Winnipeg | Downtown | True North Square | U/C

[Bluenote]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ Two points re: size of the courtyard

1) I think last season's playoffs were the high water mark for this sort of thing. I mean, let's face it, that was the first legitimate Stanley Cup playoff run in modern Winnipeg history. It was a huge novelty. I don't think you'll see crowds on a similar scale anymore because winning the first round of the playoffs just won't be seen as monumental anymore. Sure there will still be crowds, but they won't be blocking off several blocks of downtown streets for it.

2) The TN Square courtyard is well scaled to this sort of gathering. Much like Maple Leaf Square's little space which provides a little colour and excitement for the TV cameras, we will also have a space for a thousand fans to watch the game al fresco, or maybe even double that if a block of Carlton gets closed down. After having to deal with the costs and inconvenience of last season's playoff run, I'm sure the City will be satisfied with an approach that hems in the size of the party to prevent things from getting out of hand.

In a nutshell, TN made the right call. The space they built is perfect for future playoff gatherings.

Pretty sure the crowds will only get larger. This isn’t some stupid football team. . Nashville still had massive crowds. Ones that dwarfed ours. So imagine making the western champions and then getting to the cup itself. Btw the crowds grew each home game as the playoffs went on. Not the other way around.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Bluenote

Pretty sure the crowds will only get larger. This isn’t some stupid football team. . Nashville still had massive crowds. Ones that dwarfed ours. So imagine making the western champions and then getting to the cup itself. Btw the crowds grew each home game as the playoffs went on. Not the other way around.

As the Jets become a perennial contender (fingers crossed), the playoffs will become less of a novelty and the street party crowds will tail off, especially in the first round. And both the City and TNSE will be fine with that, as no one wants to get stuck with the bill for multiple huge unbudgeted events blocking off streets every year.

[Geebrr]

I don't really see the street crowds getting smaller.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Geebrr

I don't really see the street crowds getting smaller.

I'm sure in 2011-12 no one saw the day coming when there would be empty seats at Jets games either, but it happened.

[robertocarlos]

The crowds did get smaller. The jet fly-bys got lamer as well. First was a screaming F-18 or two. Then the next time it was 3 lame quiet trainers. Then the crowd got smaller because of the ticket issue. I said to the cops, "looks like your OT is over".

[robertocarlos]

I had the dubious pleasure of visiting TDS. The place looks spectacular and the view is great too.

[Ando]

I don’t see how anyone can say definitively that crowds will be smaller. The city is passionate about the Jets. If they are heading further into the playoffs, the weather is nice, and there is food and beer available, the people will come out.

[robertocarlos]

I don't want them coming out to party, to close down Donald, to pee on my sidewalks.
Did you know that when they rebuilt a large part of Donald street this summer they did not close Donald Street? It then took longer and cost way more money to do the job.

I didn't say the crowd wouldn't get larger. It might.

[Ando]

Ah, so it’s all about you.

[robertocarlos]

Originally Posted by Ando

Ah, so it’s all about you.

I live here. They don't.

[windypeg]

Originally Posted by robertocarlos

I live here. They don't.

Plenty of them do, myself and my friends included. Judging by the number of pedestrians you'd see on game day walking to the party and the number of bikes in the bike valet, and the limited parking available, I think a very large percentage of people attending the street parties lived in central areas of the city. Suburbanites probably just went to the closest Boston Pizza or whatever to watch the game. Either way they all live in Winnipeg and downtown belongs to all Winnipeggers. God forbid people from the burbs come support downtown businesses and make downtown more vibrant. If you asked any of the bars and restaurants that were packed on every game day I don't think they minded it at all.

Originally Posted by robertocarlos

I don't want them coming out to party, to close down Donald, to pee on my sidewalks.
Did you know that when they rebuilt a large part of Donald street this summer they did not close Donald Street? It then took longer and cost way more money to do the job.

I didn't say the crowd wouldn't get larger. It might.

The sidewalks were always impeccably cleaned by the next morning. I think they came out cleaner after the parties than before. I notice a lot more piss stink being left by the vagrant population, maybe you should take the issue up with them.

[Geebrr]

Originally Posted by esquire

I'm sure in 2011-12 no one saw the day coming when there would be empty seats at Jets games either, but it happened.

Single seats at $400 is not that crazy a thing.

[Geebrr]

Originally Posted by robertocarlos

The crowds did get smaller. The jet fly-bys got lamer as well. First was a screaming F-18 or two. Then the next time it was 3 lame quiet trainers. Then the crowd got smaller because of the ticket issue. I said to the cops, "looks like your OT is over".

The failure was the ticket system. There is no doubt in my kind. They really screwed it up by going to printed tickets.

[Andy6]

Originally Posted by Geebrr

Single seats at $400 is not that crazy a thing.

The fans have predictably become a bit pickier since 2011. I wonder what would happen if the Jets spent 5 or 6 years at the bottom of the league.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Andy6

The fans have predictably become a bit pickier since 2011. I wonder what would happen if the Jets spent 5 or 6 years at the bottom of the league.

I think we were reaching a bit of a breaking point where demand was dropping off... last season put some wind back in the Jets' sails in terms of ticket demand, though. It would have been ugly at the box office if the Jets were also-rans for 5 years plus, but that is generally the case in most NHL markets.

[ediger]

Originally Posted by robertocarlos

I live here. They don't.

I live downtown, I went. If you don't want people around, maybe downtown isn't the place for you.

[roccerfeller]

Originally Posted by pspeid

Has there been an official announcement on the next two towers or are they just going to start right away? Has anyone seen if they are going to set up another construction camera?

In a prior press release by True North, they wanted to start by the end of the summer of this year, it looks like given the activity currently they will get things going soon enough!

I imagine there will be another press release once construction is fully underway

Not sure about construction cam, but I don't see why they wouldn't

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by esquire

I'm sure in 2011-12 no one saw the day coming when there would be empty seats at Jets games either, but it happened.

ON the contrary, many people had predicted that within 5 years, the novelty would wear off, and the Jets would be playing in front of 2,000+ empty seats.

Technically the 3rd round games were sellouts. I've heard there were a few dozen tickets remaining at game time, as the prices were at a level that Winnipeggers simply could not afford them.

As for the regular season, the Jets ahve sold out every game for 7 years.

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by Bluenote

Pretty sure the crowds will only get larger. This isn’t some stupid football team. . Nashville still had massive crowds. Ones that dwarfed ours. So imagine making the western champions and then getting to the cup itself. Btw the crowds grew each home game as the playoffs went on. Not the other way around.

Are you certain about that? I've heard about the Nashville crowds, but from what I heard, they were not in the neighborhood of 25,000 that the Jets were getting in the first two rounds, until they implemented that stupid ticket system.

[Geebrr]

Originally Posted by Andy6

The fans have predictably become a bit pickier since 2011. I wonder what would happen if the Jets spent 5 or 6 years at the bottom of the league.

I meant that a handful of solo tickets at that price being available is normal.thd building was technically sold out.