Team name

[jetsorbust]

So, having read now all of the posts in the last couple of days in the "guess the team name" thread, I just can't help but think... opinions go either way about whether or not it should matter if the team is called Jets or not. But I think it is obvious that to some people, it is very important, whether people believe it "should be" or not.

Here's what I take from this:

1) The majority of people want the team to be called the Jets.
2) A minority (majority? I don't know... A large minority anyways...) of people would be very upset if the team is called anything but the Jets.
3) A minority of people would be less excited for the team if it has a name other than "Jets"
4) A small minority would spend less on the team - some people would just be less inclined to buy merchandise for a team name they don't like, and a few people at least claim they would not buy as many tickets.

Now, please everyone lets not get into namecalling and shut down the last thread open to discussion of a team name. But tell me, are any of the 4 points I listed above wrong? We all have our own opinions, but overall I think what I said above is true, and assuming it is why would TNSE try to justify any name other than Jets and alienate at least some part of their fan base right from the get go?

[Hobble]

I would prefer Winnipeg Jets, but have prepared myself for something else... Wouldn't mind Manitoba Moose, if they change the jersey and logo (somewhat)...

[jetsorbust]

I'd be fine with Manitoba Jets actually although it would take a while to get used to how it sounds... but to be honest, I just can't stand the name Manitoba Moose. But there's no name that would please everyone (except for Winnipeg Jets) so I don't really know what I would want it to be called if it's not Jets.

[WPGISNHL]

Nov 2, 2010 8:09:04 GMT -5 jetsorbust said:

.....but tell me, are any of the 4 points I listed above wrong?

Not necessarily wrong...but it would be important to add that the points are a reflection of a very small number of the biggest "hardcore Jets fans" posting on a "hardcore Jets forum" that one participates in only by signing up.

The fact is the points listed are derived from a very biased and very small group of people.....and (IMO) they will eventually be proven to be meaningless and insignificant in the big scheme of things.

Only time will show this opinion to be true or false.

[jetsorbust]

Nov 2, 2010 23:31:37 GMT -5 WPGISNHL said:

Nov 2, 2010 8:09:04 GMT -5 jetsorbust said:

.....but tell me, are any of the 4 points I listed above wrong?

Not necessarily wrong...but it would be important to add that the points are a reflection of a very small number of the biggest "hardcore Jets fans" posting on a "hardcore Jets forum" that one participates in only by signing up.

The fact is the points listed are derived from a very biased and very small group of people.....and (IMO) they will eventually be proven to be meaningless and insignificant in the big scheme of things.

Only time will show this opinion to be true or false.

I don't disagree - this is certainly a biased poll. But, I wouldn't say it's meaningless for two reasons:

1) Yes, the vast majority of people on this site are hardcore hockey fans, but hcokey fans are also TNSE's market, so I would say even though it's a biased poll that might not be a terrible thing, since it's biased towards TNSE's future customers.

2) More importantly (although subjectively), I would be hard pressed to believe that the results would be any different if you asked the whole population. Whenever I talk to people that have less interest in this topic (and even no interest) they are surprised to know that there is even consideration of a different name than Jets, let alone that it's likely.

[razorsedge]

The real question is, would there be anybody mad or upset if the team IS named the Jets? I doubt it.

[winnipegjets2011]

Gotta be Winnipeg Jets... no question. All the kids who donated 5 dollars from their piggy banks to keep the team back in 96 are in their 30's now and have more money to spend.

Nostalgia drives commerce, and team names with rich history entice nostalgia. New logo, new jersey, same name. Make the old jersey your alternate and you have a huge commercial success. People wont just buy byfuglien or bryzgalov jerseys but all the classic jets, selanne, khabby, steen, hull. No one will want to buy a Thomas Steen Winnipeg Polar Bear jersey.

[tim]

Winnipeg jets works for me only if it Phoenix. I have real mixed emotions on this, I would like the Jets back but Atlanta has so much potential.

[DKehler]

Jan 22, 2011 17:24:39 GMT -5 winnipegjets2011 said:

Gotta be Winnipeg Jets... no question. All the kids who donated 5 dollars from their piggy banks to keep the team back in 96 are in their 30's now and have more money to spend.

