Now that Winnipeg has a team again I can finally watch videos from this painful time in our history, The entire save the Jets process (the second edition I was part of) was incredibly painful for all jets fans and Winnipeg as a community. Thankfully times have changed, the NHL has realized things needed to change for the good of every team and Winnipeg has found an incredible ownership group in True North.

I just realized this was uploaded 3 and a half YEARS ago. Congratulations on finally getting your Jets back. Losing a franchise must be the worst fan experience there is. Long live the Winnipeg Jets! - A Bruins Fan

not quite forever rangers fan here but couldnt be happier to see the return of the jets! if my rangers cant win it all then go jets go!!!

Winnipeg is back!!!! So happy, can't wait for them to play!!!!!!!! I was 1 when they left, so awesome there back!! we got the best fan base!!!!!!!

I'm a Devils fan and I started my NHL viewing near the end of the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals and I believe Winnepeg will have a future expansion team and making this city of Manitoba a hockey town once more

Funny! You know, just hearing every sports station talking about "The Jets" has given me that old Vibe of what it was like to hear about the "Winnipeg Jets" on every sports station! What a great sports team name! Bring'Em Back!

I'm a Chicago Blackhawks fan, but I can remember when the Jets left Winnipeg. I knew it was a loss to Winnipeg, but I never realized it was THIS BIG of a loss. I'm glad the Winnipeggers have their Jets back...albeit 16 years later. Hopefully, with the new arena, renewed enthusiasm, and stable ownership (I respect Mark Chipman and True North despite the current NHL lockout), your Jets will stay in town and be successful more than ever. Continued success to you, Winnipeg.

Congratulations Winnipeg. -Toronto Fan

Thank you friend either from or for the great City of Chicago. You folks always knew how to cheer on a team. Take care of our St.Vital boy (section of Winnipeg) Jonathan Toews.

As A Leaf fan I can say that if my favourite team left I would go hockey hungrey, same with every other Canadian hockey team, the flames, Habs, oilers, Canucks, and sens fans would all go insane if their team left, hockey belongs in Canada, Winnipeg deserves to have their team back by this week the Peg should have their hockey team again, looks like your Jets will fly again.

THE JETS ARE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was only 2 when they left. But that doesnt stop me from believing they will come back. Jets fans are the greatest in history. Winnipeg Whiteout. Greatest Celebration ever. Screw the Coyotes and bring back the Jets!

Yes, that is exactly why it's so important more people like yourself join the cause! I was lucky enough to have seen season of Jets Games as I was 16 when they left. Now more than ever; there are a group of youth & established young people like myself that would be more than enough to support the NHL when it returns. You'll get your chance soon! Cheers and thanks for the post. Bring'Em Back Jetsowner

im in a weird situation. I went to a Manitoba Moose game this year and loved it. Would love to see Winnipeg have a NHL Team again! But now I live in Phoenix and wanna see NHL games but I STILL want Winnipeg JETS TO COME BACK!

I'm a Flyers/Yotes fan, but I felt bad for Winnipeg losing their team and I'm glad for them that they got it back. Hopefully soon Quebec gets their team back, not for my team moving that is.

Im a Wild fan but I am in full support of moving the Cayotes or Thrashers to Winnipeg. I look forward to some great divisional matchups and know how it feels to lose an NHL team. (North Stars :()

Can't wait for WHEN the Jets Fly Again! From a Wild fan! ;-)

It certainly is refreshing to hear such honesty from a Phoenix Resident. You're comments are extremely valuable and appreciated as, it's nice to hear the truth from another hockey fan living in the desert! Thanks & Go Pens~ ;) Bring'Em Back

Im glad Winnipeg is getting a team back......I live in Phoenix and I feel bad that a town who loved their team and supported their team had it ripped from them and worse yet by a city that sees the coyotes as much more than a novelty

3 Games until the longest summer that Winnipeg will ever wait through. You are Welcome. signed, Red Wings Fanatic in Arkansas, USA

...and the name is the Jets, thanks for playing...

im from hamilton and today is our big day, in all honesty i hope we get the team of course but really winnipeg deserves it before us. phoenix to winniper atlanta to hamilton florida to quebec tampa bay to halifax!

