Post by Joey on Jan 11, 2005 1:30:48 GMT -5
Welcome to Winnipeg
ROBERT TYCHKOWSKI, EDMONTON SUN (Jan.9th/2005)
WINNIPEG -- Miserable about a lost NHL season? Still mourning the death of Triple A baseball? Winnipeg will be sending you a condolence card any day now. Right after they send you the card reading: "Welcome to our world, suckers.''
In case you hadn't noticed, the last few months have given Edmontonians a frightening glimpse into what our small market neighbours have been living for nearly a decade.
Thanks to the NHL lockout and the Eskimos selling the Trappers, Edmonton IS Winnipeg.
Lukewarm acceptance for an AHL team that replaced the NHL. Northern League baseball instead of triple A. And the good old Canadian Football League.
Their Big 3 is our Big 3.
Edmonton's situation is only temporary, the NHL should be back in some form or another within a year, but Winnipeg is in it for the long haul.
Nine years after the Jets left town you can still see the scars and feel the aftershocks, but the people who live and work here say it's not all bad. Life goes on.
A BLOW TO THE CITY
"The loss of the team ran deep, for sure, but that was nine years ago,'' said Manitoba Moose owner Mark Chipman. "Psychologically it was a blow to the city and it hurt for awhile after, but I think for the most part people are over it.''
The Moose have a solid fan base, 8,800 a night is second best in the AHL, the Bombers are the Bombers, a staple of summer and fall, and the Goldeyes are one of the biggest drawing minor-league ball clubs in North America, selling out their new 7,700 seat park more often than not.
"This (Northern) league is pretty much an outlaw league, but it draws well,'' said Harvey Rosen, a CP sports writer who's lived in Winnipeg all his life. "It's still a very good sports city.''
The latest step in the recovery effort is the brand new MTS Centre, a 15,015 seat, 50-luxury suite arena in the middle of downtown.
The $133-million building is a giant step up from the old barn, but big black curtains blocking off the empty upper bowl are all the evidence you need that AHLhockey hasn't entirely filled the void.
GRASS ROOTS PROBLEM
"Some people have a real problem with being a farm team for the Canucks, which was one of our biggest rivals,'' said Scott Brown, director of communications for the Moose. "And there's still a pocket of people at the grass roots level who see this as an obstacle to bringing the Jets back.''
Ah yes, bringing back the Jets. Winnipeggers might be carrying on without them, but there is still a small segment of the population waiting like Linus in the pumpkin patch for the NHL to come home.
"People see a new rink, a new CBA, put two and two together and think that it might come back,'' said Chipman.
The realists, however, outnumber the dreamers by an overwhelming margin.
"You're never going to replace the Jets,'' said Brown.
"But at some point, things just have to move on.''
ROBERT TYCHKOWSKI, EDMONTON SUN (Jan.9th/2005)
WINNIPEG -- Miserable about a lost NHL season? Still mourning the death of Triple A baseball? Winnipeg will be sending you a condolence card any day now. Right after they send you the card reading: "Welcome to our world, suckers.''
In case you hadn't noticed, the last few months have given Edmontonians a frightening glimpse into what our small market neighbours have been living for nearly a decade.
Thanks to the NHL lockout and the Eskimos selling the Trappers, Edmonton IS Winnipeg.
Lukewarm acceptance for an AHL team that replaced the NHL. Northern League baseball instead of triple A. And the good old Canadian Football League.
Their Big 3 is our Big 3.
Edmonton's situation is only temporary, the NHL should be back in some form or another within a year, but Winnipeg is in it for the long haul.
Nine years after the Jets left town you can still see the scars and feel the aftershocks, but the people who live and work here say it's not all bad. Life goes on.
A BLOW TO THE CITY
"The loss of the team ran deep, for sure, but that was nine years ago,'' said Manitoba Moose owner Mark Chipman. "Psychologically it was a blow to the city and it hurt for awhile after, but I think for the most part people are over it.''
The Moose have a solid fan base, 8,800 a night is second best in the AHL, the Bombers are the Bombers, a staple of summer and fall, and the Goldeyes are one of the biggest drawing minor-league ball clubs in North America, selling out their new 7,700 seat park more often than not.
"This (Northern) league is pretty much an outlaw league, but it draws well,'' said Harvey Rosen, a CP sports writer who's lived in Winnipeg all his life. "It's still a very good sports city.''
The latest step in the recovery effort is the brand new MTS Centre, a 15,015 seat, 50-luxury suite arena in the middle of downtown.
The $133-million building is a giant step up from the old barn, but big black curtains blocking off the empty upper bowl are all the evidence you need that AHLhockey hasn't entirely filled the void.
GRASS ROOTS PROBLEM
"Some people have a real problem with being a farm team for the Canucks, which was one of our biggest rivals,'' said Scott Brown, director of communications for the Moose. "And there's still a pocket of people at the grass roots level who see this as an obstacle to bringing the Jets back.''
Ah yes, bringing back the Jets. Winnipeggers might be carrying on without them, but there is still a small segment of the population waiting like Linus in the pumpkin patch for the NHL to come home.
"People see a new rink, a new CBA, put two and two together and think that it might come back,'' said Chipman.
The realists, however, outnumber the dreamers by an overwhelming margin.
"You're never going to replace the Jets,'' said Brown.
"But at some point, things just have to move on.''