New Winnipeg team hits 13000-ticket goal

WINNIPEG, Canada — Winnipeg ice hockey fans needed only 17 minutes to purchase all 13,000 available season tickets for the city's new National Hockey League team, the relocated former Atlanta Thrashers.True North Sports and Entertainment, which completed a purchase deal for the Thrashers four days earlier, said it wanted to sell 13,000 season tickets for its 15,000-seat arena before NHL owners met June 21 to approve the deal."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.Online sales through Friday were limited to season-ticket holders for the Manitoba Moose, the top-level developmental team that had been based in Winnipeg but will now move to St. John's, Newfoundland.Those fans purchased more than 7,100 season tickets before sales were opened to the public Saturday, when a list to purchase tickets was formed in only two minutes. Sales were processed for 15 additional minutes before seats were gone."We would like to take a special moment to thank all of our fans in Winnipeg 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," True North president Jim Ludlow said.Ticket packages were available for three to five seasons and secured the viability of the as-yet-unnamed team, which returns NHL action to the central Canadian plains city 15 years after the NHL's Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix.Supporters, many of whom were dancing in the streets as details of the Thrashers' move fell into place, have sought to have the Jets' name restored.Phoenix was thought for many months to be the likeliest relocation target but city officials approved spending $25 million to cover expenses for the NHL next season while it operates the Coyotes during the search for a new owner for the team. Copyright © 2011 AFP.

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