They better not be doing tickets again to the whiteout parties, that took so much wind out of the fans sails last time
jayzeats
There better be a street party, you want people to spend time downtown, this is the easiest way
Oenohyde
Cheap to Middling tickets are $150. Lower bowl is $350, for 60 minutes of hockey, per seat.
Pretty standard. You want seats for playoffs?
If this team makes the finals(?) seats are approaching $1000 x 2.
I am saying this based on other team pricing.
QuinnTheEskimo204
The article:
Fans are ready to throw on a jersey, grab the thunder sticks and bolt for downtown now that the Winnipeg Jets have clinched a playoff spot, but nobody in the know is ready to dish on whether whiteout street parties will be held this year.
The Jets clinched a National Hockey League playoff spot after beating the Minnesota Wild 3-1 Tuesday night. The team secured their place in the post-season for the sixth time since Jets 2.0 relocated from Atlanta in the 2011-2012 season.
Maya Dowson, an 18-year-old Jets fan who works downtown, was so giddy Wednesday she had to re-watch highlights of Tuesday’s game to make sure it was real.
“I was like, ‘OK, wait, was this a dream?’ But thank God it wasn’t,” she said.
She spent her lunch hour at the arena Jets store, and picked up a Mark Scheifele jersey and a “We are WPG” whiteout shirt. She said she plans to pick up more all-white gear to cheer on her team.
“It’s definitely bringing the city together — everyone’s excited for the whiteouts,” she said. “All over Instagram, it was the only comment, ‘Winnipeg whiteout.’”
The game-time street parties drew tens of thousands of fans downtown in 2018 and 2019 during the pre-pandemic playoff runs.
True North Sports and Entertainment, governments and downtown organizations were tight-lipped Wednesday on what public celebrations will be in place when the playoffs begin next week.
John Olfert, president and chief operating officer of True North Sports and Entertainment, told the Free Press it’s a busy time. In addition to launching a new season-ticket drive, the organization is just starting to plan public events in association with the playoff games, Olfert said.
The 2018 festivities, which were free, cost nearly $2.2 million. The 2019 parties were organized by Economic Development Winnipeg and True North, with support from the city and provincial governments and Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, at a cost of $5 a fan. The money was donated to charity.
On Wednesday, True North didn’t return a Free Press request for comment about whiteout party plans.
City of Winnipeg spokesman David Driedger wouldn’t comment and told the Free Press to contact True North.
Olivia Billson, press secretary for Premier Heather Stefanson, said “stay tuned” when asked if the province plans to help fund the cost of street parties, as it did in 2019.
Economic Development Winnipeg communications director Karen Viveiros issued an email Wednesday evening.
“We are very proud of our Winnipeg Jets, and excited for their journey ahead. Stay tuned for an announcement later this week,”
The premier said she looks forward to joining “the NHL’s loudest fans to cheer on the Jets in their quest for the Stanley Cup.”
Biz CEO Kate Fenske, who didn’t grant an interview request, issued a general statement to welcome “thousands of people” to the arena for the playoffs. She didn’t mention anything about street parties.
“This will give many downtown businesses a boost because we know Winnipeggers will be supporting the Jets both inside the arena and out in restaurants and bars. We can’t wait to cheer on the home team in the heart of our city,” Fenske said in the emailed statement.
For her part, fan Dowson said the city feels excited during a Jets playoff run.
“You have the whole city behind you, cheering them on. It’s a big rush of dopamine,” said Dowson. “It’s unbelievable… it’s amazing how the city can come together, just for one thing.”
Fan Murray Derksen, 58, also stopped into the arena’s store over the lunch hour to take a look at the goods.
“It’s important for the city. It’ll be good, post-COVID, to have, hopefully, a whiteout downtown,” said Derksen of the playoff spot. “It’s hard to explain, but it’s a passion.”
— with files from Martin Cash
raxnahali
People will just go whether they sanction one or not
LoveEffective1349
The point is. The farther they go the less they can control it.
I saw the crowds in the second round…everyone was so pumped. if we had won?
Imagine if they make the cup final? I could see 50,000 in the streets, overflowing the plans.
Maybe a good old fashioned hockey riot.
beastiedan
Personally, I think they should be checking bags and have metal detectors at the gates.
