NHL commissioner Gary Bettman calls on Jets, Winnipeg fans to find solution to falling attendance

Tue, Feb 27, 2024
NHL News (AP)

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) - NHL commissioner Gary Bettman called Winnipeg a strong market where "hockey matters," and said he believes the team's falling attendance will be resolved.

Bettman spoke Tuesday, before the Jets hosted the St. Louis Blues.

The Jets say Winnipeg's season-ticket base has decreased 27% in three years, from approximately 13,000 to just under 9,500.

The Jets have averaged the second-fewest fans per game in the NHL this season. Bettman, however, says he doesn't view the situation as a crisis.

'Everyone's so soft': NHL players past and present on how they see fighting in hockey today

20 years since NHL's record-setting brawl, fighting is down across the league but not going anywhere

Former NHL fighter Donald Brashear is still playing hockey at 52 and doing it his way

Bettman said there needs to be a collaboration between the team, the community and the fans to find a solution.

Bettman's comments come days after Jets chairman Mark Chipman said in an interview with The Athletic that current attendance numbers are not sustainable.

The Jets say Winnipeg's season-ticket base has decreased 27% in three years, from approximately 13,000 to just under 9,500.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl