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Post by JET525 on Aug 24, 2010 14:08:10 GMT -5
MTS IcePlex: Final Piece Of The Puzzle
Took a VIP tour of the new MTS IcePlex last week. Operations Manager Dean Court took me through an in-depth walk through of the facility that has quietly slipped onto the Winnipeg landscape, barely, on the western edge of town. Not surprisingly it is on Chipman family land just north of Pointe West Auto Park and just south of Assiniboia Downs.
It is shaping up to the be the final peice of the puzzle to succesfully house an NHL franchise here in Winnipeg. As I've mentioned before, don't get too comfy with "Winnipeg" or "Jets" as a new team name. As much as I feel it needs to be, there will be a strong case made to start fresh, with both names.
The four-sheet ice palace is state-of-the-art with no corners cut. Some key features include: •All four rinks feature heated seating for spectators and can be accessed and viewed from the 2-storey main central concourse
•One 1500 seat rink, three 250 seat rinks
•2500 sq ft training facility (that included Jonathon Toews having a workout as I walked through)
•Gigantic fully licensed sports bar and restaurant with 8-foot viewing glass of two of the rinks
•Pro style dressing rooms for "a pro team" (currently the Moose) as well as the Winnipeg Blues with extra wide hallways throughout
•Fully loaded pro shop with NHL calibre skate sharpening machines
•Multitude of hockey school programs
•Pam Am Sports facility leased within
•True North offices
•Hockey Canada offices
•Three Zambonis with internal dumping facility
•Future goaltending school facility to come including extra ice surface to be built
•Top notch concessions
•Best ice in the city IcePlex takes a huge burden off of MTS Centre ice conditions as it has enough to combat with concerts and other non-hockey events. Now all practices can take place at IcePlex and leave MTS Centre ice to harden for game nights. This is what any good pro team has in their city. And now we have one too, and just 5-10 minutes from the new airport, and 30 seconds from The Oaks, the new swanky (and likely hot spot for players' homes). This is a brilliant concept. Practice and home in less than a minute or hop on the team plane in 7 minutes.
There is no doubt this is the final touch of the grand plan. This along with land acquisition around MTS Centre makes the True North movement nearly complete. Only an actual NHL franchise is left to go.
IcePlex is a true hockey mecca at all levels. From 9-year olds to our future pro team, this facility will be the hub of everything that is needed and more. It is a must-see so be sure to check it out when it opens in mid-September. Thanks for the tour Dean! ______ Sounds like it's coming along great, the Moose will be living in luxury for the next season, and the Jets (?) every season after that. Thanks for the update Darren.
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Post by JET525 on Aug 24, 2010 14:12:54 GMT -5
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Post by fidelastro on Aug 24, 2010 14:38:00 GMT -5
see more figures >> Dec-10-2007 @ 10,719 Dec-10-2007 @ 11,984 Dec-13-2007 @ 12,064 Dec-13-2007 @ 9,581 Dec-13-2007 @ 12,456 Suspended temporarily due to inflated figures. Tickets distributed does NOT equal attendence in many arenas. More campaign T-Shirts are being produced and will be in stock shortly. Be sure to grab yours soon! It looks like you accidentally copied some additional stuff from the main page that wasn't part of the article. I know this has been discussed over and over and over, but I really think it will be a big disappointment to a lot of people if the new team becomes the "Manitoba _____." Obviously we'll all be happy to see a team, regardless of the name, but I think at the very least there should be some kind of public consultation on the name. The response would be overwhelmingly in favour of "Jets."
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Post by JET525 on Aug 24, 2010 14:58:20 GMT -5
see more figures >> Dec-10-2007 @ 10,719 Dec-10-2007 @ 11,984 Dec-13-2007 @ 12,064 Dec-13-2007 @ 9,581 Dec-13-2007 @ 12,456 Suspended temporarily due to inflated figures. Tickets distributed does NOT equal attendence in many arenas. More campaign T-Shirts are being produced and will be in stock shortly. Be sure to grab yours soon! It looks like you accidentally copied some additional stuff from the main page that wasn't part of the article. Haha, It appears you're correct. Thanks, fixed.
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paulb
Prime Member
Posts: 81
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Post by paulb on Aug 24, 2010 15:33:31 GMT -5
I know this has been discussed over and over and over, but I really think it will be a big disappointment to a lot of people if the new team becomes the "Manitoba _____." Obviously we'll all be happy to see a team, regardless of the name, but I think at the very least there should be some kind of public consultation on the name. The response would be overwhelmingly in favour of "Jets."
Anyone in Winnipeg wants to see the name remain Winnipeg Jets and so do I. I had a friend in the media explain the situation to me which made me understand why they may want to use "Manitoba" instead of Winnipeg.
One of the main reasons why a hotel is being built and attached to the MTS center is to accomodate people driving in from surrounding areas. They also feel that they will be able to attract anywhere from 1200 - 2000 people a game from all the surrounding areas, but it would be harder for those people to support a team they feel doesn't belong to them. Hence the consideration of using Manitoba. Now you have a team that can be marketed to the entire province and everyone feels the team belongs to them.