Wings fan here. One more game til you may have your team back. Bring back the jets and the whale!

In 1996, Winnipeg's mayor Susan Thompson spent $130 million of taxpayer money to prepare for the 1999 Pan American Games instead of building an arena for the Jets. The Pan-Am funds were used to improve roads and clean up Winnipeg for the 16-day event. Years later, the $130 million Winnipeg spent has amortized into nothing. Susan Thompson was thinking short-term instead of long-term. Bring'Em Back!

I'm blues fan as well in love with team, but yet i agree with lordofice72 If I ever imagine losing such a team, I would be devastated. Thus, they should bring back the jets from the dead...

I'm a Canuck fan and I would be so happy if Winnipeg got their team back. Hopefully they settle everything by tonight and tells the good news tomorrow. Hockey should stay in Canada, and I think after we get the Jets back we get Quebec's team back.

I'm a big time St. Louis Blues fan and even I want the Jets back. What is Gary Bettman thinking? I'm not the smartest guy on the planet but even I can figure out that a city like Winnipeg can and will support an NHL team. I know one thing's for sure, if the Blues ever leave, I would be heartbroken.

It could happen. I can probably think of a few teams in trouble that could relocate there. Seattle has a pretty good history with the sport, including the fact that an old team called the Seattle Metropolitans won the first Stanley Cup by an American team in 1917 over the Montreal Canadiens.

Doesnt snow in San Jose and there is great support here in Northern California. I am not saying that Tampa and Carolina have the greatest support but I am saying that some teams in warm weather markets can survive.

I disagree about Quebec and Minnesota. But I miss both Winnipeg and Hartford. As a little kid I watched Whalers Hockey on the long defunct Sportschannel New England (and I live in Texas). I LOVE C-BAND dish! Those really were the good old days.

Please Note: I posted this video in order for some people not old enough OR not around at this time to be able to view exactly what happened at the original time. Most of us do not want to relive these dark days but, out of sheer interest; I'm posting for those to help them get a grasp of what really happened. Bring'Em Back

"Gone forever"

Welcome back Winnipeg! Enjoy your stay with us here in the Eastern Conference. Sincerely, a Flyers fan who is happy to see a real market replace a shitty one!

Yes, we now have a New Arena ( MTS Centre ) in Downtown Winnipeg. State of the Art, NHL Ready. The soon be be ownership group of our NHL Franchise own the building outright so, 100% is attained where as the old Winnipeg Arena, only about 30% of total sales ( Tickets, Concessions, etc..) Were given to the owners to support the NHL Club. Bring'Em Back!

I'm a Ducks fan since 1997... and I AGREE! The Phoenix WHO??? Makes no sense, no one in Arizona CARES about hockey... at least Anaheim makes sense, metro area and the LA/Anaheim area always has two teams, and the Ducks have had a great history, distinct culture, loyal fans, two Cup appearances, and one Cup win! The Coyotes make the league look bad with no one in the seats. Ditto the Panthers & Predators. Coyotes-Winnipeg. Panthers+Predators= Hartford/NE and a Quebec team. GO DUCKS!

Quebec also need a new arena because the Colisée has about only like 12 corporate sponsors boxes. There's currently a project for a new arena though

Lots of people feel about Bettman the way you do. His NHL expansion experiment into the Southern US turned out to be a dud, but he doesn't want to see the writing on the wall and admit that it failed because that would mean admitting that he just doesn't cut it as the NHL commish. If Jim Balsillie succeeds and gets the Coyotes relocated to Canada, that's going to start a new trend of bringing the NHL back to its Canadian roots. When that happens...take that, Bettman! :D

Finally, we have justice!hockey is back in the 'Peg!

