[OT] Faithful fans getting fed up with mediocrity: Jets losing sales sizzle

[taco.vidal]

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/spo...235841731.html

As club continues to flounder, tickets for home games easier to obtain

Even Winnipeg Jets fans, it would seem, can put up with only so much losing.

For the first time since Jets 2.0 became a thing, there have been widespread reports of individual tickets for Jets games at the MTS Centre being on sale, sometimes at deeply discounted prices, right up to game time.

And you need only look at the Jets' home record to understand why some of the heat has come off this city's hottest ticket. Put simply, the Jets this season have not given their rabid fan base a whole lot to cheer about.

[vtec260]

That's unfortunate. Didn't think people would jump off bandwagon so soon. It's bad enough the Blue Bombers suck, but have the Jets not perform as well doubles the agony. It's like living in Edmonton.

[Vinny01]

Chevy has made no impact trades, signed any key free agents or done much other than sign the core he inherited to long deals. Jets fans have the right to be upset. This team has been very mediocre and the fans should be upset.

Fire Noël, trade Buff or Kane. Do something to shake this team up

[nik-]

I for one am floored that Noel is still there.

[Machiavelli]

Yup, cruising on hype and fan excitement can only last so long.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Dumb move by the NHL heading back to Winnipeg. Not enough corporate support to keep them alive when the fan support starts to dwindle. Players will not want to go to Winnipeg as free agents and it will be tough to keep the players they have. Smallest building in the league with no hope of a new building in sight, the revenues just aren't going to be there. The player situation will only get worse, so this is a franchise destined to be at the bottom of the league for a very long time. They may go on a short run here and there, but they will be a feeder team to the bigger markets around the league for as long as they survive.

[DownhillGoat]

Well that was quick.

[Hemi-Cuda]

I'd be surprised if that team lasts 10 years in the league. Even if they get competent management who wants to go to Winnipeg?

[Cheerio]

If they weren't in a Canadian market I doubt we would ever hear about them. They are a mediocre team that makes no big splashes one way or another. It's virtually the same team that played in Atlanta

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by New Era

Smallest building in the league with no hope of a new building in sight, the revenues just aren't going to be there.

That's the main issue. The Jets ownership is going to have to build a new arena with more luxury suites and seats so then they can be more flexible with their pricing. Having to be forced to have the priciest tickets in the league to barely break even is not healthy.

[AltaGuy]

Getting swapped into the tough Central division from the patsy former SE, and you had to know this year was going to be tough on em.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by vtec260

That's unfortunate. Didn't think people would jump off bandwagon so soon. It's bad enough the Blue Bombers suck, but have the Jets not perform as well doubles the agony. It's like living in Edmonton.

What's a blue bomber?

[stampsx2]

They are still bringing in huge revenue to the league even if they don't sell out every game. They have a strong following which helps with tv revenue, jersey sales etc. if teams like columbus and florida are around i'm sure the jets will be just fine.

[puckluck2]

Lol I said it from day one. As soon as the hype wears off they'll be in trouble again.

[lifetimefan]

Agreed. The Jets are miles above Phoenix and Florida in terms of support, and being a Canadian market, probably won't drop that low in any case.
Anyone who thought the novelty would carry a mediocre team for longer than this is smoking with Rob Ford.

[CaramonLS]

Not selling singles?

Wow, welcome to every other market aside from TO.

[Red John]

Already mentioned this on the OOT thread, but fans better get used to it.

The Jets core is a very mediocre one and they've committed lots of money and term to average players.

They won't draft high enough to get a superstar but also won't be able to attract top free agents so they'll be irrelevant for a long time.

The honeymoon is over and we won't see any polls ranking Canadian teams for a long time.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by stampsx2

They are still bringing in huge revenue to the league even if they don't sell out every game. They have a strong following which helps with tv revenue, jersey sales etc. if teams like columbus and florida are around i'm sure the jets will be just fine.

Agreed on the latter, disagreed on the former. According to Forbes, the Jets brought in $79 million in revenue last year. That tied them with Dallas for 17th overall. At their very best, the Jets are a lower-middle of the pack team for revenue.

That being said, while a soft re-sale market is a precursor to potential trouble, it is going to be a few years yet before Winnipeg stops selling out games. Much like Calgary and Edmonton, the tickets will get sold, even if people have more trouble re-selling those tickets for games they don't want.

[kootenayguy9]

I would be curious to know how many subscribers pay $10 a month in Sask and Manitoba for TSN jets. We are very fortunate we don't pay any extra to have all Flame games on Tv.

[Fire]

They will be talking about moving the franchise in 10 years unless they get a new arena from the government.