A city councillor’s idea to extend the downtown Whiteout parties to The Forks has been denied by council.
Coun. Russ Wyatt introduced a motion to broaden the Winnipeg Jets playoff gatherings after the first two parties sold out in less than an hour.
“There’s so many fans who can’t afford to get in the arena or the parties are sold out, so let’s open it up,” Wyatt said prior to the vote Thursday.
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Coun. Russ Wyatt proposed the downtown Winnipeg Jets Whiteout street parties be extended to The Forks.
The motion was referred for consideration at next month’s executive policy committee meeting.
True North Sports & Entertainment hosts the street parties, which take place on Donald Street between Portage and Graham avenues, and inside the Metropolitan Entertainment Centre. The 5,000-person event costs $10 per person and features drinks, food vendors and three massive screens to allow fans at street level to watch the games.
A second location at True North Square is dubbed Party at the Plaza. Those tickets are $20 each and capacity is capped at 1,000 people.
Wyatt, who said his son came up with the idea, wanted to see The Forks added to the mix ahead of the Jets’ next home game in their best-of-seven opening NHL playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche. The next game in Winnipeg is Game 5 on Tuesday.
“I hope The Forks sees this as opportunity knocking and can make something happen here,” he said.
Wyatt said to host two street parties last year cost the city $15,000. To host a party at a third location, the councillor estimated it would cost an additional $1.50 per ticket, per person.
“Let’s put it out to the fans; $11.50 per ticket. Would you be in favour of that if it meant more Whiteout tickets and a bigger Whiteout party? I think the majority of fans would say yes,” he said.
The Transcona councillor says he would like to see another 5,000 people at a party at The Forks.
In 2018, nine Whiteout street parties cost taxpayers $1.082 million, with civic departments — mostly police and Transit — absorbing $962,000.
Mayor Scott Gillingham said council isn’t directly involved in the planning of Whiteout parties, but would be interested in exploring the idea should the Jets go deep in the playoffs.
“The Whiteout parties are a feature of Winnipeg Jets playoff hockey. It’s not only something we enjoy locally and are proud of, but it’s something that, in many ways, is putting us on the map,” he said.
— with files from Joyanne Pursaga
nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca
Nicole Buffie
Multimedia producer
Nicole Buffie is a multimedia producer who reports for the Free Press city desk.