The return of the Quebec Nordiques to the NHL has become an impossible dream for many hockey fans in the region.
Unfortunately, the hopes of seeing the Nordiques reborn on the ice of the Videotron Center remain slim, if not non-existent.
Unless the Winnipeg Jets are forced to move.
Everyone knows that Gary Bettman does not want to add another Canadian team to the league.
But Winnipeg is starting to be in the red in the eyes of the NHL.
A move by the Jets to a “richer” city like Quebec would be the only hope for the return of the Nordiques.
The drop in the number of tickets sold for Winnipeg Jets games at the Canada Life Center continues to create concerns within the management of the Manitoba club.
Mark Chipman, president of True North Sports & Entertainment, addressed the issue in a recent interview with The Athletic.
Season tickets for the Jets have fallen from about 13,000 to about 8,500 over the past three seasons.
“I wouldn’t be honest with you if I didn’t say, ‘We need to find all 13,000 subscriptions.’ The current situation is not sustainable in the long term”Chipman said.
Note that the Canada Life Center is the smallest NHL amphitheater, able to accommodate 15,225 spectators during hockey games.
According to the specialized site Hockey Referencethe average attendance at Jets home games in 2023-24 is 13,098.
Only the Arizona Coyotes did worse, playing in a university amphitheater. The Jets also had the third-worst occupancy average in the league, behind the Buffalo Sabers and San Jose Sharks last season.
The president warns that the NHL is closely monitoring the situation.
“They see the numbers. They see where the league is and where we are. We are an exception right now. So, rightly so, they want to know what we’re doing? What is happening? What happened and what are we doing about it? »added Chipman.
Last October, Chipman rejected any idea of selling or moving the team.
“Because this happened once, is it concerning that it could happen again because we are the smallest market [de la LNH]? I would say: ‘Not on our watch’”he said during an interview with the CBC channel.
The Jets’ situation is so precarious that discussions about a possible move to Utah have already taken place.
Jay Stevens, a well-connected hockey analyst in Salt Lake City, revealed that Jets owners had considered that option if the situation did not improve in Manitoba.
According to Stevens, as early as last winter, team executives were discussing relocation scenarios if season ticket numbers did not return to a viable level.
Ryan Smith, the owner of the Utah Hockey Club, even mentioned to Stevens that Salt Lake City was preparing to welcome an NHL team if the Coyotes or Jets moved.
This possibility is proof that the situation is critical for the Jets. If a city like Salt Lake City was able to position itself as a potential destination, it says a lot about the difficulties that Winnipeg is going through.
It’s a clear sign that team management is desperately seeking solutions, even the most drastic ones, to ensure the long-term viability of the franchise.
For Quebec, these discussions are almost a glimmer of hope. If the Jets are willing to consider a move to a city like Salt Lake City, that means the path to the Videotron Center might be less complicated than it seems.
Quebec, with its modern arena and passionate fan base, is certainly a more attractive option for the NHL than a poor market like Winnipeg.
One thing is certain: there is more money in Quebec than in Manitoba.
-“I know the owners and I don’t think they really wanted to threaten their supporters, but it’s still a business where you have to sell tickets, otherwise it doesn’t work. I can understand that they want people at the arena. said former Jets player Mathieu Perreault.
The company True North, which owns the team, is TIRED.
“Our commitment to keeping the Jets in Winnipeg forever has never been stronger. But it takes each of us. Together”
The problem facing people in Winnipeg is simple. They don’t have enough money to buy the tickets.
“It’s a city passionate about hockey, but at the end of the day it now takes a lot of money to go and sit at the arena. The Jets may have 700,000 fans who support the team, but it’s a working-class town and not all of them have the money with ticket prices going up every year.” says Mathieu Perreault
“What’s a shame is that for Gary Bettman, a Canadian team that’s not functioning at full capacity is the worst thing. That’s why the pressure is put on the fans.”
If Winnipeg cannot turn things around, anything is possible. And Jets fans seem really angry about the cost of living.
“Property taxes have increased by more than 6%, the carbon tax adds 8 cents per liter on gasoline, food is no longer buyable.” says an angry supporter.
“I think a lot of people would prefer four walls, a roof and food on the table rather than going to see millionaires who are crashing at the end of the course for a fifth year in a row.”
“It’s brutal. It takes all of us, except the people who can make sports more affordable and improve the game experience. This is called shifting the blame. There are plenty of reasons why matches don’t sell. The fans are not the reason” says another disgusted fan.
It smells bad in Manitoba.
For hockey fans in Quebec, the idea that the Jets are very close to leaving will revive the dream…
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