Gary bettman makes it clear that the Jets aren't leaving any time soon
The Winnipeg Jets may have an attendance problem, but it's nowhere near bad enough to have the the NHL commissioner uproot the club for the second time in its storied history.
On Tuesday evening, Bettman made his way to Canada Life Centre for a media availability prior to the game between the Jets and the visiting St. Louis Blues.
The 71-year-old commissioner made it clear that he was just passing through and keeping up with his regular travel schedules, to which he reminded media that he showed up last season for an availability, as well.
"I believe this is a strong NHL market," Bettman said in his opening remarks. "I believe that ownership has made extraordinary commitments to the Jets, to this arena, to the downtown area involving hundreds of millions of dollars. And I’m not sure why people are now speculating that somehow we’re not going to be here."
No, the Jets aren't drawing 15,225 fans each and every night, but they have recorded four sellouts on the season - all of which have come in the second half of the season.
And that, he says, is encouraging.
“If I didn’t believe this places like Winnipeg we never would have brought the Jets back," Bettman said. "In addition, the industry growth fund in terms of grassroots initiatives, whether it’s in the hockey academy or Camp Manitou… they’ve invested over $6 million. We stand by our commitment. We are glad to see all of the work done at the grassroots level. We're here, the NHL, because we want to be.”
Whether or not the club has potential to begin selling out Canada Life Centre on the regular once again? Well, Bettman says that the moves the club made this offseason, paired with the club's consistent play has them moving in the right direction.
"I’m sort of mystified at the tension that seems to have developed here," Bettman added. "And by the way, this is team if they make the playoffs this year, and it’s looks like they’re going to, will be six out of the past seven years. They’re a cap team. The star players had a chance to go elsewhere decided to stay here. Those are the subsinant things that deliver the message that everybody seems to be focused on.”
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