Nostalgia drives commerce, and team names with rich history entice nostalgia. New logo, new jersey, same name. Make the old jersey your alternate and you have a huge commercial success. People wont just buy byfuglien or bryzgalov jerseys but all the classic jets, selanne, khabby, steen, hull. No one will want to buy a Thomas Steen Winnipeg Polar Bear jersey.

Yes, history, nostalgia and brand loyalty/recognition is not created out of thin air. But the good news is we have all of that just waiting for us to be reclaimed. Why anybody would think it would be a good idea not to do so is far beyond my comprehension.

[neufeld]

I can't help but think it won't be the Jets because of all of the money that could be made from marketing new jerseys, shirts, etc. I don't think TN would want an arena full of old mothballed jerseys.

[DKehler]

Jan 22, 2011 22:22:33 GMT -5 neufeld said:

I can't help but think it won't be the Jets because of all of the money that could be made from marketing new jerseys, shirts, etc. I don't think TN would want an arena full of old mothballed jerseys.

You are a little late to the party with that idea. Why couldn't the same thing be achieved with a new jersey/logo, but retaining the name?

[razorsedge]

Jan 23, 2011 0:03:57 GMT -5 DKehler said:

Jan 22, 2011 22:22:33 GMT -5 neufeld said:

I can't help but think it won't be the Jets because of all of the money that could be made from marketing new jerseys, shirts, etc. I don't think TN would want an arena full of old mothballed jerseys.

You are a little late to the party with that idea. Why couldn't the same thing be achieved with a new jersey/logo, but retaining the name?

Because there would still be people choosing to recycle there jets gear to save a buck. Some poster said he hopes the team is named the moose because him and his wife would already be set for gear. That is exactly what the nhl and chipman would want to avoid.

[DKehler]

Jan 23, 2011 0:24:30 GMT -5 razorsedge said:

Jan 23, 2011 0:03:57 GMT -5 DKehler said:

You are a little late to the party with that idea. Why couldn't the same thing be achieved with a new jersey/logo, but retaining the name?

Because there would still be people choosing to recycle there jets gear to save a buck. Some poster said he hopes the team is named the moose because him and his wife would already be set for gear. That is exactly what the nhl and chipman would want to avoid.

I highly doubt that people so cheap as to not want to buy the new jerseys would:

a) be able to afford to go to the games in the first place; and
b) be buying new jerseys anyway if the name is changed.

Either way, the impact on the bottom line is probably negligible at best. There's a much higher likelihood, in my opinion, of losing out on potential revenue from the brand loyalty/recognition that going with the old name would achieve.

[jetsorbust]

Feb 8, 2011 10:33:34 GMT -5 No Longer Cautious! said:

Ticket sales are part of the revenue a team gets. Another huge one is merchandise sales. I am a cheap Winnipegger too so what I am about to say is about myself as well. IF they were the Jets, then TNSE would miss a HUGE revenue opportunity for merchandise that we would all buy. If that is what the business decision is to make a razor thin income idea work, I am in FULL support of TNSE. Their money, their risk. Do what they feel is right to allow this thing to succeed in both the short and long term.

We love to whine and complain with other people's money. Take what you can get and be thankful for it.

IMO, many people that are too cheap to buy a jersey are too cheap to buy a jersey, period.

If you go to an NHL game in Winnipeg wearing an old Jets jersey, people are going to know who you are cheering for regardless of what they name the team. So I can't see it making a big difference versus calling the team say the Manitoba Jets or something to that effect (or just Winnipeg Jets) and having an all-new logo, new colours, etc.

People are going to buy new merchandise no matter what the team is called. Heck, people are still buying Jets gear now so naming the team anything else means they'll have to compete with Jets gear being sold.

To me, it does more harm than good to name a team anything other than Jets, especially when you factor in the hard-to-measure effects of pissing off part of your fan base by going directly against what they want.

[jetsorbust]

Jan 23, 2011 0:24:30 GMT -5 razorsedge said:

Jan 23, 2011 0:03:57 GMT -5 DKehler said:

You are a little late to the party with that idea. Why couldn't the same thing be achieved with a new jersey/logo, but retaining the name?

