Winnipeg | NHL Jets

[SHOFEAR]

Although I'd imagine MTS is a nice facility, it's not anywhere close to the calibre of facility a FORMER Oiler owner thinks is neccesary for long term survival.

Former owner ties Oilers' future to new arena

Franchise won't be secure unless modern facility built downtown, Cal Nichols says


The future of the Oilers franchise won't be secure in Edmonton unless a new arena is built, says former Oilers owner Cal Nichols, an adviser on the new downtown arena proposal.

"If we in this city don't do something, who in this city is going to want to own that team and keep it here?" Nichols asks. "That's the big issue.

"Whoever owns it, it has got to work (financially)."

Rexall Place is the second-oldest and smallest NHL arena. Almost every other NHL team has moved into a massive new arena with wider concourses, improved seating and better food and beverage services in the last 15 years. On average, NHL buildings were financed with a 60/40 private-public split.

The longer Edmonton waits to build a new arena, the greater the revenue gap between the Oilers and its NHL competitors will be, and the more expensive an arena project will be, Nichols says.

The Oilers are now ranked 19th out of 30 for NHL franchise revenues, according to Forbes magazine.



cont.. http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/Fo...future+downtown+arena/2335912/story.html

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

My uncles box cost almost 150K.....8 years ago....


We've been having this discussion since I first came to this board years ago....we'll be having it for a long long long while. Don't hold your breath boys.

[Pegger5]

Originally Posted by SHOFEAR

Although I'd imagine MTS is a nice facility, it's not anywhere close to the calibre of facility a FORMER Oiler owner thinks is neccesary for long term survival.






My uncles box cost almost 150K.....8 years ago....


We've been having this discussion since I first came to this board years ago....we'll be having it for a long long long while. Don't hold your breath boys.

I will disagree with you about your comments on MTS Centre. Besides the extra 2-3K in seats it may or may not need; it is night and day compared to Rexall Place today. MTS, can be upgraded to gloss it up to be more be more NHL ready, It already has 3 +1 concourses (one for each level) plus a private concourse for the boxes, restaurants attached. club seating and bar where you can stand and watch the game. etc etc.. It is way nicer and a better location than both Rexall and Sadledome. Really you can't compare except for seat count..
It just needs more boxes (which is possible). You should go there and see for yourself.
In fact, Cal Nichols and Ken King both toured the arena when it opened and loved it. Saying they would "just add a few more boxes and seats otherwise it is top of the line"..

[Cow-garian]

^ I can vouch for this actually. Sometimes when the media does a segment on the Saddledome in Calgary and how it needs to be replace they tend to mention such arenas like the MTS Centre.

Thankfully, the Saddledome and Ken King have stated that they are in the preliminary stages of a new arena design. It's gonna be sad seeing the Saddledome torn down (they may still keep it for other uses though), but thats still at least 3-4 years away.

[Bdog]

"The future of the Oilers franchise won't be secure in Edmonton unless a new arena is built, says former Oilers owner Cal Nichols, an adviser on the new downtown arena proposal."

That one sentence makes Nichols' bias obvious... as an advisor on a new arena, what is he going to say: "No new arena is necessary"?

[DowntownWpg]

Originally Posted by newflyer

The NHL reality ...

- All you can eat NHL tickets for $39

- 4 tickets and meal combos for $89

- $15 tickets every Thursday

- Kids get in free


http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=57363

or

http://lightning.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=50455

or

tickets to 4 games for $45, plus an autographed puck by your favorite player. ( R U kidding me??? )

http://coyotes.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=58405
not including the "we win you win" promotion ... If you buy a game ticket and the team wins .. you can redeem your ticket for another free game ticket.


How on earth could Winnipeg possibily afford such expensive entertainment. LOL

Not sure if that is reflective of the overall "NHL reality." I would guess that the three teams you cited are offering up such packages in a desperate attempt to increase their fan base. I'd guess that both Atlanta and Tampa are going to lose money this season, Phoenix will for sure.

As soon as the NHL and owners of those teams are willing to give-up on the idea of hockey in the US southern states, we might have a chance at getting one. But a few teams would have to be willing to sell and can get out of agreements with their respective cities, ownership groups, arena leases, etc, where applicable. Further, the NHL and Bettman will have to abandon their ludicrous notion of hockey in such southern markets. Like I said though, I don't think the NHL is going to throw in the towel on such markets as long as Bettman is the commissioner. Bettman has shown us he'd rather the league itself take over those floundering clubs than relocate (AKA, admit failure of his vision to have hockey down south). Ultimately, I still think it is foolish to have faith in Bettman doing anything good for Winnipeg.

