I won’t pretend that I follow the AHL on a regular basis, but I do know that our team does always do well on the ice as well as at the gate. In fact, their 81 points makes the Manitoba Moose the best team in the AHL right now with a league high 38 wins and a league low 128 goals against.
Quite simply, the Manitoba Moose (Vancouver Canucks affiliate) are the league’s most sought after club to play hockey for in the players minds. Winnipeg is after all, the hockey town of all hockey towns and it provides the closest atmosphere to NHL hockey as possible. This is because few teams in the AHL get to play in a brand new NHL caliber arena and in front of an average of 7,133 fans per night. Many nights sell out MTS Centre’s lower bowl with 8,800 fans. For those of you keeping track, that ranks 2nd in the AHL only behind the Hersey Bears. On occasion, demand warrants the upper bowl of MTS Centre being opened up and 15,000 fans have indeed watched the Moose play. If this isn’t a rock solid example of how much Winnipeg loves hockey, then I’ll definitely need your help finding something else.
With regards to my obvious next step to tie this stat in with support for NHL hockey, many would argue that AHL and specifically the Manitoba Moose attendance figures are irrelevant as they are 1/3 the cost that the NHL would have to be. Granted this is a valid point, but keep in mind:
- fans are still paying between $22 and $42 to watch “the next best thing”
- much of this attendance is corporate backing, which would support whatever hockey was in town, regardless of pricing
- this attendance level is an outstanding indicator of the type of hockey fan that exists in Manitoba…a dedicated one.
After all, I am admittedly rarely part of this attendance number, something I intend to change in the future. And trust me, there are many, many others like me that haven’t taken an interest to the AHL, or the IHL before it, since the NHL Jets left in 1996. If we can already sell half the building for the AHL, I challenge anyone to explain how we wouldn’t sell the entire building for the NHL. With NHL prices.
There are too many of us NHL hopefuls lurking in the shadows with our wallets on fire. For every person following the Moose, there are five that follow the Flames or Oilers or another NHL team. Increase that number if Winnipeg had our own NHL team to make Calgary and Edmonton our hated rivals once again.
In the meantime, it is nothing but positive news to see what the Manitoba Moose have accomplished on and off the ice. I plan to attend a game on March 7th vs. The Providence Bruins. I will more than likely be one of 8,800 people in the stands filling that lower bowl capacity.
Those Manitoba Moose uniforms are incredible.
Jack, regarding what those cities did:
Ottawa – home of the 67’s and the HUGE Bring Back the Senators Campaign
Minnesota – housed our very own moose before getting their NHL team
Well, I didn’t expect much more out of your response as it’s typical. You are certainly sad & bitter. No, I can’t blame you as I’m also still bitter we got our NHL team taken from us however I still get out and enjoy great AHL hockey at Great prices however; to address your “points”.
You say “We” couldn’t stand the Canucks. Well, certainly that was usually the theme in the playoffs however; “We” is a pretty bold statement. I never hated the Canucks & I know I’m not the only one to feel that way. ( The Oilers are a different story all together ) however Jason, you have to realize it’s been 12+ years since the Jets left and People have come to address and like other Canadian Franchises since the Jets departure! Not everyone still hates the Oilers, Canucks, etc…..so, who cares if we are their affiliate!
Second; I agree with you 100% that Winnipeg DOES NOT have to prove a thing to the NHL or anyone for that matter. We have been & always will be an NHL City first and foremost however, this city would certainly entertain the fact we have a successful AHL Franchise than nothing at all!
Let’s not forget: Our AHL Franchise has given Winnipeg the New NHL Caliber Arena we have today. MTS Centre would not have been built for any other Professional League in this city. We would still have the old, decrepit Winnipeg Arena, run by W.E.C, No True North ownership group, etc……
AHL = Second Greatest Hockey League in the World. There is no arguing this statement. And in this case, you obviously don’t like it and don’t support it and have voiced your opinion on the matter time after time after time. If you don’t like it, don’t worry about it then. Just pretend there is NOTHING here if that will make you and other bitter fans feel better. The NHL will be back soon as we both know, and a lot of people chose to either: Go to Moose games while they are here OR stay away from Moose Hockey. It doesn’t change the fact our AHL Franchise is one of the most successful teams right now in the league.
You pose a question to Darren ( and any Moose Fans ): “What’s so great about this situation again?”