Because there would still be people choosing to recycle there jets gear to save a buck. Some poster said he hopes the team is named the moose because him and his wife would already be set for gear. That is exactly what the nhl and chipman would want to avoid.

As Kehler and I have alluded to above, think about it:

If someone is really too cheap to buy a new Jets jersey if the team came back called the Jets but with an all-new logo, colours, etc then do you not think that person would just wear either a Jets jersey or a Moose jersey even if the team is called the Manitoba Mustangs (for example)?

Not to mention, if TNSE is making all of their big business decisions in an attempt to cater towards people that are cheap and looking to spend as little as possible... well then they are in big trouble.

Why not cater to the die-hard fans that already own hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of Jets gear, and are just itching for an excuse to buy a ton of new stuff?

God knows I could use a fifth Jets jersey

[the stig]

When I think of Manitoba I think of;
-polar bears
-trees
-ice
-the cold
-the prairies
-Louise Riel
-the voyaguers
-lakes
-the 1920 gold medal winning team
-our military history
-buffalo

I think any team name chosen needs to represent Manitoba for what it is and what it could be in the future. We need to look forward.

possible names
-the Manitoba Rifles (borrowed from the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, I do believe a football team already has this name)
-the Manitoba Victorias (already suggested)
-the Manitoba Rebellion (already suggested)
-the Manitoba Spirit
-the Manitoba Falcons (already suggested)
-the Winnipeg Wolverines (I like this one)

Just brain storming (oh wait... the Manitoba Storm)

[DrGui]

How about The Winnipeg Phoenix?

You know .. The bird that rises from the ashes.

Or would that be in poor taste??

[the stig]

What about just calling the team "manitoba", that's it, no other name just "manitoba"

[wt]

I honestly think new team would be giving up millions in promotion and marketing by going with any name other than "Winnipeg Jets". Just from the prospect of selling the heritage aspect of the team is worth millions. A Dale Hawerchuck night or a Teemu Selanne night would generate massive marketing opportunities, from jerseys to posters, t-shirts, DVDs, ect ect.
If the team was named something else, such as the "Manitoba Turkey Basters", all those opportunities would be lost forever. The Jets name comes with a huge amounts of good will and local passion. The name brings with it memories of excitement and community pride, 35,000 people rallying at the Forks and White Outs. Any other name would start from scratch and would have to build its own image.
Lastly I would absolutely want the team name to include "Winnipeg" as the host location. It represents the city's enduring passion for the game and its value to the city. While the whole region would be encouraged to be fans of our new team, it still needs to recognized Winnipeg as its home. If the team were to be called the "Manitoba ..... whatever", I am not sure I would feel as strongly linked to the team.

[jetsorbust]

Feb 9, 2011 1:23:42 GMT -5 wt said:

I honestly think new team would be giving up millions in promotion and marketing by going with any name other than "Winnipeg Jets". Just from the prospect of selling the heritage aspect of the team is worth millions. A Dale Hawerchuck night or a Teemu Selanne night would generate massive marketing opportunities, from jerseys to posters, t-shirts, DVDs, ect ect.
If the team was named something else, such as the "Manitoba Turkey Basters", all those opportunities would be lost forever. The Jets name comes with a huge amounts of good will and local passion. The name brings with it memories of excitement and community pride, 35,000 people rallying at the Forks and White Outs. Any other name would start from scratch and would have to build its own image.
Lastly I would absolutely want the team name to include "Winnipeg" as the host location. It represents the city's enduring passion for the game and its value to the city. While the whole region would be encouraged to be fans of our new team, it still needs to recognized Winnipeg as its home. If the team were to be called the "Manitoba ..... whatever", I am not sure I would feel as strongly linked to the team.

See for me, to be honest, whether it's called Winnipeg or Manitoba doesn't make as much difference as including the "Jets" in the name.

I'm sure there's people out there with every different preference.

But what I absolutely agree with, and I think most people would have a tough time arguing, is that the name Winnipeg Jets simply is an established brand with a ton of value in so many ways.

And there are definately a lot of people that will be "let down" if the name isn't Jets - how this will actually effect revenues is pretty hard to measure, but who would be pissed off if it WAS called the Jets?

That to me is the overriding issue. Either way I just can't wait to plop my 5 grand down for a season ticket and hope I get a vote!