That is the short version I was told. I am a HUGE fan of the Winnipeg Jets name and would be just as disappointed as the next die hard fan, but it sounds like it is coming down to a business and branding decision in order to market and attract the largest fan base as possible in the entire province and not relying on just the city of Winnipeg to fill the building.
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Post by 8inwinnipeg on Aug 24, 2010 15:53:39 GMT -5
Seems logical to me that they would simply port the Manitoba Moose into the NHL. Think about it....Chipman and company have spend a long time building this brand. Not to mention the fact that it already has "Manitoba" in the name. Not only that but all the signage, colors etc is already in tact.
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Post by shtinky on Aug 24, 2010 16:11:52 GMT -5
Looks OK on the inside, but it is butt-ugly from the outside...couldn't they have made it at least somewhat attractive as seen from the Perimeter? It looks like some farmer's shed for his combine.
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Post by bruinsfan on Aug 24, 2010 16:38:48 GMT -5
I have no doubt an NHL team is coming now. This is a great practice facility for the team with multiple rinks to allow other teams to practice in.
True north is pouring alot of money around winnipeg. They will get a team
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Post by LT on Aug 24, 2010 16:51:49 GMT -5
The facility is fantastic for a practice facility. We all really need to let the name thing go. Most of us want the obvious but it is what it is.
I personally would have a hard time buying a Moose jersey but I guess I may come around. It does make sense considering the branding, signage and colour coding they have with the Moose so that would be the simplist thing to do buy porting the name to the NHL. I still think though it makes more sense if you start fresh, you do exactly that.
I'm still bitter that Phoenix gets to piss around for another wasted year but at this point I don't care. Infact I hope COG and the NHL lose a ton of money on this fiasco. My perfect world sees COG lose money and be totally embarrassed and Bettman losing his job for losing the owners more money. The we have a team and Bettman is gone...wishful thinking I know.
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Post by davebabych on Aug 24, 2010 17:12:57 GMT -5
I don't think the new team will be called the Moose. A majority of people in Manitoba own Jets and Moose gear already. If a new NHL team wants to maximize their revenue, then they'll probably create a new team name and logo in order to make everyone buy new merchandise. I want the Jets to return, but I'll take any name if it means an NHL team plays out of the MTS Centre.
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Post by The Unknown Poster on Aug 24, 2010 17:16:56 GMT -5
Manitoba Jets then...a compromise. Everyone will ALWAYS chant Go Jets Go. Why fight it?
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paulb
Prime Member
Posts: 81
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Post by paulb on Aug 24, 2010 17:19:58 GMT -5
Manitoba Jets makes the most sense if we have to have a name change. In the end i will gladly support any name they want as long as we get an NHL team!!!
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Post by Hobble on Aug 24, 2010 17:34:45 GMT -5
I know this has been discussed over and over and over, but I really think it will be a big disappointment to a lot of people if the new team becomes the "Manitoba _____." Obviously we'll all be happy to see a team, regardless of the name, but I think at the very least there should be some kind of public consultation on the name. The response would be overwhelmingly in favour of "Jets." Anyone in Winnipeg wants to see the name remain Winnipeg Jets and so do I. I had a friend in the media explain the situation to me which made me understand why they may want to use "Manitoba" instead of Winnipeg. One of the main reasons why a hotel is being built and attached to the MTS center is to accomodate people driving in from surrounding areas. They also feel that they will be able to attract anywhere from 1200 - 2000 people a game from all the surrounding areas, but it would be harder for those people to support a team they feel doesn't belong to them. Hence the consideration of using Manitoba. Now you have a team that can be marketed to the entire province and everyone feels the team belongs to them. That is the short version I was told. I am a HUGE fan of the Winnipeg Jets name and would be just as disappointed as the next die hard fan, but it sounds like it is coming down to a business and branding decision in order to market and attract the largest fan base as possible in the entire province and not relying on just the city of Winnipeg to fill the building. I don't quite understand the logic behind that. I am a Canucks fan, and do not live in Vancouver. I am sure there are Montreal Alouette fans throughout Quebec, yet they are not petitioning to change the name to the Quebecois Alouettes. You are a fan of the franchise, the players and the logo. If Joe Shmoe doesn't want to drive from Portage/Gimli/Selkirk/etc to go see a Winnipeg Jets game because they don't feel they are 'represented', then they can't be much of a hockey fan... Weren't the Jets a big hit in Europe when they were over there playing games? And I am sure they garnered a few fans in the Dakotas throughout their tenure in the NHL... I understand the business side of it, but it seems quite redundant.
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Post by bettmanblows on Aug 24, 2010 19:26:33 GMT -5
The Manitoba/Winnipeg name is irrelevant. I grew up in the Pembina Valley a couple of hours southwest of Winnipeg. Do you think I didnt feel like the Jets were my team because they were called the Winnipeg Jets instead of Manitoba Jets?...... never crossed my mind. Does anyone outside of the perimeter care less about the Bombers because they are called the "Winnipeg" Blue Bombers...absolutely not. Does someone in Churchill care about the Moose because they are called the Manitoba Moose...Doubt it.
