The OFFside Blog: The Grand Announcement
Hopes and fears, past, present and future: Lest we forget.

The Grand Announcement will take place on Tuesday, May 31th, 2011 within the MTS Centre at 11am.

Potentially hours beforehand, expect thousands of fans to close Portage and Main and possibly Portage Avenue West up to the MTS Centre. However, the police may try to guide the celebration to The Forks.

The Forks will have a large screen to watch the announcement and if a large enough crowd gathers, they will use the main stage area too.

Suggest for those parking to do so well away from the scene as traffic inside the area will be trapped until potentially as late as the next morning.

Celebrate long and hard as this day is at least 15 years in the making, but please be respectful to property and fellow fans, as we all are representing our city and province on a national and international scale.

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At this time, some emotions spill forth, no doubt many of them will be very familiar.
There are many, so please accept them in point form:

Hoped that a salary cap would come in 1994 to level the playing field for Canadian teams.

Hoped that 35,000 people at the “Save the Jets Rally” might have helped fundraising and save the team.

Hoped that the 1990’s Mark Chipman as the then ‘Young Turk’, who saw the Jets slip away right at the very boardroom table, would really take to heart the dream of the return that Manitobans shared.

Hoped that the IHL Moose would fill a horrible void.

Hoped that True North didn’t see the Jets as the enemy to be unnamed and forced out of our collective consciousness.

Hoped that the loss of the empty Eaton’s building meant bigger and brighter things for our city.

Hoped that the collective courage within Winnipeg was found by Mark Chipman to bring True North into the proper alignment with the NHL.

Hoped that David Thomson’s arrival to True North was not a mirage.

Hoped that the partnership between these two leaders meant more than AHL hockey and a thriving concert promotions business.

Hoped that Mark Chipman’s Moose allowed him the opportunity to rub shoulders with NHL brass to showcase his skills, his organization and our city.

Hoped that the first class hockey operation at the new NHL-caliber MTS Centre would get noticed by NHL owners and general managers.

Hoped that the NHL lockout will bring in a hard salary cap and meaningful revenue sharing to give hope, beyond fantasy, to Manitoba.

Hoped that the year without NHL hockey opened hearts and minds to what Winnipeg and Quebec City has gone through for more than 9 years.

Hoped that Mark Chipman’s appearance with Peter Mansbridge on the CBC national newscast was the start of True North’s NHL quest.

Hoped that the successful return in the Twin Cities and Denver meant that the same story could be penned here.

Hoped that Atlanta’s second NHL misfortune would not be replicated here, if only given the chance.

Hoped that the NHL would not count too few seats and suites at the MTS Centre, nor too few residents.

Hoped that the NHL Exhibition games drew attention from the NHL and media alike.

Hoped that the sheer emptiness of watching two visiting NHL teams play in our home rink would not be the closest NHL experience I would live to see in Winnipeg.

Hoped that Wayne Gretzky’s positive statements would carry favour with the NHL.

Hoped that Wayne Gretzky’s later negative comments would fall on deaf ears at the NHL Head Office.

Hoped that the absence of Winnipeg Enterprises’ control over the rink offers flexibility to True North’s business plans.

Hoped that Kevin Donnelly’s wizardry in concert promotions gives Mark Chipman and David Thomson confidence to forge ahead even with sticker prices in the $150 million range.

Hoped that the Dollar wouldn’t tank just before a purchase might occur.

Hoped that no personality clash scuttled True North’s acceptance into NHL ownership.

Hoped for little government intervention so as to avoid negative local backlash and divide the province into two.

Hoped that no media leaks about negotiations scuttled any deal.

Hoped that the very first game could be enjoyed by all people across Winnipeg, all people across Manitoba, all people across Canada.

Hoped that my dad and mom lived long enough to take them to an NHL game.

Hoped that we would be likewise granted the chance to show to our kids the game, live, at its’ highest level to instill that wonder for a lifetime.

~ ~ ~

Feared that by not seeing a $111 million 18,000 seat arena, built north of The Forks, that our government leaders let us down.

Feared that the demolishing of the Winnipeg Arena would be the eradication of all tangible memories of the NHL in Winnipeg.

Feared that I would never again look fondly upon memories of Curt Keilback’s play by play.

Feared that the last WhiteOUT was a permanent loss to the Red Wings.

Feared that the franchise funeral meant forever and ever and ever.

Feared that my kids would never understand why Daddy ever fell head over heels for hockey.

Feared that Ken Nicolson’s family and fans would never have the occasion again to reminisce over his classic delivery in his home NHL rink.

Feared that Brian Swain’s family and fans would never have the occasion again to remember his trademark Jets play-by-play in his home NHL rink.

Feared that John Ferguson’s family and fans would never have the occasion again to honour him in his home NHL rink.

Feared that Don Wittman’s family and fans would never have the occasion again to raise a toast to him in his home NHL rink.

Feared that Cactus Jack Wells’ family and fans would never have the occasion again to admire him in his home NHL rink.

Feared that Jack Matheson would not see this great day.

~ ~ ~

Hope that other Canadian cities, especially Quebec City, enjoy their own team soon.

Hope that memories of Ben Hatskin and the many late players that followed our first owner with a great vision will be forever cherished.

Hope that the Goals for Kids and the Yearling Foundation efforts spring eternal the desire of all to improve our province through charity.

Hope that the team holds their first charity-driven event to invite all former owners and Manitoba pro-hockey players of all leagues back as we collectively welcome the NHL roster of players and staff to Winnipeg and Friendly Manitoba.

Hope that Mark Chipman and David Thomson, the owners with the great vision like Hatskin before, recruit and retain the very best, as they put Manitoba’s best foot forward.

Hope that we the fans similarly take oath to put Manitoba’s best foot forward and support the team regardless of standings, the price of beer, team colours and team name.

Hope that Hull, Hawerchuk, Steen and Selanne along with Wayne Gretzky, hockey’s chief ambassador and former on-ice foe, may return for the first game so that the ceremonial faceoff may occur using the final Jets regular season game puck that Wayne Gretzky anticipated in his trademark on-ice style and carefully saved for this moment.

Hope that the good memories outshine the bad ones, while tears at NHL games will be only good ones as we remember both.

Hope that the good memories outshine the bad ones, while tears at NHL games will be only good ones as we remember our loved ones no longer able to sit with us.

Today’s Grand Announcement releases nearly four decades of our hopes and fears.

Hopes and fears, past present and future: Lest we forget.

Chris Mackie Phil Bonomo
President President
www.myNHLincludesWinnipeg.com www.ManitobaMythbusters.com
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