First posted: Tuesday, May 31, 2011 11:27:29 CDT PM
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“If we didn’t get this done today, there was a good chance it wasn’t getting done. We were really out of time.”
— NHL commissioner Gary Bettman
“This is a very significant investment for us. We’re hoping the community is going to invest alongside us.”
— Owner Mark Chipman
“There’s a heartfelt sense of community in Winnipeg and in Manitoba. I’ve always felt inspired by the leadership, by the ambitions, and there’s been more than a tinge of regret in me, as with all other Winnipeggers and Manitobans, that the Jets left.”
— True North partner David Thomson
“People make up stuff all the time. I love reading what I’m supposedly thinking when I’ve never thought it.”
— Gary Bettman on his reputation as being anti-Canadian.
“This is the best moment I’ve lived through so far. Elation right now, elation.”
— Gimli resident Cassidy Dankochik
“It’s really exciting. It’s really good for the city right now and really good for me. It’s one of the greatest days of my life.”
— Winnipegger Lindsay Mazurkiewich
“The chances of that occuring are about as high as seeing the Queen in the rafters. That’s not in the plans.”
— Mark Chipman on whether we’ll hear Van Halen’s “Jump” at opening night.
“All of those sightings, I assure you, were not accurate. This is my first time in the building.”
— Gary Bettman on all those rumours he’d been in Winnipeg.
“We haven’t ruled out any name.”
— Mark Chipman
jester
Winnipeg Comebacks? Winnipeg Red Bombers? Winnipeg Thrashers?
Winnipeg Thrashers could work, seeing Atlanta Flames moved to Calgary and were still called the Flames. Winnipeg Thrashers could work, wasn't that the place the dude got his head cut off on a Greyhound? Plus wasn't one of the most dangerous Canadian cities a few years back?
So Winnipeg please call your team the Thrashers :)
GGM
Huge news for them and they've had a fan base that has been campaigning for a team almost since the Jets left. Could only imagine the excitement as if this was my city I'd be going nuts.
Hopefully they can scoop up some more failing southern States teams and putem north of the border. Would be interesting if we plugged another one into southern Ontario (unlikely due to the people trying to bring one here and MLSE's power) and back into Quebec City. Some people try to argue these markets aren't as strong as they need to be but one thing is for sure they're still tons stronger than the current cities some teams are located in (ie. Nashville, Phoenix...).
ChemEnhanced
quote:
Originally posted by GGM
Huge news for them and they've had a fan base that has been campaigning for a team almost since the Jets left. Could only imagine the excitement as if this was my city I'd be going nuts.
Hopefully they can scoop up some more failing southern States teams and putem north of the border. Would be interesting if we plugged another one into southern Ontario (unlikely due to the people trying to bring one here and MLSE's power) and back into Quebec City. Some people try to argue these markets aren't as strong as they need to be but one thing is for sure they're still tons stronger than the current cities some teams are located in (ie. Nashville, Phoenix...).
The reality is the only way teams come to canada is if every last possible opportunity in the states has been looked at and has failed. I'm sure deep down inside Gary Bettman died a little because he had no other choice but to put a team back in Winnipeg. I'm sure he would have preferred putting the Thrashers in another top 20 US TV Market then Winnipeg.
Bettman put teams in cities like Phoenix and Nashville for one reason and one reason only....US TV Deal. He thought he could get these great TV Deals by having teams in all the major US Television Markets and the wealth from those deals would offset the fact these teams will not make money. The problem is the big NFL like TV Deals never came and now these owners want out because they are loosing so much money and not getting what they thought they would in TV contract money. Now that the teams are there Bettman can't let these teams fold because if they fold the TV Contract will fold as well.
Orko
This is the first good thing I have heard ever said about Winnipeg. People who have moved from that city really do not like it.
Good luck!
GGM
quote:
Originally posted by ChemEnhanced
That Bettman tool is a topic worthy of a whole other thread. Totally agree this is a last resort for him and he will be crying for each of these American teams that fold. He really lets his ego get in the way of making proper business decisions from what I've seen. If he had done 10% of what he's done for Phoenix when the Jets or Nordiques were being pushed for a move they would've stayed without a doubt.
Jayx1
quote:
Originally posted by GGM
That Bettman tool is a topic worthy of a whole other thread. Totally agree this is a last resort for him and he will be crying for each of these American teams that fold. He really lets his ego get in the way of making proper business decisions from what I've seen. If he had done 10% of what he's done for Phoenix when the Jets or Nordiques were being pushed for a move they would've stayed without a doubt.
Bettman not only has napoleon syndrome, he actually looks like him too!
Spin Laden
quote:
Originally posted by jester
Winnipeg Comebacks? Winnipeg Red Bombers? Winnipeg Thrashers?
Winnipeg Thrashers could work, seeing Atlanta Flames moved to Calgary and were still called the Flames. Winnipeg Thrashers could work, wasn't that the place the dude got his head cut off on a Greyhound? Plus wasn't one of the most dangerous Canadian cities a few years back?
So Winnipeg please call your team the Thrashers :)
lol
Rodrico
quote:
Originally posted by GGM
Huge news for them and they've had a fan base that has been campaigning for a team almost since the Jets left. Could only imagine the excitement as if this was my city I'd be going nuts.
Hopefully they can scoop up some more failing southern States teams and putem north of the border. Would be interesting if we plugged another one into southern Ontario (unlikely due to the people trying to bring one here and MLSE's power) and back into Quebec City. Some people try to argue these markets aren't as strong as they need to be but one thing is for sure they're still tons stronger than the current cities some teams are located in (ie. Nashville, Phoenix...).
Umm I was under the impression that Nashville was one of the few americans cities that are actually improving and doing much better then the rest of the bad teams in the NHL this year...ala phoenix, atlanta, columbus.
TheVrk
obv nothing but good news to see Winnipeg get their team back!
I'm hoping they're the Jets again tbh:toocool:
Bettman?? He HATES this...so much so he HAD TO give a few low blows during the press conference
Djsketchbag
Super Exited, can't go wrong with another Canadian Team !
GGM
quote:
Originally posted by Rodrico
Umm I was under the impression that Nashville was one of the few americans cities that are actually improving and doing much better then the rest of the bad teams in the NHL this year...ala phoenix, atlanta, columbus.
IMO key words are "this year". Long term wise I don't think it's sustainable in pretty much all those southern American cities for one reason, lack of rinks due to weather. If your fans aren't raised with hockey around them, never played it, likely can't even skate etc. then you're going to have trouble sustaining income through the rebuilding stages almost every team hits. If you look at Dallas they were once upon a time quite the successful and financially viable team. Now that their performance is down they're falling apart. Same thing with Carolina not so long ago winning the cup and now are struggling.
If Bettman was actually smart and wanted his ego to survive he'd resign now and let a new guy clean up the mess he's made with all these teams. You're going to see a lot more of these Thrashers type deals go through in the next 10 years if you ask me.