– Who said it was so great? Obviously not Darren! He runs a “Return of the Jets” campaign ya know….so obviously he isn’t 100% happy with it. As far as “Moose Fans” like myself and others; We support the AHL while it’s here, it’s a good void for live hockey until the NHL Comes back and there is NOTHING wrong with that! You have constantly pushed your opinion that you think the AHL is horrible however; it’s still hockey Jason! ( AKA Jake )
Another thing; you posed the question of if I’d support our AHL franchise if they were affiliated with the Coyotes OR Hurricanes. Well I don’t even need to respond to this because we are NOT affiliated nor have we ever had the option to be affiliated with those franchises.
The AHL has helped our chances substantially of being able to attain another NHL Franchise. Obviously, there is a new ownership group that will be in charge of such a franchise and as I stated in the previous response:
“The AHL has provided Mark Chipman & True North the opportunity to gain experience in all aspects of owning and running not only a successful Hockey Franchise, but maintaining the 3rd busiest Indoor Venue within Canada, and 19th in the World! You don’t think the NHL wants someone that has proven themselves like they have in the NHL………”
That can only help our chances! Now, i really wish you wouldn’t respond to anything here, as this post doesn’t need anymore ranting and debating. You have your views; I have mine, we’ve both made our Statements so leave it at that. If you wish to discuss further; email me. Jhendrix70_@hotmail.com
Alex, I’ll leave you with one last rant.
I guess you just “forgot” to address all the other things I said in my little spiel? Here it is, once again:
“Remember when Winnipeg rivaled the Vancouver Canucks? We couldn’t stand them! Now we cheer them on and house their farm team. What happened? When did Winnipeg accept being a little-league town for pro hockey??”
And we don’t need to support the AHL in order to “prove” we deserve an NHL team. What did Atlanta, Anaheim, Tampa, Miami, Phoenix, Nashville, Columbus, Ottawa, and Minnesota do? Nothing.
Furthermore, the Moose could win every game, for forever.
It still means Winnipeg is the hockey equivalent of Peoria, Rockford, and Lake Eerie.
It still means Carolina, Edmonton, Nashville, Atlanta, and Ottawa get to enjoy better-quality hockey and players like Sidney Crosby and Winnipeg doesn’t.
It doesn’t make the Moose any less Vancouver’s team than Winnipeg’s.
So Darren (and any Moose fans) I gotta ask… what’s so great about this situation again?
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I would be delighted to hear your rebuttal on those issues. But I’m not expecting to. Ever.
Many of the latest cities to be granted NHL franchises did NOT have any kind of minor-league hockey club in place.
Kansas City and Las Vegas- 2 of the cities mentioned most when talks about relocation/expansion come up- do not have AHL teams in place. I don’t even think they have -any- minor league hockey teams whatsoever actually. Certainly nothing successful in the world of hockey.
Atlanta, Carolina, Phoenix, Miami, etc. etc. etc. did not have successful AHL, IHL, or minor-league hockey teams (no successful ones anyways). Those places now have NHL teams.
Winnipeg doesn’t need the Moose to get an NHL team back. If you think that, you’re just delusional.
If anything- in the past 15 years in the NHL- if a certain city shows DISINTEREST in minor-league hockey, they’re rewarded with NHL clubs! Granted I believe the NHL has learned its lesson.
A Winnipeg hockey fan can either swallow their pride, accept Winnipeg as a “minor league” city for hockey, and adopt the Vancouver Canucks draft picks and prospects and “our” team. I’ll choose a different way. Winnipeg deserves the best and I could not care less about the Vancouver Canucks organization!
Alex, would you be a Moose fan if they were the Coyotes or Hurricanes farm team? I sincerely doubt it.
The Manitoba Moose have continued the tradition in Winnipeg of being a Top-Class Act. Everyone from the Executives at True North, to the Employees that produce game production, to the fans that have maintained the Winnipeg tradition of being some of the Classiest people in the Business.
Now, there are many Winnipeggers’ that have not supported the Manitoba Moose since their beginnings after the Jets left town and that is very understandable. You can’t expect 100% of the NHL Jets Fan base, to have opened their arms and accepted the IHL / AHL Manitoba Moose however with that said, there still is a very strong love affair between Hockey on ANY level, and Hockey fans in Winnipeg.
As Darren said, the Moose are second in the AHL overall attendance standings, maintained some of the best hockey in the league for Winnipeggers to watch & have helped “fill a void” for hockey at the 2nd highest level since the NHL’s departure. There are those who have complained about the caliber of hockey, and have promoted the idea of perhaps dumping the AHL, and bringing in the WHL which is completely fine as it’s another great form of hockey however; I believe the majority of real hockey fans in this province would much rather have the 2nd best Hockey program in the World, compared to a league like the WHL. There is no denying the fact Winnipeg would support either but, there is no comparison over which is the better, faster, most professional league.
