices and the explosive growth in luxury boxes - has had the effect of 'exposing these sports to the vagaries of the business cycle in a way that they weren't before.' " With the economic downturn having yet to reach critical mass, there is much more concern for NHL teams than the previous recessions of the 80's and 90's. Mike Steinberger, Financial Times November 29, 2008 Source |
CJOB 680 AM Radio: CJOB sports director Bob Irving comments on the possible return of the NHL to Winnipeg.
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Local radio sports director Bob Irving talks about Phoenix needing NHL advances on revenue sharing and league shared revenues as well as the troubled teams having no chance for success. He further states that by not having fans directly participating in the great game of hockey there will never be that connection to the game, which puts hockey teams at a huge disadvantage to the main sports football, baseball and basketball. Thus there chance for success is razor slim. When these teams finally face this reality, many cities will be interested especially those in Canada. There will be an opportunity for the local ownership group to relocate one of those teams to Winnipeg in the next couple of years. It will require large cheques being signed by that group and significant involvement by the provincial government will be required (such as loan guarantees, hockey bonds, etc.) beyond direct ownership. CJOB 680 AM Radio December 24, 2008 (Link not available to source) |
