White Hot

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/05/2018 (2684 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The ‘Go, Jets, Go’ chant started at 5:45 p.m. and was expected to continue off and on for at least another six hours, at what is expected to be the biggest Whiteout Street Party yet.

Mind you, the chant was prompted by an NBC camera crew and sports host decked out in white fright wig and white coveralls.

The fun was underway.

Fans lined up to enter at 5:30 p.m.to get in, greatly anticipating what could be a mind-blowing event for Jets fans: Round 3.

“It’s a series clincher. Everyone’s going to be here,” said Daniel Muller, who had 42 white balloons sticking out of his back like arrows but were supposed to be representative of a peacock. His friend, Sandy Kwong, had only 40 white balloons in her back because here sparkly earrings had already popped two.

If the Jets beat the Nashville Predators tonight, they would win Round 2.

It was the second Whiteout Street Party for Muller and Kwong. They attended the last one when Nashville smothered the Jets attack in a boring 2-1 victory in which the Jets didn’t even score until the final minute.

“It was still fantastic to be part of the crowd,” said Muller.

The Whiteout turns the streets into a midway, with concessions stands and various booths lining the sidewalks.

Jerem and Rhona Sawatsky don’t even watch hockey much but they’ve become fixated by the playoffs.

“It’s everywhere. You drive around and see the signs. It’s a city event,” said Jerem.

“We just took time out and that we’d check out (the street party) as a Winnipeger,” said Rhona.

Organizers were expecting up to 23,000 fans for the street party, which would be capacity and the most to date. About 18,000 turned out for the last party.

People said the importance of the game and the summer weather brought them out. The street parties started in intemperate “hot chocolate” weather, as one person put it. Monday was shorts and tank top weather.

Organizers worried the Whiteout street party could turn into heat stroke with temperatures soaring to above 30 Celsius.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Dan Lett | Not for Attribution

Tuesdays

A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world.

Sign up for Dan Lett | Not for Attribution

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

But a late start may have taken care of concerns. “The peak of the heat should be done by then,” said Matt Schaubroeck, spokesman for Economic Development Winnipeg. Inc.

Organizers expect the energy level of the crowd to be high. But security won’t be any higher than usual, Schaubroeck said.

So far, Jet fans have been well-behaved. “The reports I’ve had from the police are the crowds have been great. Very few minor incidents and no major incidents. It’s been a pleasant experience,” said Schaubroeck.

The Big City All-Star Band performed before the start of the game, at the Whiteout main stage at Donald and St. Mary Avenue. DJ Co-op was to play after the game.

bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca