oh, lord... enough Jets nostalgia. I was there when they paid Hull $1 million to skate circles between the bluelines... They sucked. If they hadn't sucked, they would have had fans and made money. The MARKET moved them out of WInnipeg. So for now, Winnipeg is a better market than Atlanta. Think the team will last 10 years? I don't...

I do believe the naysayers like djb also said they wouldn't get a team back, then they said they wouldn't have enough people with money to buy expensive NHL tickets.

When the general public was granted access, the it went to 13,000 season tickets in seconds.

The media is reporting it took 17 minutes, but that was the total processing time. It was literally seconds, and then most folks got the "ticket unavailable" message on the computer.

New airport, new stadium, new Human Rights museum, new NHL team, low unemployment, strong dollar. That market about which djb speaks moves both ways, and in Winnipeg it's on an upward trajectory.

Oh, a Human Rights museum, or airport, or stadium is not drawing me to Winnipeg. I tend to side with djb - give it 10 years.
Lot's of hockey left in the Vancouver/Boston series. Two 1 goal games and Vancouver partying like it is already done. Those of us who were here from the start have seen 40 years of frustration. They may still yet find a way to lose.

I'm happy for the people of the city, but I feel sorry for the players who will have to move there. I can't imagine why anyone who's not from Winnipeg would actively try and reallocate to the place.

Season's tickets sold out in 10 min. Has to be some sort of record. Nice to see an NHL franchise come back to a real hockey town instead of parts south of the melt line.

I wish we could get an NHL team where I live! I'm in Toronto.

The Jets we're in Wpg once upon a time. And there was ... a sea of loudly cheering Habs and Leafs sweaters in the stands whenever Mont and TO came to town. Was disgusting for Wpg fans. Was real disgusting for the Jets players. I would think it will be different this time (for many reasons) but I would not hold my breath.

What is not mentioned in that article is the origin of the name 'Winnipeg Jets' that was inspired by the several RCAF hockey teams, RCAF Hurricanes, Bombers, Spitfires in the Active Services League and Manitoba Senior League. The RCAF base at Winnipeg was huge and so was Canada's aircraft industry. It would be great to see them fly again.

The name? Oh, heh, I always thought it cam from Elton John's 'Bennie & The Jets in honor of Bennie Hatskin, the Jets owner :)

http://dugjoy.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/ben-hatskin-the-winnipeg-jets-really-had-impeccable-musical-timing/

http://www.eltonography.com/songs/bennie_and_the_jets.html

andycanuck, there was some talk a few days ago of Toronto getting a pro hockey franchise ...

When we speak of names and i think of growing up in winnipeg and being white and getting beat up for being white ....i would like to see the team named ......

THE MANITOBA WARRIORS.....LOL!!!!!

With an indian huffing a paper bag soaked in gasoline with skates on and a helemt sitting in a back alley somewherei n winnipeg...lol.

LOL no i am not bitter at all i say give me back there old name the winnipeg jet's baby ...but i am torn now that i haveb een in calgary for 11 years i am truley a flames fan but i will alway's cheer and buy winnipeg jet's memorabilia!!!!

There will always be negative ninnies like Gobi Desert and DJB. I'd point out to Gobi that nobodies trying to lure you to Winnipeg. The new airport is because people are already going there. And as for the hockey team, they're not expecting to support the team through tourism, it's the locals that will see the Jets fly.

With Mark Chipman at the helm of the operation, they've got the management competence that's needed to run an NHL franchise. And with David Tompson as the money-man, they've got more dough than they could dream of, and I don't think he'd just pull out after a few years' losses. Saying they won't last 10 years is just plain ignorant.

Go Jets Go!

With several early comments clearly from some folks who got up on the wrong side of the bed today, AndyCanuck came through with a true gem!

Andy, if you ever run into David Menzies, can you please tell him that!!!

It's amazing what oil revenue will do for the value of the Canadian dollar, not to mention the fortunes of Winnipeg.

Now, if Canadians would stop taxing their athletes to death, they might actually keep them in Canada. Here in the 'States, our best basketball players moved to Florida, in part, because their income tax bill was much lower than places like New York and California.

How bad is it? Consider:

"The end result is dramatic: the athlete who played for the Maple Leafs in Toronto paid more than $350,000 more in income taxes between the two countries than the athlete who played in Buffalo and only filed a US federal return."

http://afpconsultingllc.com/news.php

Good for Wpg they are rightfully excited about having a NHL team. Unfortunately after the initial euphoria wears off and reality sets in, the losses of the old Jets will reappear. They are the smallest rink in the league with a small corporate tax base.
Edmonton can't attract big name players, Winnipeg will be the same.
Bettman looked like he had just swallowed a cow when he was making the announcement that Wpg was back in the nhl. The league can't be happy but what option did they have?
The one thing that will keep the 'jets' in Wpg will be a winning record. If management is capable of that, they could do well....for awhile.

What happened in Vancouver last night? They win the cup?

I think it's great that they've got a team again. Atlanta? Florida? You've gotta be kidding.

I'm not an NHL fan and I doubt they could pay me enough to sit through one of their games but I do hope that Winnipeg enjoys its new team. Like others on this topic I wonder how long the euphoria will last and how many years before they can't fill the barn because no one wants to pay the exorbitant ticket price just to watch meatball hockey.

Selanne interview

http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Sports/1221284063/ID=1965609199

It's great Winnipeg has an NHL team again. Whether it works or not remains to be seen.

Businessmen took the risk,and as long as they don't come sucking up to the public trough,good luck to them.

Winnipeg used to have a very good senior hockey circuit when I was a kid in Manitoba, Winnipeg teams were "Warrior,Monarchs,Maroons,Braves,St.Boniface Canadiens".

I always loved the name "Winnipeg Warriors" but I understand the name now belongs to a Native organization and there may be a copyright issue. (sarc)

Got my P5 tickets! Was hitting refresh on the 7th order page right up until noon.

I can't believe it, 2nd or 3rd most expensive tickets in the NHL, and almost everything is sold. Even the 8,000 person waiting list filled up, which costs money as well.

hey, Rick... I grew up in Winnipeg. Couldn't be happier that I left 31 years ago. I remember the Habs coming to town and the stands being full of fans in tuxedos (but not FROM Tuxedo) to honer them. Not the Jets... The Habs.

I will admit that I enjoyed seeing Bettman's face, though.

At least Edmonton won't be the worst in attempting to attract free agents to.

Name Canadian cities you'd like to spend the winter months in, and I guarantee Edmonton and Winnipeg are near the bottom.

I am a former Manitoban and I have to say that they are extraordinarily jealous of the Canucks. No one can say one nice thing about Vancouver or the Canucks.