The best thing for the NHL is to have 1/3 of the teams; which would be ten in Canada. That means four will have to relocate starting with Phoenix to Winnipeg and Atlanta to Quebec. The two others should be the Florida Panthers and Nashville Predators.

That move to the Desert really worked out. errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

they need to bring back NHL hockey in both Quebec and Winnipeg. Both teams had great fan base and I checked attendance history and it was higher than some american teams like NY Islanders. Today there is Manitoba Moose and Quebec Remparts in the junior leagues. Sure we still have hockey but it isn't the same anymore. I went to a Quebec Remparts game once and there were 12000+ people there, but when they started losing people were leaving. This never happened with the NHL team

Well, it looks as if Winnipeg will be getting an NHL team again, whether it's called the Jets or not. And hopefully, we'll see the Nordiques back in Quebec City(in one form or another) very soon.

13 years since they ripped our hearts out.

If an existing NHL team (like one of the expansion teams down South) were to be moved to Seattle, the owners could try renaming their team the Seattle Totems, which was the name of a team in the old minor pro Western Hockey League in the 1960s and early-1970s. Doing that would be a way of honoring tradition and the legacy of the old WHL Seattle Totems team.

Yes, all those teams mentioned don't have much hope for survival in the future. Problem is; should one of them make the playoffs / win a Stanley Cup, it only prolongs the inevitable.....They WILL fold or relocate! Bring'Em Back ** Sidenote: Going to see Wild vs Sens Feb.14th/09. Very much looking forward to seeing 2 teams that are really appreciated by their fans! **

@DJKasumi5 Don't think there are too many that don't already know this but, thanks for the support..... Bring'Em Back!

I ment to put the rest of the teams of the Northwest and Pacific the same which I forgot about the Hurricanes and keeping them in the southern division

Nobody said anything about needing cold and snow to win a CUP, Eepruls point is: Where you have "Cold & Snow" you generally have great support! Tampa & Carolina may have won Stanley cups however, in a short time since winning them, WHERE IS THEIR SUPPORT NOW? These two cities only have "support" when they are making drives and winning Cups. Without that, their support is awful, and actual ticket sales VS Give-A-Ways and "announced attendance" show that! Bring'Em Back!

The Braves left Boston a year before I was born, so this Bruins fan has never experienced losing one of our big 4 teams. The Patriots nearly left in the early 90's, and the anxiety was palpable. I watched a short clip of the fans at Winnipeg during the last game, and their class was amazing given the circumstances. We need the Whale, and the Jets back in hockey....never mind these fraudulent franchises in Florida, Georgia and Arizona. Did Winnipeg ever build a new arena? That was an issue.

@IronCrescent Yes Michael Landsberg is the host. He used to do SportsCentre in the 90s. I believe the other guy is Brendan Connor, who works for Al Jazeera English now as a sports reporter.

Phoenix to Winnipeg; Atlanta to Hamilton; Nashville to Quebec City

Yes,

I can't believe this happened. I know they have a few loyal fans, but taking hockey to a desert is a very, very, stupid. Why in the world are Canadians losing their teams while the NHL puts teams in the middle of deserts and Florida. Of all the Sun Belt teams, Carolina is doing good in the community, but the Panthers, the Thrashers, the Coyotes, GO BACK UP NORTH!

"Dont need cold and snow to win Stanley Cup. (Carolina, Tampa Bay.)" That's right. You just need a roster stacked with Canadian hockey players. Montreal has won 24 Stanley Cups, and with no players born in the American sun belt!

A team in Winnipeg, MANITOBA is not viable, but a team in Phoenix in the middle of the desert where ice is rarer than gold, is viable... I don't get it.

C-Band rocked!

At least Winnepeg came back. However, I would like to see two more teams in Canada, one in Hamilton and the other Quebec City. I think that would be fair of enough. Although I doubt the NHL would ever come to Hamilton as they always had somthing against that city.

