Winnipeg | NHL Jets

[Andy6]

Well, it has a few more head offices than some other cities, although still not very many. And they aren't really the kind of head offices that have big entertainment budgets. So it's a fair question. But in my experience Winnipeggers have a lot of pride and it's likely that smaller businesses will pay for boxes that in other cities could be sold only to much larger companies. It's more a question of whether this kind of support is going to be sustained after 5-10 losing seasons when the next recession rolls around. I can't see how Winnipeg could be a worse gamble for the NHL than Nashville or Columbus, though.

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by Andy6

Well, it has a few more head offices than some other cities, although still not very many.

It's quite a lot more than many similar sized cities. It's not Toronto or Calgary, but it isn't really a pittance either.

[SKYSTHELIMIT]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

Really, just who exactly would be buying these private boxes? MPIC, Hydro, MLCC?

My company splits a box with four other companies, there are 16 seats in the box so we pair up with one company and split the box for 20 games while the other 2 get the rest. For concerts and other MTS events we each get 4 tickets. This is a great way to cut down on costs and still show a few clients a great time.

[Pegger5]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

Really, just who exactly would be buying these private boxes? MPIC, Hydro, MLCC?

Fine, for people that don't research and always assume, I will post this again; here is the proof.. Winnipeg is number 5 in Canada in the Top 800 companies based in that city.. Larger than Edmonton and Ottawa that have teams.

http://www.financialpost.com/magazine/fp500/list.html


canada's 800 largest corporations:

Winnipeg: 32 + 3 subsitiaries = 35
Edmonton: 25 + 1 subsidiary = 26
Quebec City: 16 + 2 subsidiaries = 18
Ottawa: 15 + 1 subsidiary = 16

[jimsabo21]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

Really, just who exactly would be buying these private boxes? MPIC, Hydro, MLCC?

Well, Moose boxes are between 45-70K ... don't know if this is any indication, but our company is #91 on a waiting list for a box at the MTS Centre as of February 2009 ...

So, they have 48 suites sold + 91 companies on a waiting list ... so that is 139 companies in winnipeg willing to pay at least 45K for a box. I think it's safe to assume that 48 of those would be willing to pay 150K for NHL

[Jets4Life]

The return of an NHL team to Winnipeg would be a HUGE morale boost for this city.

[rrskylar]

^ My point was that MTS boxes are now relatively cheap by NHL standards, and in order for the NHL to work in Winnipeg all those boxes must be sold at a much higher rate than they are now. Questioning whether there is enough corporate support when there clearly wasn't in the last NHL go-around is hardly a stretch.

[1ajs]

how many box's did the old barn have?

[drew]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

^ My point was that MTS boxes are now relatively cheap by NHL standards, and in order for the NHL to work in Winnipeg all those boxes must be sold at a much higher rate than they are now. Questioning whether there is enough corporate support when there clearly wasn't in the last NHL go-around is hardly a stretch.

Not that this is a representative statistic, but a good friend of mine works at a law firm that shares a box at the MTS centre. I asked him if rates doubled or even quadrupled for the NHL if he thought his firm would still pay for the box. He never even hesitated to say absolutely. His reasoning is that there is so much more "prestige" with the NHL compared to the AHL, that the price will be worth it for the majority of the box owners and the customers/clients that they "woo" with box tickets.

Either way rrskylar - why do we have to be stuck in 1995? Isn't it possible that things have changed (what for it...) for the better in Winnipeg over the last 15 years? Isn't it possible that there is more corporate money now than there was then?

[dennis]

Was there corporate money then, but no way to utilize it (i.e. no boxes to sell)? or were companies more conservative back then (when the economy wasn't what it is today). Was corporate support as prevalent in the NHL then as it is now? Was lack of corporate support the reason the NHL was not able to continue in Winnipeg back then? Was it instead an arena with 5000 obstructed seats which was unattracive to ticket buyers, or a WEM that held on to all monies generated from parking and concessions back then? There are many factors as to why the NHL left Winnipeg. Remember, Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa were all in the same boat as Winnipeg.

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

^ My point was that MTS boxes are now relatively cheap by NHL standards, and in order for the NHL to work in Winnipeg all those boxes must be sold at a much higher rate than they are now. Questioning whether there is enough corporate support when there clearly wasn't in the last NHL go-around is hardly a stretch.

I agree with your position on the CMHR, but do you have to be negative towards every issue that may/may not benefit Winnipeg?

[jmt18325]

Well, at least he's not being hypocritical. You like the NHL idea because you're biased towards it. You don't like the CMHR because you're biased against it. He just hates everything.

[Pegger5]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

^ My point was that MTS boxes are now relatively cheap by NHL standards, and in order for the NHL to work in Winnipeg all those boxes must be sold at a much higher rate than they are now. Questioning whether there is enough corporate support when there clearly wasn't in the last NHL go-around is hardly a stretch.

rrskylar, Why do you ignore this fact (link to source) below? If you question this then you should question Edmonton and Ottawa of their corporate support for NHL !!


http://www.financialpost.com/magazine/fp500/list.html


canada's 800 largest corporations:

Winnipeg: 32 + 3 subsidiaries = 35
Edmonton: 25 + 1 subsidiary = 26
Quebec City: 16 + 2 subsidiaries = 18
Ottawa: 15 + 1 subsidiary = 16

[rrskylar]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

I agree with your position on the CMHR, but do you have to be negative towards every issue that may/may not benefit Winnipeg?

Did you stop and think how stupid this statement is, I think anyone with a brain would be negative against something that may not benefit their own city.


And is it such a sacrilege to question whether something (the NHL) that failed before might fail again. I am simply stating my opinion that Winnipeg may not have enough corporate support to keep a team. There hasn't exactly been a rush for anyone to bring a team back in the thirteen years since the Jets left.


And of course I would like the NHL to return, as much as I would like to see a vibrant downtown, rapid transit and a lot more growth in the private sector.

[1ajs]

our downtown is not dead

[rrskylar]

^ Your quite correct, on life support would be a more appropriate term.

[1ajs]

no its not

its alive and having breakfast the next decade is going to be a very good one for this city

[rrskylar]

^ Sure hope so

[1ajs]

by 2015 we have a new tallest built or under construction...

[JustinL]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

^ Your quite correct, on life support would be a more appropriate term.

Off topic but,

It's not even on life support. Could we do better? Ofcourse. But there is a lot of action going on downtown these days. New lofts and condos are opening and being filled. At capacity yet? Probably not, but I know people are moving into Fairchild, the Edge, etc, so it's a good sign. The Waterfront has been developed. CMHR is well underway. The downtown nightclub scene is booming. Restaurants like Tavern United and Moxies are doing very well for themselves. We have a brand new state of the art highrise that has brought many new workers to downtown. And then, the MTS center is among the busiest venues in North America.

Not bad for a downtown on life support, eh?

On topic: Go Jets Go!