Honestly, I think we're probably behind Kansas City for a team. We might be second in line at this time, until Quebec City completes an area... if QC builds an arena bigger than ours (more private suites and seating capacity)... QC probably has the edge. No doubt, the Harper Cons will give tons of federal coin to QC, as it is a highly targeted region for the Cons to both keep and grow the number of seats they hold in that region. Bettman, the weasel, just last week was saying far more positive things about QC than I've heard him say about Winnipeg. When he "speaks about Winnipeg," it is usually some cryptic stuff that does not actually mention "Winnipeg," and could apply to many cities.

IMO, NHL could very well be here again one day. But, I don't think it is as short-term as many of you guys suggest. Sorry to burst some bubbles, but while some of you guys can write things such as "end of argument, we're getting a team!" such a declaration by a common citizen is not a factor in a club relocating to Winnipeg. For several years now, I've been hearing from some people the "it is a done deal!" sentiment with all the same arguments brought forward that I read on this thread... to that, I ask, why isn't it here already then? It has been a "done deal" for about five years, as per some people... but still no team. People overlook that many things have to happen (IMO, Bettman retiring, a few southern teams going bankrupt, Kansas City getting a relocated team, and then either QC getting a team first or not building an arena at all).

My guess, maybe in ten years... certainly not next year.

[SHOFEAR]

Originally Posted by Bdog

"The future of the Oilers franchise won't be secure in Edmonton unless a new arena is built, says former Oilers owner Cal Nichols, an adviser on the new downtown arena proposal."

That one sentence makes Nichols' bias obvious... as an advisor on a new arena, what is he going to say: "No new arena is necessary"?

Or you could read the article and realize how the guy who saved the oilers felt it was important to sell his shares and convince all others to do the same to ensure an owner capable of funding such an arena can go ahead.

In fact, Cal Nichols and Ken King both toured the arena when it opened and loved it. Saying they would "just add a few more boxes and seats otherwise it is top of the line"..

I think it's safe to say that the new rink in Edmonton is going to be a hell of a lot more than MTS center with a few extra boxes. MTS is certainly a lot more modern than Rexall, no doubt there. When the momentum started for this new arena, a lot of the talk was about the MTS center....I haven't heard it mentioned for a while now. It's all about Columbus, LA, etc.

[flatlander]

Gotcha. I thought you were talking about public debt, but you were talking about private debt.

Originally Posted by Pegger5

Okay here you go. Alberta has an average liability of $99,384--More than any other province.. Page 3 (source)
Table 1: Financial Situation of Individuals Filing for Bankruptcy, by Province
Balance Sheet, as of 2008 Average Deficiency
Province Average Assets Average Liabilities 2008 2007 % Change
Canada 42,020 81,829 39,809 36,646 9%
NL 30,652 59,776 29,124 25,609 14%
PEI 49,765 90,578 40,813 43,993 -7%
NS 49,282 73,560 24,278 23,079 5%
NB 47,419 90,742 43,323 36,995 17%
QB 27,113 62,886 35,773 33,152 8%
ON 52,569 95,421 42,852 40,643 5%
MB 35,670 67,786 32,116 31,277 3%
SK 41,893 69,642 27,749 23,082 20%
AB 55,709 99,384 43,675 34,927 25%
BC 34,934 86,795 51,861 46,960 10%
Source: Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy

[Cow-garian]

Don't know if this was posted here yet, but found an recent article from ESPN dated December 10th.

Maybe their might still be hope with Atlanta or another southern American city but looks like no 'miracle on ice' for the Coyote's jetting back north of the border.

Quotes from the article:
"We're doing this because we think we can make it work, so we're not even contemplating the idea of moving the team in five years, 10 years" Jones said [...] Jones, the Ice Edge chief operating officer, said at an Oct. 10 Coyotes game in Glendale that hockey can succeed in the desert with a successful team on the ice along with better management and promotion.

[Jets4Life]

Just look at this garbage:

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=83616

Never have I seem such negativity directed at the idea of regaining an NHL team for the Jets, or the city of Winnipeg in general.

Why is it that nearly every person from Calgary on the internet craps all over the possible return of the Jets?

