The most popular man in Winnipeg’s business community received a hero’s welcome at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Thursday afternoon, walking into the room to the old Jets’ theme, Van Halen’s “Jump.”
Mark Chipman proceeded to give the audience a history lesson on how the city landed the Atlanta Thrashers, from his first meeting with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman in 2001 to the opening of the MTS Centre in 2004, and to barely missing out on the Phoenix Coyotes in both 2009 and then again in 2010.
He attributed most of True North Sports and Entertainment’s success to the passion and loyalty of the Moose and Jets fans.
“I think it’s noteworthy that the vast majority of those Moose season ticket holders were Jets season ticketholders,” Chipmand said.
That success was embraced by the business community on Thursday.
As for the burning question, the name for Winnipeg’s long-awaited NHL team, fans may have to wait even longer.
Before Chipman’s speech, True North said the plan to have a team name in place for next week’s NHL draft could now be unrealistic.
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