Without the Moose, this city would more than likely have nothing………No High Level of Hockey Entertainment, No new NHL Caliber Arena, No team to support Children’s foundations & fundraisers, etc….
Now, Jack says:
“Plus it’s wintertime in Winnipeg. It’s either go to a Moose game, go to a movie, or stay home. Our options are somewhat limited.”
– Do you get out much? There are so many options for entertaining in Winnipeg that, I don’t think you do any of it! You need to get a life if you think Hockey and going to movies are the ONLY thing to do during Winter in Winnipeg………
Now just to close, it’s plain and simple; There wouldn’t even be talk of the NHL coming back without the Manitoba Moose & what the organization has provided Winnipeg over the last 12 years! Now, I understand what “Jack” ( AKA Jason ) is saying somewhat however, the fact the Moose are supported shows the NHL Brass that Winnipeg IS and always will be a real Hockey Town. Winnipeg has had to prove itself to the world time in, time again however, one day it WILL pay off and we WILL see the NHL back! The AHL has provided Mark Chipman & True North the opportunity to gain experience in all aspects of owning and running not only a successful Hockey Franchise, but maintaining the 3rd busiest Indoor Venue within Canada, and 19th in the World! You don’t think the NHL wants someone that has proven themselves like they have in the NHL?
Until the NHL does eventually come back, don’t be such a complainer…..get out and enjoy some great hockey, with great fans at the MTS Centre!
Bring’Em Back!
To say the city hasn’t adopted the moose would be generous. It unfortunately will take probably another decade for anyone in the city to care how the moose are doing however the hockey is good, the tickets are cheap and you can usually get good seats.
That being said the NHL in Winnipeg is a long shot. Yes like Darren points out every week the city can afford the NHL. However stealing a team from the sunbelt is harder and less likely then the Canadian Media would have you think. In order for teams to start moving north would involve Garry Bettman’s admitting he was wrong. For example, Phoenix will lose a load of money this year, the next and the next after that but will remain in Phoenix for the ‘growth’ of the game. Not to mention the long leases on current arena deals and other markets who are first in line IF a team becomes available (Las Vegas, Kansas City etc.)
Furthermore, the Moose could win every game, for forever.
It still means Winnipeg is the hockey equivalent of Peoria, Rockford, and Lake Eerie.
It still means Carolina, Edmonton, Nashville, Atlanta, and Ottawa get to enjoy better-quality hockey and players like Sidney Crosby and Winnipeg doesn’t.
It doesn’t make the Moose any less Vancouver’s team than Winnipeg’s.
So Darren (and any Moose fans) I gotta ask… what’s so great about this situation again?
The only reason people in Winnipeg go to Moose games is because it’s ALL WE HAVE. Not for any love towards the Vancouver Canucks or their draft picks & prospects.
Plus it’s wintertime in Winnipeg. It’s either go to a Moose game, go to a movie, or stay home. Our options are somewhat limited. At least Calgary and Edmonton have NLL and WHL teams in their arenas if by some chance you’re not into NHL hockey.
To me, it’s depressing that some people in Winnipeg have become fans of this franchise. I think JetsOwner.com says it best:
“Remember when Winnipeg rivaled the Vancouver Canucks? We couldn’t stand them! Now we cheer them on and house their farm team. What happened? When did Winnipeg accept being a little-league town for pro hockey??”
I rest my case!
And we don’t need to support the AHL in order to “prove” we deserve an NHL team. What did Atlanta, Anaheim, Tampa, Miami, Phoenix, Nashville, Columbus, Ottawa, and Minnesota do? Nothing.
Forget about NHL hockey anytime soon. I was one who grew up with the Jets but I’m also realistic. AHL hockey will be around for a long time and real hockey fans have been watching the Moose since they came to the city. I’m also a fan of an NHL team but at least I’m smart enough to know being a true hockey fan means being able to follow more than one team rather than spite myself by missing out on the next greatest brand of hockey outside the NHL.
I couldn’t agree more Fordy, the fact that Winnipegers support a NHL FARM TEAM like this speaks volumes for what is to happen when the JETS DO COME BACK. I for one will have no problem paying NHL PRICES FOR NHL HOCKEY! I was at the Brad Paisley concert on Tuesday at the MTS center in my $70.00 seat loving every minute of it and thinking to myself how awsome it will be to watch NHL hockey again in this city. I was just wondering if Mark Chipman read your last article What Winnipeg Can Afford, and if not GET IT IN HIS HANDS PLEASE!!!!!