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by Cow-garian

Don't know if this was posted here yet, but found an recent article from [url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=4735446]
Quotes from the article:
"We're doing this because we think we can make it work, so we're not even contemplating the idea of moving the team in five years, 10 years" Jones said [...] Jones, the Ice Edge chief operating officer, said at an Oct. 10 Coyotes game in Glendale that hockey can succeed in the desert with a successful team on the ice along with better management and promotion.

Well if the new ownership group are willing to lose $300 million over 10 years, all the power to them....

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

Just look at this garbage:

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=83616

Never have I seem such negativity directed at the idea of regaining an NHL team for the Jets, or the city of Winnipeg in general.

Why is it that nearly every person from Calgary on the internet craps all over the possible return of the Jets?

let them be uneducated idiots

[Cow-garian]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

let them be uneducated idiots

Pretty much agreed.

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

Just look at this garbage:

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=83616

Never have I seem such negativity directed at the idea of regaining an NHL team for the Jets, or the city of Winnipeg in general.

Why is it that nearly every person from Calgary on the internet craps all over the possible return of the Jets?

Keep in mind we have a lot of ex-Saskatchewan residents who live in Calgary now (they tend to be avid Flames fans, yet Stampeder haters) and last I checked they don't like Manitoba too much.

But seriously, don't aggravate those types with more aggression. Just educate them. I must be one of the few Calgarians who has been modestly educated to the viability of the Jets coming back, and look at me, I'm a supporter of the Jets returning - and for the most part, supporter of all viable Canadian markets to be served by an NHL team-

We may be arrogant at times, but we're damn proud of being Calgarian *Just look at my signature below*

[SHOFEAR]

I'm a supporter of the Jets returning

Don't come around here bitching when RSN/TSN/CBC cuts the number of Flame and Oiler games broadcast to fit in winnipeg games...

good thing it will never happen.

[ILYR]

Originally Posted by SHOFEAR

Don't come around here bitching when RSN/TSN/CBC cuts the number of Flame and Oiler games broadcast to fit in winnipeg games....

Or worse yet fewer Leafs games ... the horror the horror

[Pegger5]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

Just look at this garbage:

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=83616

Never have I seem such negativity directed at the idea of regaining an NHL team for the Jets, or the city of Winnipeg in general.

Why is it that nearly every person from Calgary on the internet craps all over the possible return of the Jets?

Hey, as you all know I am a big Peg supporter and have been living in Calgary for 14 years.. The one thing I find is that most Calgarians especially the ones raised here are very ignorant about any city but their own. They bash Winnipeg because it makes them feel better. They know their city lacks culture and arts so they have to make up for it in other ways... They bragg about their own corporate support because that is their strength. (God forbid if Oil ever goes away then Calgary dies)
They easily or conveniently forget about how they were averaging on 14K in fans for the Flames just 5 years ago..nor do they choose to actually research the fact Winnipeg has more Top 800 companies and more head office employees than Edmonton and Ottawa, Quebec City and Hamilton..
It is mainly uneducated people about Winnipeg writing those posts... Calgarians kind of act like people from the USA. They care nothing about what's outside their own country. In this case CITY..
I bet 98% of Calgarians don't know the buses they ride on are made in Winnipeg ! Thus the lack of knowledge. There is a reason they still call it Cowtown.. I only stay because of economics.. I really do not love it here...

[1ajs]

didn't think calgary had many newflyers

[Cow-garian]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

Suuuuure, blame the Saskatchewan expats :p.

I may not be a Roughrider supporter, but you Saskatchewan people.... you guys are all right

Originally Posted by Pegger5

Hey, as you all know I am a big Peg supporter and have been living in Calgary for 14 years... I only stay because of economics... I really do not love it here...

Well its okay if you don't 'love' it in Calgary -everyone has a city they love and have bias towards-

To stay on topic, Go Jets Go!

[1ajs]

lifes a trip

[1ajs]

somehow i have a copy of this laying around the house just found it cleaning my ofice area buried in a shelf of old plc manuals

[newflyer]

So what is at 40 Woodrow Place?? ... and how soon can red and blue stray paint be found?? (j/k)

The very fact that these people exsisted only reminds it was a group of Winnipeg Entreprises employees and supporters who saw the writing on the wall. Winnipeg Enterprises benefitted greatly from the JETS and the old arena though concessions other revenues directed inward. They were the driving force behind Thin Ice.

The reality is the new arena has been a massive success and should have been built while the Jets were around.