When the NHL announced on May 31 the move of the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg, True North Sports & Entertainment Limited, the business which bought the team, expressed hope to sell 13,000 season tickets before the league vote to approve the sale on June 20.
Hockey fans in Winnipeg responded emphatically by reaching the 13,000-seat mark in 17 minutes, including another 7,000 fans who were put on a waiting list.
"We would like to take a special moment to thank all of our fans in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Canada for their support over the past week — in particular, the overwhelming response of our fans which has resulted in a successful 'Drive to 13,000' campaign," said Jim Ludlow, president & CEO of True North Sports & Entertainment. "The success of the campaign is a key ingredient to ensuring the sustainability and long-term viability of NHL hockey in this province."
The team – which still has not been given a nickname – will play its home games at MTS Centre in downtown Winnipeg, which seats 15,000 spectators for hockey games. Selling out season tickets was an important step in assuring league officials that the NHL would thrive in Winnipeg, and the fervor from hockey fans in Central Canada seems to affirm this.
"While I had no doubt the 'Drive to 13,000' would reach its destination, the remarkable speed at which it got there certifies the fans' hunger for NHL hockey and their commitment to True North's initiatives," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.