Leburgerpeg
I assume that the street party will be announced if/when they sell out the games. I’m sure there is some level of trepidation within the organization about the optics if they don’t sell out
8 Comments
They better not be doing tickets again to the whiteout parties, that took so much wind out of the fans sails last time
There better be a street party, you want people to spend time downtown, this is the easiest way
Cheap to Middling tickets are $150. Lower bowl is $350, for 60 minutes of hockey, per seat.
Pretty standard. You want seats for playoffs?
If this team makes the finals(?) seats are approaching $1000 x 2.
I am saying this based on other team pricing.
The article:
Fans are ready to throw on a jersey, grab the thunder sticks and bolt for downtown now that the Winnipeg Jets have clinched a playoff spot, but nobody in the know is ready to dish on whether whiteout street parties will be held this year.
The Jets clinched a National Hockey League playoff spot after beating the Minnesota Wild 3-1 Tuesday night. The team secured their place in the post-season for the sixth time since Jets 2.0 relocated from Atlanta in the 2011-2012 season.
Maya Dowson, an 18-year-old Jets fan who works downtown, was so giddy Wednesday she had to re-watch highlights of Tuesday’s game to make sure it was real.
“I was like, ‘OK, wait, was this a dream?’ But thank God it wasn’t,” she said.
She spent her lunch hour at the arena Jets store, and picked up a Mark Scheifele jersey and a “We are WPG” whiteout shirt. She said she plans to pick up more all-white gear to cheer on her team.
“It’s definitely bringing the city together — everyone’s excited for the whiteouts,” she said. “All over Instagram, it was the only comment, ‘Winnipeg whiteout.’”
The game-time street parties drew tens of thousands of fans downtown in 2018 and 2019 during the pre-pandemic playoff runs.
True North Sports and Entertainment, governments and downtown organizations were tight-lipped Wednesday on what public celebrations will be in place when the playoffs begin next week.
John Olfert, president and chief operating officer of True North Sports and Entertainment, told the Free Press it’s a busy time. In addition to launching a new season-ticket drive, the organization is just starting to plan public events in association with the playoff games, Olfert said.
The 2018 festivities, which were free, cost nearly $2.2 million. The 2019 parties were organized by Economic Development Winnipeg and True North, with support from the city and provincial governments and Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, at a cost of $5 a fan. The money was donated to charity.
On Wednesday, True North didn’t return a Free Press request for comment about whiteout party plans.
City of Winnipeg spokesman David Driedger wouldn’t comment and told the Free Press to contact True North.
Olivia Billson, press secretary for Premier Heather Stefanson, said “stay tuned” when asked if the province plans to help fund the cost of street parties, as it did in 2019.
Economic Development Winnipeg communications director Karen Viveiros issued an email Wednesday evening.
“We are very proud of our Winnipeg Jets, and excited for their journey ahead. Stay tuned for an announcement later this week,”
The premier said she looks forward to joining “the NHL’s loudest fans to cheer on the Jets in their quest for the Stanley Cup.”
Biz CEO Kate Fenske, who didn’t grant an interview request, issued a general statement to welcome “thousands of people” to the arena for the playoffs. She didn’t mention anything about street parties.
“This will give many downtown businesses a boost because we know Winnipeggers will be supporting the Jets both inside the arena and out in restaurants and bars. We can’t wait to cheer on the home team in the heart of our city,” Fenske said in the emailed statement.
For her part, fan Dowson said the city feels excited during a Jets playoff run.
“You have the whole city behind you, cheering them on. It’s a big rush of dopamine,” said Dowson. “It’s unbelievable… it’s amazing how the city can come together, just for one thing.”
Fan Murray Derksen, 58, also stopped into the arena’s store over the lunch hour to take a look at the goods.
“It’s important for the city. It’ll be good, post-COVID, to have, hopefully, a whiteout downtown,” said Derksen of the playoff spot. “It’s hard to explain, but it’s a passion.”
— with files from Martin Cash
People will just go whether they sanction one or not
The point is. The farther they go the less they can control it.
I saw the crowds in the second round…everyone was so pumped. if we had won?
Imagine if they make the cup final? I could see 50,000 in the streets, overflowing the plans.
Maybe a good old fashioned hockey riot.
Personally, I think they should be checking bags and have metal detectors at the gates.
I assume that the street party will be announced if/when they sell out the games. I’m sure there is some level of trepidation within the organization about the optics if they don’t sell out