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Post by Puckschmuck on Aug 24, 2010 20:00:47 GMT -5
I know this has been discussed over and over and over, but I really think it will be a big disappointment to a lot of people if the new team becomes the "Manitoba _____." Obviously we'll all be happy to see a team, regardless of the name, but I think at the very least there should be some kind of public consultation on the name. The response would be overwhelmingly in favour of "Jets." Anyone in Winnipeg wants to see the name remain Winnipeg Jets and so do I. I had a friend in the media explain the situation to me which made me understand why they may want to use "Manitoba" instead of Winnipeg. One of the main reasons why a hotel is being built and attached to the MTS center is to accomodate people driving in from surrounding areas. They also feel that they will be able to attract anywhere from 1200 - 2000 people a game from all the surrounding areas, but it would be harder for those people to support a team they feel doesn't belong to them. Hence the consideration of using Manitoba. Now you have a team that can be marketed to the entire province and everyone feels the team belongs to them. That is the short version I was told. I am a HUGE fan of the Winnipeg Jets name and would be just as disappointed as the next die hard fan, but it sounds like it is coming down to a business and branding decision in order to market and attract the largest fan base as possible in the entire province and not relying on just the city of Winnipeg to fill the building. I don't quite understand the logic behind that. I am a Canucks fan, and do not live in Vancouver. I am sure there are Montreal Alouette fans throughout Quebec, yet they are not petitioning to change the name to the Quebecois Alouettes. You are a fan of the franchise, the players and the logo. If Joe Shmoe doesn't want to drive from Portage/Gimli/Selkirk/etc to go see a Winnipeg Jets game because they don't feel they are 'represented', then they can't be much of a hockey fan... Weren't the Jets a big hit in Europe when they were over there playing games? And I am sure they garnered a few fans in the Dakotas throughout their tenure in the NHL... I understand the business side of it, but it seems quite redundant. This!!!!
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Post by Puckschmuck on Aug 24, 2010 20:01:17 GMT -5
The Manitoba/Winnipeg name is irrelevant. I grew up in the Pembina Valley a couple of hours southwest of Winnipeg. Do you think I didnt feel like the Jets were my team because they were called the Winnipeg Jets instead of Manitoba Jets?...... never crossed my mind. Does anyone outside of the perimeter care less about the Bombers because they are called the "Winnipeg" Blue Bombers...absolutely not. Does someone in Churchill care about the Moose because they are called the Manitoba Moose...Doubt it. And this!!!!!!!!!!!!! Long live the WINNIPEG __________!
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Post by fidelastro on Aug 25, 2010 8:21:15 GMT -5
Everyone will ALWAYS chant Go Jets Go. Why fight it? People chanted "Go Jets Go" at early Moose games. I was at the MTS Centre's opening night (still have the commemorative ticket!) and some guys behind me kept trying to get a "Go Jets Go" chant started. The Moose had already been in town for a season or two at that point. I fully understand the desire to 'start fresh,' and I agree that no matter what the team is called, it will be amazing to have the NHL back in Winnipeg.... but it really doesn't make sense to go against the overwhelming popular opinion. Yeah, people will come out in droves to buy jerseys, hats, whatever of the "Manitoba Whatevers," but people are STILL buying Jets gear by the truckload. If the Jets come back as the Jets, that's just going to increase considerably.
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Post by DowntownBooster on Aug 25, 2010 12:15:45 GMT -5
I don't quite understand the logic behind that. I am a Canucks fan, and do not live in Vancouver. I am sure there are Montreal Alouette fans throughout Quebec, yet they are not petitioning to change the name to the Quebecois Alouettes. You are a fan of the franchise, the players and the logo. If Joe Shmoe doesn't want to drive from Portage/Gimli/Selkirk/etc to go see a Winnipeg Jets game because they don't feel they are 'represented', then they can't be much of a hockey fan... Weren't the Jets a big hit in Europe when they were over there playing games? And I am sure they garnered a few fans in the Dakotas throughout their tenure in the NHL... I understand the business side of it, but it seems quite redundant. Good post Hobble. Since the name of the team doesn't matter to some as long as we have the NHL, then it should definitely be "Winnipeg Jets" since there are many who care a great deal. A team name is important to fans who really care(d) about a team --- just look at Cleveland when they lost their NFL team, they made sure that they would be the "Browns" when they got a team back. As far a merchandise goes, people continue to buy the jerseys of the Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, etc without them having to change their names. People will buy what they want to buy. If people are already buying Jets jerseys even though we don't have a team yet, just think what the sales will be like when we do have them back! The Jets name is also great for chanting "Go Jets Go" as it is a one syllable name which sounds way better than a 2 or 3 syllable name.
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Post by jaybird74 on Aug 25, 2010 13:14:55 GMT -5
i posted this sugestion on another page and not many people responded to it. i love the winnipeg jets name but if it has to change then what about calling the team the Winnipeg or Manitoba Golden Jets? it still has the history of the team and its also new. its related to bobby hull and even the golden boy on top of the ledge. we could get new or slightly changed colours maybe dark blue, gold, and dark red........ anyways, what do you think?
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