Unbelievable that Brendan O'Connor was a 'voice' of Winnipeg fans. Just ridiculous that a Toronto guy was asked a question of "what's it like in Winnipeg"

I moved out of Winnipeg in '94 and went to Vancouver. 1st year in a new city and the team makes it to the Cup finals, but I wasn't really a fan yet. Couldn't enjoy it.

Their team is back, now. They just finalized a deal, apparently. Atlanta's team is moving to Winnipeg.

Their goal was epic

Quebec city and Winnipeg need a team back...

Welcome Back friends

Well, while the indication is clear that Balsillie wants the team to move to Southern Ontario; the floodgates are opening and we will be seeing teams set up for relocation within the next year! A very exciting time for Winnipeg Fans & at the same time, it's angony wondering how much longer we will have to wait! Coyotes are clear to leave and Hamilton can have them. Good riddence. We'll be getting another shot without paying such a rediculous price! Bring'Em Back!

Man what a great story! I'm from Toronto( leafs forever) but wow! Peggers (is that what there called lol) get a awesome second chance. Now pick up seats to games no matter who the opponent is. And frigging love it. There will not be a 3rd chance. Btw I hope they call the team Manitoba Moose that name is great!! Don't you agree

Bettman obviously feels it's not a good idea to put hockey teams where people enjoy watching hockey. He's probably looking into an expansion franchise for Mexico City...

Phoenix, Tampa, Miami, Charlotte, Nashville .... what a joke. Hockey belongs up north.

Sounds good but I think Seattle ,a bigger market with no NBA team, makes a good fit as well.

@CanadianGuitarist The Coyotes have until New Years eve (my birthday!) to reach a new deal with a new for-Phoenix owner, otherwise they'll open up the sale to anyone and already have a deal-in-principle to sell the team top Chipman/Thomson of TSN to move the team back to Winnipeg. Back where they belong! Less than two months now...I'm pulling for you, Jets fans!

I think the NHL has to bring hockey back to Winnepeg

@BLanger37 I love the idea, but the only real best bets are Hartford and Winnipeg. Regina is too small of a hockey market and is not big like Calgary or Edmonton. Quebec City wants the Federal Gov't to fund the team, which i would hate since every citizen in Canada would have to pay taxes to make a new arena. Hamilton, well the Leafs managed to screw that plus it would kill Buffalo and Balsillie did some dumb idea of selling season tickets before he was even approved owner.

I'm happy that Winnipeg got a team back, but I wish it was an expansion Jets team.

This was a dark day for the NHL in Canada.

@BringBackTheWPGJets1 Well, at that time you have to understand, there WAS no possibility of the return of the NHL. Who would have thought a CBA would be drafted to actually help Canadian franchises, as well as the "Perfect Storm" of incidents that have helped us with the opportunity. ( Canadian dollar at Par + , Failing US Franchises, New Arena in WPG, etc........)

Good luck Winnipeg. Now is the time to get an NHL franchise. Though Bettman and the owners will most likely want you guys to pay big for an expansion team since the owners get more money than they would though relocation. You guys at least have an ownership group who can potentially bring back the team.

John Loewen, Gary Filmon and Susan thompson.......no wonder we lost the team.

This was a terrible day indeed. I do enjoy watching Gary Bettman's legacy of Hockey in the Sunbelt drag on bankrupting rich unsuspecting investors. Where is that lucrative US T.V. contract you said you would get Gary?

MY NHL INCLUDES THE WINNIPEG JETS!

winnipeg and quebec needs their teams back!! hell even the whalers need to come back to hartford.

Well, they certainly can't live off the NHL's Revenue Sharing Program for much longer! The loan they have taken out to keep the team afloat is nearly what the cost of the franchise is! The team cannot even make a player move without asking the league for consent first! Bring'Em Back!

