Wake Up Winnipeg - Episode 69
Hosted Live/Produced/Recorded by: Andru Valpy, Natty Somers, Victor Jarman
Air Date: 03/16/2011 6:00 PM on UMFM 101.5 FM
Download Location: iTunes.
Web: http://wakeupwinnipeg.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/wakeupwinnipeg
Download Location: iTunes.
Web: http://wakeupwinnipeg.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/wakeupwinnipeg
Become a FaceBook Fan: http://facebook.com/wakeupwinnipeg
Rebroadcast: 3/23/2011 on CJUM 101.5 UMFM - 6:30 AM
On episode 69 we brought in Victor Jarman who is a local sports enthusiast.
In recent episodes we have mentioned to our listeners that True North Sports & Entertainment have put in a purchase offer on the struggling Phoenix Coyotes.
With these announcements and recent developments with the coyotes we thought it appropriate to discuss the popular topic of NHL hockey in the City of Winnipeg.
"What I can tell you...is there's something to be said for True North Sports Entertainment, who are all very smart business guys, even considering something like this in the first place if they didn't think (the team) would be a long term successful franchise."
Explained Darren during our conversation.
"I think what they've done brilliantly is setup Winnipeg for a situation where it was nothing like what we had of The Jets in the past and that is complete ownership and complete operating of the MTS Centre, in addition to what is going to be the this district called Shed, the sports and hospitality entertainment district to bring in revenue streams that were unheard of before....
...The revenue streams that we will see today are nowhere as near as what they were back then, and that's just a huge step right away and fan support, along with corporate support, has to be there long term. There's no doubt about that".
During this conversation we learned about what it would take for Winnipeg to support a NHL franchise which includes both fan and corporate support. Ford explained that 100,000 Winnipeger's wouldn't need to go to 41 games per season to support a NHL team in our city, but rather have the support to go to at least 7 to 11 games per season, or however many they can afford.
"Too many people think we need 15,000 Winnipeger's buying 41 games. Well we need 100,000 Winnipeger's buying something and there is plenty of support for that".
With the Phoenix Coyotes having poor attendance (possibly due to poor performance during multiple seasons), Victor asked Darren for his thoughts on what would happen if a NHL team did not preform well during a regular season and how it would affect ticket sales and overall attendance.
Fords response was answered beautifully:
"Let me tell you, The Bombers haven't done anything since I was in junior high school and they still get twenty something thousand season ticket holders a year it's staggering. That is incredible for me personally because The Bombers frustrate me to no-end but yet they keep going, and in that horrible facility yet. So I think we're actually quite resilient here in Winnipeg, despite having losers".
When I asked Ford how a NHL Franchise would be different this time around, Ford explained that it was a different generation and a new era and that the NHL Caliber front office and staff are really doing a great job of marketing to today's demographic market.
"Comparing 1993 and 94's stat's to today's, It's a different generation. I know for myself, my age group compared to my own fathers...I mean he's even amazed at what people will go and constantly drop on rock concerts now which you can't go to a good concert for less that one hundred and twenty dollars".
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| Andru Valpy Photo |
My last question was when Ford may expect to hear some sort of decision a announcement, it was apparently the million dollar question.
"Well you know, that's the million dollar question. It could seriously be as early as next week, or it could drag out for another 30-60 days. But there becomes a time when it becomes too late for next season, I truly think that we're going to get there this time though."
We expect to talk with Darren Ford and with Victor Jarman in upcoming episodes of Wake Up Winnipeg as we continue to follow this story. For more information, fans and supporters are encourged to visit Darren's website at http://jetsowner.com/
In other news, we touched briefly on the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan last week. Natty and I expressed our thoughts and condolences to those effected by the earthquakes, tsunami and later the nuclear meltdowns that tragically hit the country.
As mentioned by station manager Jared McKetiak on the UMFM web-page:
"Many of our listeners, as well as many of UMFM's own volunteers, have contacted us today asking how they can help with the relief efforts. After a little research, I can suggest that donating to one of the following organizations will certainly help to make even a little difference."
Some organizations collection donations and working towards relief efforts in Japan can be found below:
- ShelterBox
- Oxfam
- Save The Children
- The Red Cross
- Plan Canada
- Unicef
- World Vision
- Doctors Without Borders
Donations are also being collected on campus within University Centre with 100% of the proceeds going to the Canadian Red Cross.Additional information may be found at http://umfm.com%20/
Finally, on this weeks episode Natty ended the show with her thoughts on her recent visit to the Royal Canadian Winnipeg Ballets performance of Wonderland.
Her thoughts are as follows:
Adapted from Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”,
RWB’s WONDERLAND takes us on another adventure down the rabbit hole with Alice. As we are whisked away. Images of teacups and playing cards start swirling through a vortex, giving us the impression that we’ve seen this all before. But, we haven’t.
Ballet fused with contemporary and hip hop, stunning visuals projected onto a moving stage, and a megaphone; make this one of the most unique performances I’ve seen in a long time.
Tara Birtwhistle does an amazing job of making you love the awkward, and overly boisterous Red Queen. Fumbling around on stage, cracking jokes about production value, and following it up with the famous line “OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!”
It may have only been a dream for Alice; playing golf (croquet) with the Red Queen in Las Vegas, dancing with flamingos, and eating tarts, but for one afternoon it was my Wonderland too.
If you’d like to take a piece of Wonderland home you can purchase “THE WONDERLAND CHARM” 100% of the net proceeds from each charm sold will benefit the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Available online at www.hillarydruxman.com/philanthropy or in store at 258 McDermot Ave.
RWB’s WONDERLAND takes us on another adventure down the rabbit hole with Alice. As we are whisked away. Images of teacups and playing cards start swirling through a vortex, giving us the impression that we’ve seen this all before. But, we haven’t.
Ballet fused with contemporary and hip hop, stunning visuals projected onto a moving stage, and a megaphone; make this one of the most unique performances I’ve seen in a long time.
Tara Birtwhistle does an amazing job of making you love the awkward, and overly boisterous Red Queen. Fumbling around on stage, cracking jokes about production value, and following it up with the famous line “OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!”
It may have only been a dream for Alice; playing golf (croquet) with the Red Queen in Las Vegas, dancing with flamingos, and eating tarts, but for one afternoon it was my Wonderland too.
If you’d like to take a piece of Wonderland home you can purchase “THE WONDERLAND CHARM” 100% of the net proceeds from each charm sold will benefit the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Available online at www.hillarydruxman.com/philanthropy or in store at 258 McDermot Ave.
We look forward to talking to you next week on Wake Up Winnipeg, and if you missed today's episode, you can catch a repeat again next Wednesday morning at 6:30 AM on 101.5 FM.
-Andru Valpy
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