AHL Manitoba Moose sell nearly 3,000 season tickets in less than week

[Jets4Life]

It's hard to believe, but the AHL Moose have sold 3,000 tickets in less than one week. There is a legitimate chance that the Jets AHL team can open up the upper deck, if tickets continue to sell at this pace.

The AHL Moose relocated from St,John's, Newfoundland, and will play out of th same arena as the NHL Winnipeg Jets.

[Vulcan]

I thought the move to Winnipeg was just a stop gap until the new arena in Thunder Bay is built but it looks like that building is dead in the water.

http://www.netnewsledger.com/2015/03...tax-for-arena/

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I thought the move to Winnipeg was just a stop gap until the new arena in Thunder Bay is built but it looks like that building is dead in the water.

http://www.netnewsledger.com/2015/03...tax-for-arena/

Yup. True North is planning on keeping the Moose in Winnipeg, for as long as they are profitable. Hard to believe a city of 700,000 people can support two professional hockey teams.

[Ozy_Flame]

Not hard at all. That city is starved for professional hockey still, and season tickets to a team that is on the upswing in a building that is somewhat undersized for their demand of NHL hockey suggests to me that it's a good move.

Actually, it's a model I hope Calgary can one day emulate. I would be among the first to sign up for season tickets for the baby Flames if they were based in Calgary. And one only has to look to the attendance they got when they played a regular season game in Calgary two seasons ago against Oklahoma. I think it can be done.

[Finger Cookin]

Hooray for Winnipeg! The fans there are the greatest people in recorded history. Their every move is a touching story that brings tears to my eyes.

[Racki]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I thought the move to Winnipeg was just a stop gap until the new arena in Thunder Bay is built but it looks like that building is dead in the water.

http://www.netnewsledger.com/2015/03...tax-for-arena/

So unfortunate. I'm from that area and Tbay sure could have used a little shot in the arm. That city is a shadow of its former self.

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by iggysback05

So unfortunate. I'm from that area and Tbay sure could have used a little shot in the arm. That city is a shadow of its former self.

T-Bay has not grown in 25 years. It's too bad. I was in the Port Arthur section of the city and I really enjoyed my time there.

[Da_Chief]

Yaaaay?

[Boreal]

After watching numerous AHL games this year, the quality of hockey played by "men" is immediately and noticeably better than junior hockey played by "teenagers". It's basically human physiology, but I think it is a matter of time before Saskatoon and/or Regina gets an AHL team.

Junior hockey has a long history in big cities, so it will be tough to leave, and probably not without a fight. Although substantial portions of salaries are covered by NHL teams, the challenge is competing with with junior hockey where salaries are next to nothing.

I just find it absurd that professional basketball has been attempted numerous times in Saskatchewan, but never professional hockey.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Not hard at all. That city is starved for professional hockey still, and season tickets to a team that is on the upswing in a building that is somewhat undersized for their demand of NHL hockey suggests to me that it's a good move.

Actually, it's a model I hope Calgary can one day emulate. I would be among the first to sign up for season tickets for the baby Flames if they were based in Calgary. And one only has to look to the attendance they got when they played a regular season game in Calgary two seasons ago against Oklahoma. I think it can be done.

Calgary has emulated that model for 20 years. And there is no way I would ever trade the Hitmen for an AHL team.

Speaking of the Hitmen, the impressive spillover effect Winnipeg is seeing with the Moose happened here in 2004. The excitement and buzz generated by the Flames that year resulted in a sharp increase in Hitmen attendance late in 2003-04 as well. The lockout then cemented that support for the junior team.

Winnipeg, likewise, is just excited about everything to do with hockey right now. Definitely a good start for the AHL team.

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by nobles_point

After watching numerous AHL games this year, the quality of hockey played by "men" is immediately and noticeably better than junior hockey played by "teenagers". It's basically human physiology, but I think it is a matter of time before Saskatoon and/or Regina gets an AHL team.

Junior hockey has a long history in big cities, so it will be tough to leave, and probably not without a fight. Although substantial portions of salaries are covered by NHL teams, the challenge is competing with with junior hockey where salaries are next to nothing.

I just find it absurd that professional basketball has been attempted numerous times in Saskatchewan, but never professional hockey.

Appearantly the Jets, and the Edmonton Oilers were both looking to place their respective AHL teams in Saskatoon. Unfortunately, the lease agreement with the arena proclaims that the Saskatoon Blades are the sole tenant, and that can only be broken, if an NHL team were to be moved to the area.

There was a "handshake" agreement between the AHL and the WHL years ago, that prevented each league from invading the other leagues territory. However, the AHL broke that agreement by placing a team in the BC Lower mainland (Abbotsford Heat), when the WHL had granted an expansion team to Chiliwack.

[Muta]

I'd rather go watch an AHL team in the 'Dome than the Hitmen, and I like the WHL product.

[Boreal]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

Appearantly the Jets, and the Edmonton Oilers were both looking to place their respective AHL teams in Saskatoon. Unfortunately, the lease agreement with the arena proclaims that the Saskatoon Blades are the sole tenant, and that can only be broken, if an NHL team were to be moved to the area.

There was a "handshake" agreement between the AHL and the WHL years ago, that prevented each league from invading the other leagues territory. However, the AHL broke that agreement by placing a team in the BC Lower mainland (Abbotsford Heat), when the WHL had granted an expansion team to Chiliwack.

I just moved to Toronto and the Marlies and the 3 CIS teams here are by far the best deal on hockey. It's interesting out west, senior hockey does really great in communities where there is no junior team, but struggles otherwise despite being a far superior level of hockey being played by men.

As the current entertainment landscape evolves I think junior hockey in its current state faces a reassessment in a lot of areas. A lot of what you mentioned fits in line with the establishment of teams in their communities being a known commodity to the market in Canada. The AHL is an unknown commodity with fewer regional rivals. However, junior hockey is barely comparable to junior football if the AHL is comparable to the CFL. AHL is great entertainment that is faster, stronger, and quicker than junior hockey featuring players that are more physically mature with higher levels of athleticism.

[btimbit]

I'd register for season tickets immediately if the Flames had the AHL team here

[MrMastodonFarm]

It would be fun to see potential Flames play right here in Calgary but the AHL isn't half as good as Canadian Junior hockey.

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

It would be fun to see potential Flames play right here in Calgary but the AHL isn't half as good as Canadian Junior hockey.

The skill level is better. I like Junior hockey, but from what I understand, the AHL would not be allowed in the Saddledome due to a WHL team already occupying the building. Put the AHL Flames in Grande Prairie

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

The skill level is better. I like Junior hockey, but from what I understand, the AHL would not be allowed in the Saddledome due to a WHL team already occupying the building.

Skill level might be higher, the actual games are much better in junior however.

[sureLoss]

As a pure fan, I would take a WHL team over an AHL team just solely on the fact that I wouldn't have to deal with the constant call ups of the team's best players.

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

As a pure fan, I would take a WHL team over an AHL team just solely on the fact that I wouldn't have to deal with the constant call ups of the team's best players.

That is precisely why I was never really into the original Manitoba Moose, when their parent club was the NHL Vancouver Canucks. However, now that the AHL Moose and NHL Jets are playing in the same arena, I will definitely go to some games, to see the prospects develop.

[WilliPlett]

Can't see Calgary ever getting an AHL team. Their big problem in Abbotsford were travel restrictions and time zones. Without any other team close in the west, the travel again would be an issue with the team and more travel time means a lot less practice time.