So, how did True North hold fast to
their vision? “We were driven because of the potential outcome and approached getting the team back the same way we approached building the MTS Centre. We felt people wanted it and therefore it was worth the time and capital invest- ment involved. If people embraced a new facility then surely they would embrace a new NHL team.” And embrace it whole heartedly Winnipeggers did. Fans proved their commitment and season tickets immediately sold out. If you have never been to a Winnipeg
Mark Chipman lifted the hearts of Winnipeggers with news of the NHL returning to the city.
NHL back). Te arena opened in 2004 and in 2007 the league invited us to make a presentation to see if we could support an NHL team. I felt that, given another chance, the Winnipeg community would welcome the op- portunity and support an NHL team,” he explains. And supporting the return of the NHL was forefront in the hearts of Winnipeggers as they watched with trepidation, fingers crossed and breath held every time a new opportunity arose. Mark explains the lengthy process.
“We faced some opposition along the way. We looked at Phoenix a couple of times, and in 2010 we were very close to acquiring the team, but we were also realistic and knew that there was a good chance that Glendale would do what they could to try and keep the team in Phoenix. And, they did.” Tat final loss was felt deeply in the city. Fans were on the edge of their seats and devastated when the deal fell through. Persistence eventually paid off. Nine
months later another opportunity arose. Te Atlanta Trashers were in financial difficulty and True North was able to acquire the team in the spring of 2011, making the official announce- ment in late May. Everyone in the city remembers
where they were and what they were doing at the time of the announce- ment. Offices turned on radios, TVs or
MTS Centre, home of the Winnipeg Jets, just celebrated its 10th anniversary.
The Hub Winter 2014 • 21
streamed the live feed as Mark stepped to the podium announcing the return of the NHL. Tat was when total pandemonium
broke out in the city. It was all anyone could talk about and
a celebration of epic proportions spon- taneously erupted. People partied in the streets, Portage and Main were closed. Fans laughed, cried, praised True North and speculated on the name of the team. When it was revealed that the Winnipeg Jets name would be resurrected, Win- nipeg pride spilled out onto the streets once again. People were overjoyed. “Yes, I was surprised at the overwhelm-
ing response of Winnipeg,” says Mark. “It wasn’t really something we were thinking about, the response, because we were fo- cused on our goal. It’s not that we weren’t surprised people were happy, but we were surprised at how emotional people were.”
Jets game, you are in for a sporting ex- perience like no other. As the Canadian anthem is sung, the entire arena shouts “TRUE NORTH” in honour of the company who believed, the company and the man behind it, who had the fortitude to bring back our team. “It is a very humbling experience that
never gets old for me,” says Mark of the chant. “I feel the honour comes with a great responsibility. We have passionate fans and as an organization we feel an in- creased level of responsibility to give our loyal fans a product that they are proud of. We are making strides. Winnipeggers are educated hockey fans; they have been patient, and hopefully feel rewarded. Our objective now is to have a team that competes every year, and has a chance to advance every year. We aim to be an inte- gral asset to the community for the long term and a source of pride.” So come out to a game. Take it from
Mark. “Te energy in the building is sec- ond to none!” And that hockey fans is the absolute truth!
Photos courtesy of True North Sports & Entertainment Limited.
Photo courtesy of True North Sports & Entertainment.
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