Upset fans weigh in on Jets attendance woes, threat to leave
February 27, 2024
Upset fans weigh in on Jets attendance woes, threat to leave
14 comments
The guy who said “True North needs more tax breaks” is so far out to lunch.
There’s a lot of businesses in Winnipeg that have done well because of the Jets. True North isn’t asking a lot.
threat to leave? I refused to pay anything to read Chris fucking Johnston so I’m not sure, but didn’t Chipman say in the article they wouldn’t relocate “on their watch”?
True North may need more bums in seats but telling the market what to do is always the wrong move. Maybe listen to what the market wants and give the market what it asks for instead?
There’s been no actual “threat to leave”
I’m sick of these ridiculous sensational headlines.
To me, what I get from that article is that it’s not just one thing. Downtown, TN’s somewhat aloofness, the smaller corporate support, and the slow economic recovery after the pandemic have all contributed to this. Noted, it’s prevalent to an extent in other cities, but particularly noted in Winnipeg. To me, it will probably take some outside the box thinking to bring this to a resolution. I’m not pushing the panic button, but it does need looking at.
I think the biggest impact on season ticket sales was trying to sell them last spring while the Jets were playing unwatchable losing hockey and the threat of a rebuild was in the air. THis year’s season ticket drive should be more productive.
I can find tickets to Florida, Anaheim, Columbus, St Louis, Nashville, and Ottawa. For less than $50 CAD. This isn’t an issue of people not wanting to go to games, this is an issue of the corporate greed that True North has.
Have a couple dedicated “party zones” to get the atmosphere going at the games, this is what the bombers do and it works wonders for creating such a lively atmosphere.
Also discount local brews, there is no reason to be paying $10 for a beer that was made just down the road, when I can go to the LC pick up a 12 pack (of the same beer) for less than $30, sit at home with HOT pizza, and a front row seat to the best view at the arena.
Stop with the nonsense of the wacky foods, keep the jet dogs, burgers, chicken, and pizza. But stop with the weird shit that only people who regularly eat at the keg will buy, that is not your demographic. That demographic usually wont want to spend $15 for subpar food, they will go somewhere else before or after the game. Just look at the new Earls before puck drop.
Lastly you need to be able to have more fun in the concourse during the actual game. This is what the Bombers do very well. If you are targeting the casual fan, don’t make the only fun experience in the arena watching the game. Add a DJ, get some local bands playing in certain sections (this will bring in fans who have zero interest in watching the game, as watching their favourite band will come first)
There is so much True North can do to bring bums in seats, but they think if they revamp the budwiser zone, to make it more expensive, with new food options that are more expensive, and local brewery’s that are more expensive. Will bring people back? Market pressures are crazy and we all know that, so adapt to the market, dont be the bull. There is a reason why there is all this speculation with us, but buffalo, st. louis, and many other teams with their own bums in seats issues dont.
So Chipman makes a threat last season, fans get pissed. He backtracks and says oh no no, they won’t move on my watch. Fans cool off. Now he’s back with the same message as last year, said in a slightly different way, that this won’t work in the long haul. This pressure, release pressure, doesn’t jive with me at all.
Can they not give fans a damn break? Stop blaming fans and maybe look in the damn mirror. I have no pity for a millionaires woes of making slightly less millions. Does he care about his fans dealing with ridiculous inflation, effects of the pandemic, sky high rent and groceries etc? Fans are making less money right now too, yet he hasn’t tried lowering seat pricing at all, or coming up with any better ideas. He got fan loyalty for the past decade, and all he did was keep raising prices and lowering the quality of the product. Shrinkflation sucks, so don’t be surprised that the fans stopped buying.
Well past the time for TNSE to do the work they should have concentrated on when the Jets arrived back in Winnipeg: first work on establishing strong local business support and second focus on making the fan experience more enjoyable and approachable. The Jets have by far the lowest business support of any NHL team, at least 25 percent lower in fact. I would be willing to be there are TNSE owned or linked businesses who do not support the team via ticket purchase.
The Jets early gate success resulted in TNSE sitting around and doing nothing but counting profits. The arrogance these people have to place all onus on the common fan for the declining attendance is sickening. Do they not realize that the overwhelming majority of fans didn’t pop out of the womb with a net worth north of $100 Million like they did? It’s tough for most Jets fans to attend a single game or 2 each year never mind season tickets.
One thing I could not agree more with is how fans are treated. It is tense and crammed, security and staff are kinda stressed or hostile. Always bugged me. Anywhere in the states I’ve been is chill. Some staff are great, but overall it’s like they are there to babysit not facilitate
I’d rather spend that money at a restaurant or bar where I feel welcomed and comfortable
I really hope this type of messaging isn’t part of their brand going forward.
I was all-in on the Save the Jets 1.0 bandwagon. I was shattered when they left.
However, life went on.
I’m not doing it again.
If the team’s business plan is alluding to move the team, I’ll lose interest pretty quick.
I love having NHL in Winnipeg. But I’m not going to spend every year wondering how long they’ll be around for this time.
If it’s no longer sustainable and it turns out that Winnipeg is not an NHL market, act on that. Fix it or move. Don’t blame the customers. I’ve been down this road. Never again.
TNSE made it clear in 2011 that it was a privalege to have tickets to a game. Fast forward, they are learning that it’s now a privalege to have fans buy tickets
100%. All points are valid. And It’s $30 for 2 local beers now. Insane.
