27% decrease in season ticket sales leads to Jets ownership questioning future
Posted February 26, 2024 4:35 pm.
Last Updated February 26, 2024 6:43 pm.
While the Winnipeg Jets’ future on the ice seems brighter than ever as they sit just one point away from leading the Central Division, their future here in Winnipeg is a little dim, as a significant drop in ticket sales has led to Jets owners raising the alarm bells.
On Tuesday, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is coming to town to meet with Jets co-owner and chairman Mark Chipman, after stating in an interview with the Athletic that the Jets need to get back to a season ticket base of 13,000, saying current attendance numbers of just under 9,500 are not going to work in the long haul.
CityNews spoke to some fans today about the news and how they would feel if the jets packed their bags.
“Obviously scary I would not like to see that happen,” said on Winnipegger.
Another adding, “It wouldn’t have heart anymore in this city, the Jets keep everyone together, I hope they stay.”
“Time will change people will come back to the gates when they get into the playoffs which they will, and things will get better so you got to ride it through the rough times, and if they’re still making money I don’t see a need to change the game so to speak,” added another.
READ MORE: Jets chairman Chipman says current state of Jets attendance is not sustainable
The Athletic article focuses on the Jets season ticket holders, showing a 27 per cent decrease in three years, which led Chipman to directly speak to former season-ticket holders about what went wrong.
But stats show that may not be the main issue, as the Jets were the only team in the NHL to have the majority of their season ticket members be shared groupings and their ticket model has a lack of corporate business ticket purchases, with about 15 per cent of season tickets coming from Winnipeg businesses, which compared to other teams who have about 50 per cent is a big difference.
“That should be an indication of why they have to stay here because everybody wants to go to hockey it’s not just a business ordeal. You can’t expect business to bail out sports teams. The thing is you can’t expect businesses to bail of sports teams,” said several Winnipeggers.
While the big fear is that the Jets are destined for the same fate Winnipeg’s original NHL franchise met in 1996, the fans we spoke to said if prices were reduced it would solve a lot.
“Who is gonna pay 500 or 600 dollars for 3 hours of entertainment? You should lover the ticket sales per seat and you will get more in. If people don’t have extra money they’re not going to go to the games, but I think everyone who loved hockey still loves hockey, and they sure love it in Winnipeg.”
Commissioner Bettman will be joining Chipman at the Canada Life Centre before Winnipeg’s game against St. Louis for what the Jets are calling a fireside chat.