I've been hearing about the Coyotes finacial issues and they're talking about someone perchasing them and a possible relocation back to Winnipeg

Winnipeg Thrashers are here, of course with the Jets colour pattern. But please bring back Selanne!

There are two places hockey teams belong--the big cities that actually DO care about hockey, and THE NORTH! My Anaheim Ducks are a good example of the former--the Anaheim/LA area is huge, and Ducks fans have turned up again adn again and love their team...what's more, the team has actually DONE something, with icionic players like Kariya, Selanne, Giguere, Getzlaf, some playoff trips, two Finals, adn one Cup. The Coyotes are in an uncaring desert... BRING THE JETS TO THEIR HAPPY HOME!

@BLanger37 I want as many teams in Canada as possible , but if I was a player..where would I want to live Florida or Regina in the winter?

Yes, it can! Please check out the following sites in order to understand just exactly where Winnipeg would sit in a 30 team league: Manitobamythbusters Jetsowner

hockey in arizona, pff. im a winnipeg jets fan, and im in new york (also an isles fan). bring em back. also bring back the nordiques. The habs nordiques rivalry was great.

Places like Winnipeg and Quebec city are considerably small compared to most cities or metropolitain areas with major leauge sports teams which effect television ratings and merchandise sales..etc It's too bad they had to leave though cause they are Canadian cities were there is a passion for hockey.. I understand some of the expansion to southeren U.S markets but they did go overboard..Nashville,Phoenix?..Milwaukee Seattle, and Cleveland would be better destinations for NHL teams

The Jets need to be back in Winnipeg. Phoenix, Atlanta or Florida should be that team to move. Look at it this way: Atlanta barely fills its arena half way if that, Florida the same. Phoenix just needs to go. At least Nashville sells between 14k and 17k seats each home game. Tampa has won a cup. I agree with several of you, Hamilton doesn't need a team......WINNIPEG DOES! Bring 'em back!

@DJKasumi5 its not guaranteed the nhl just said that if the coyotes are not bought by the end of 2010 if a buyer who wanted to move the team they would sell

Who needs the Islanders! ( kidding ) Glad to see the Jets can still play in today's NHL via EA Sports NHL Games! GO JETS GO! Bring'Em Back!

LOL Landsberg looks exactly the same as he does today. Hey Mike, enough with the botox haha

@storeflack I agree with you however; comparing them to the Montreal Canadians of the 90's is quite unjust. The Islanders have been and are averaging just over 10,000 a game and have been at / near the bottom of the league for years now. They have a storied franchise however, that's not going to help them here. Charles Wang only bought this franchise for the land the Arena is built on and couldn't be happier to see them go. Hell, if the Jets could move with their history, so could the Islanders.

Looks like 15 years later they'll be back!

if the coyotes move, would that make them go to the Northwest division? Then Vancouver would have to move to the Pacific division right? That would be pretty cool. I think Canada needs more teams......

Yes, a little ridiculous however; his knowledge for the city is only backed up in his choice of words for this city..... In a recent Poll asking 200 current NHL players where they would like to play NHL Hockey should the League expand or relocate done by ESPN: Winnipeg was 2nd overall with 16% of the vote as a place players want to come and play NHL Hockey..... ( Vegas was #1 ) Winnipeg has changed a great deal since '96. The NHL will be back! Bring'Em Back!

love the idea of saskatoon and regina halifax seattle dont know if that will fly

Horrible time for the City of Winnipeg

No, we were losing about 2 Million each year. Reason for this was the fact the building was owned by "M.E.C" who took in more than 50% of ALL Revenue created leaving the owners with practically nothing! Also, sold out many games but, the Arena was dated & had 5,500 Obstructed Seats. ( Entire Upper Deck ) These were just the two major factors as to why Money just couldn't be generated to support a club. The team moving had NOTHING to do with Fanbase! ZERO! We have the fans! Bring'Em Back!

If only Bettman had tried as hard as he did with the Coyotes, Winnipeg would still have a team.

is that landsberg at the beginning?