14 comments
The guy who said “True North needs more tax breaks” is so far out to lunch.
There’s a lot of businesses in Winnipeg that have done well because of the Jets. True North isn’t asking a lot.
threat to leave? I refused to pay anything to read Chris fucking Johnston so I’m not sure, but didn’t Chipman say in the article they wouldn’t relocate “on their watch”?
True North may need more bums in seats but telling the market what to do is always the wrong move. Maybe listen to what the market wants and give the market what it asks for instead?
There’s been no actual “threat to leave”
I’m sick of these ridiculous sensational headlines.
To me, what I get from that article is that it’s not just one thing. Downtown, TN’s somewhat aloofness, the smaller corporate support, and the slow economic recovery after the pandemic have all contributed to this. Noted, it’s prevalent to an extent in other cities, but particularly noted in Winnipeg. To me, it will probably take some outside the box thinking to bring this to a resolution. I’m not pushing the panic button, but it does need looking at.
I think the biggest impact on season ticket sales was trying to sell them last spring while the Jets were playing unwatchable losing hockey and the threat of a rebuild was in the air. THis year’s season ticket drive should be more productive.
I can find tickets to Florida, Anaheim, Columbus, St Louis, Nashville, and Ottawa. For less than $50 CAD. This isn’t an issue of people not wanting to go to games, this is an issue of the corporate greed that True North has.
Have a couple dedicated “party zones” to get the atmosphere going at the games, this is what the bombers do and it works wonders for creating such a lively atmosphere.
Also discount local brews, there is no reason to be paying $10 for a beer that was made just down the road, when I can go to the LC pick up a 12 pack (of the same beer) for less than $30, sit at home with HOT pizza, and a front row seat to the best view at the arena.
Stop with the nonsense of the wacky foods, keep the jet dogs, burgers, chicken, and pizza. But stop with the weird shit that only people who regularly eat at the keg will buy, that is not your demographic. That demographic usually wont want to spend $15 for subpar food, they will go somewhere else before or after the game. Just look at the new Earls before puck drop.
Lastly you need to be able to have more fun in the concourse during the actual game. This is what the Bombers do very well. If you are targeting the casual fan, don’t make the only fun experience in the arena watching the game. Add a DJ, get some local bands playing in certain sections (this will bring in fans who have zero interest in watching the game, as watching their favourite band will come first)
There is so much True North can do to bring bums in seats, but they think if they revamp the budwiser zone, to make it more expensive, with new food options that are more expensive, and local brewery’s that are more expensive. Will bring people back? Market pressures are crazy and we all know that, so adapt to the market, dont be the bull. There is a reason why there is all this speculation with us, but buffalo, st. louis, and many other teams with their own bums in seats issues dont.
So Chipman makes a threat last season, fans get pissed. He backtracks and says oh no no, they won’t move on my watch. Fans cool off. Now he’s back with the same message as last year, said in a slightly different way, that this won’t work in the long haul. This pressure, release pressure, doesn’t jive with me at all.
Can they not give fans a damn break? Stop blaming fans and maybe look in the damn mirror. I have no pity for a millionaires woes of making slightly less millions. Does he care about his fans dealing with ridiculous inflation, effects of the pandemic, sky high rent and groceries etc? Fans are making less money right now too, yet he hasn’t tried lowering seat pricing at all, or coming up with any better ideas. He got fan loyalty for the past decade, and all he did was keep raising prices and lowering the quality of the product. Shrinkflation sucks, so don’t be surprised that the fans stopped buying.
Well past the time for TNSE to do the work they should have concentrated on when the Jets arrived back in Winnipeg: first work on establishing strong local business support and second focus on making the fan experience more enjoyable and approachable. The Jets have by far the lowest business support of any NHL team, at least 25 percent lower in fact. I would be willing to be there are TNSE owned or linked businesses who do not support the team via ticket purchase.
The Jets early gate success resulted in TNSE sitting around and doing nothing but counting profits. The arrogance these people have to place all onus on the common fan for the declining attendance is sickening. Do they not realize that the overwhelming majority of fans didn’t pop out of the womb with a net worth north of $100 Million like they did? It’s tough for most Jets fans to attend a single game or 2 each year never mind season tickets.
One thing I could not agree more with is how fans are treated. It is tense and crammed, security and staff are kinda stressed or hostile. Always bugged me. Anywhere in the states I’ve been is chill. Some staff are great, but overall it’s like they are there to babysit not facilitate
I’d rather spend that money at a restaurant or bar where I feel welcomed and comfortable
I really hope this type of messaging isn’t part of their brand going forward.
I was all-in on the Save the Jets 1.0 bandwagon. I was shattered when they left.
However, life went on.
I’m not doing it again.
If the team’s business plan is alluding to move the team, I’ll lose interest pretty quick.
I love having NHL in Winnipeg. But I’m not going to spend every year wondering how long they’ll be around for this time.
If it’s no longer sustainable and it turns out that Winnipeg is not an NHL market, act on that. Fix it or move. Don’t blame the customers. I’ve been down this road. Never again.
TNSE made it clear in 2011 that it was a privalege to have tickets to a game. Fast forward, they are learning that it’s now a privalege to have fans buy tickets
100%. All points are valid. And It’s $30 for 2 local beers now. Insane.