Jets Fans Rally to Bring NHL Team Back

April 4, 2011 07:30 AM in Sports • 9 Comments

Craig Beaulieu was only nine-years-old when the Winnipeg Jets folded. He's confident an NHL franchise will return to the city in the next couple of years. (TED GRANT / CHRISD.CA)

Dancing Gabe leant his support Saturday to a sit-in Winnipeg Jets rally at 4Play Sports Bar on Saturday, April 2, 2011. (TED GRANT / CHRISD.CA)

After about 15 years of the Winnipeg Jets packing it in, diehard fans tried again on Saturday afternoon to bring the team back.

Wearing their best Jets gear, about 250 people gathered at 4Play Sports Bar on Portage Avenue for a sit-in rally.

The afternoon included highlight reels of past Jets games, hockey trivia, and fans reminiscing over beers and snacks about their favourite players and moments from the Jets’ 24-year run.

The servers at 4Play Sports Bar were dressed for the occasion. (TED GRANT / CHRISD.CA)

Craig Beaulieu was one of those fans who shared in the enthusiasm of trying to bring an NHL team back to the city. Beaulieu was only nine-years-old when the Jets left for Phoenix and feels a team will be back in Winnipeg in the next two to three years. When the reality became clear a team could no longer be viable in the city, Beaulieu got his father to donate his entire allowance to help keep the team in Winnipeg.

Dancing Gabe was also among fans who turned out, bringing his best dance moves with him and jumping on stage to pump up the crowd.

While the future of the Phoenix Coyotes is becoming more clouded as the days go by, a group of potential Winnipeg owners with deep pockets are waiting in the wings.

CreativeNige

While the fan support is nice and the event sounds like it was fun, I’ve never understood what possible influence these “diehards” think they have over the NHL ever returning to Winnipeg.
Fedora

I grew up lovin’ & watchin’ the Winnipeg Jets.
“White Outs”, “Jump” by Van Halen, Hawerchuk, Selanne. It sure is fun to remember the good old times with the Jets….but what happens if they actually return again? Things aren’t what they used to be. Everyone’s memory seems to have glossed over the bad parts and made it seem magical & amazing. What happens to the MB Moose if the Jets come back? The Goldeyes? University Level?
A split of “fan” dollars, time and attention.
Then all of them will suffer. In a time of some recession, there isn’t exactly sellout crowds at every game/event as it is.
Why is it the Jets folded in Winnipeg anyways….oh yah, money trouble…not from lack of love from fans.
joe

It would be nice once in a while if all the nay sayers out there stopped thinking in their 1995 frame of mind. Yes ..the Jets left back then. But if they were to restart up here in Winnipeg today….the team would be better than ever financially and with an even bigger fan base.
GO JETS GO!

I think its beyond the point of “if we get a team”….it’s now “when we get a team…”
joe

and another thing….”what will happen to the moose if the JETS come back”? well….the same questioned was answered in Minnesota when the “wild” (formerly minnesota north stars) came back…..they had the mior league (minnesota moose) and they moved here to wpg. Same thing will happen when the Jets come back…moose will be sent to another AHL waiting city. Perhaps….Poenix? I could of sworn I read something about Mayor Scruggs mentioning an AHL team possibilty if this Coyotes thing doesnt work out.
Will Williamson

Joe, would you buy season tickets to the Jets (or whatever name they’ll use) if they came back to Winnipeg?
Will Williamson

I wonder how many of those fans at that rally have enough money to buy season tickets to an NHL team?
http://vintageteamstore.com Vintage Team Store

Diehard support means very little to this debate. It all boils down to the owners’ pockets and stability, the arena, and the NHL’s appetite to admit defeat and bring a team back to Winnipeg.
ReturnofNHLFan

Why do we always see this argument?

Will, can you afford to go to 529 Wellington every day to eat? I guess that means we shouldn’t have it in the city right?

Studies have been done, the strength of the dollar, the new building, the capable owners, the salary cap, the fan base.

It’s not being supported by public money, if you don’t want to go to games it’s your choice.

But the team’s coming back, you don’t have to go but if you’re not on board then get out of the way.
Will Williamson

If no one can afford to eat at 529 Wellington then it would go out of business, so I will ask you the same question I asked joe but he refused to answer: Would you buy season tickets to the Jets (or whatever name they’ll use) if they came back to Winnipeg?