Jets announce plans to hold street parties during NHL playoffs – Winnipeg Free Press

In just a few weeks, the long-awaited Jets will shut down parts of downtown Winnipeg again when the playoffs begin.

True North Sports & Entertainment's downtown street parties return for the fifth year (and second year in a row) at every home NHL postseason game.

“It's a beautiful spring day for all of us, but Redemption is coming,” Kevin Donnelly, senior vice-president of venues and entertainment for True North, said Wednesday at the Canadian Life Centre.

“We know the playoffs are an exciting time for our city, and whether fans are in the arena or bringing energy to the downtown area around us, we want to have a great partner to take it all in.”

Events are limited to 5,000 fans to watch games on Donald Street between Portage and Graham avenues and inside the Metropolitan Entertainment Center.

“We're bringing the MET closer together,” Donnelly said. “We allow people to use the facilities inside the MET.”

Tickets will be $10 and $5 from each sale will go to United Way Winnipeg. Last year more than $50,000 was raised for the charitable social service organization.

According to United Way President and CEO Michael Richardson, proceeds go to agencies, programs and initiatives that address mental health, substance abuse and homelessness in the city.

Party on the Plaza returns to the True North Square for a second year. Tickets for these celebrations start at $20 and are limited to 1,000 people.

The Jets expect a rink crowd of 15,321. The NHL Central Division club qualified for the playoffs earlier this month.

Tickets for the first-round game go on sale to the general public on Monday at noon on the Jets website. Tickets for Street Party and Party on the Plaza will be available through Ticketmaster on April 17 at 10 a.m.

The plaza party opens three hours before puck drop, and the street parties open two hours earlier. Canada Life Center doors open 90 minutes before each game.

The NHL regular season ends next Thursday. For most teams, the playoffs are expected to begin in two to three days. The league has yet to release the full playoff schedule.

Winnipeg (48-24-6) is third in the Central, two points behind the Colorado Avalanche and seven behind the top-seeded Dallas Stars. The Jets are projected to play the Avs in the first round.

Fans at Donald Street's Whiteout parties can watch games on three giant TV screens — one more than in 2023 — in a fully licensed environment with food trucks and other concessions.

About 150 people will attend the event, including Winnipeg Police, emergency medical technicians and other security and service personnel.

Donnelly said the staff is split 50-50 between supervising the staff and serving guests.

“Very little change in terms of structure and how we manage people,” he said. “We talk to the police all the time; we settled on what we thought was a really good relationship. We've improved things internally, like the command center, which is a joint office with the police, so we can see and respond as they arise.”

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham attended Wednesday's announcement.

The province provides $75,000 in street party funding for each round of the playoffs.

“Every time the Winnipeg Jets make the playoffs, we add more money,” Kenew said. “I don't want to upset anything, but I will say that this is one area of ​​public finances where I wouldn't mind seeing us go over budget.”

The city contributed $50,000. Part of the funds will come through Winnipeg's economic development and special events marketing fund, which is collected through its civic occupancy tax, Gillingham said.

The mayor said he's ready to see the Jets try to make the playoffs.

“First and foremost, like many other Winnipeggers and Manitobans, I've been a Jets fan since day 1. “But as mayor, when good things happen in the city, it's certainly an exciting time,” he said. .

“There's a lot of adversity in Winnipeg and all of Manitoba … so when we get a chance for something positive to happen like our Jets chasing Lord Stanley's Cup and we get to celebrate as a fan base and as a community. and be encouraged—this is a true time of unity.”

The Jets have lost their last four contests at the Canadian Life Center and will look to find some success on home ice in the playoffs. Winnipeg's last home playoff win came in 2021 against the Edmonton Oilers, with no fans in the stands due to pandemic restrictions.

[email protected]