Downtown prepares for influx of Jets fans

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This article was published 16/04/2023 (904 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Businesses are buzzing downtown as staff prepare to greet a tidal wave of hockey fans sets to converge on Winnipeg’s core.

“On Saturday, we are probably looking at it being on of our busiest days since we’ve been open,” said Josh Munoz, the lunch manager at Earls Kitchen and Bar.

“People coming in are super excited about it, the staff are super excited… We are just gearing up ready to basically just be busy from open to close that day.”

The Winnipeg Jets begin their best-of-seven playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights Tuesday night in Las Vegas, but the true festivities begin next weekend when the team returns home for Games 3 (April 22) and 4 (April 24),

The Winnipeg whiteout will be in full swing by then and Munoz is anticipating pandemonium at the restaurant, which moved into its new home at 300 Main St. last March.

Munoz said the restaurant is adding at least four new TVs to its dining sections to ensure patrons can see the game from every angle. It also plans to open its patio to an additional 90 fans next weekend. Servers will be wearing all white during the games, showing their support for the home team.

The City of Winnipeg is closing down Donald Street between Portage and Graham avenues to allow room for outdoor street parties during the pair of home games. Capacity is capped at 5,000 and tickets are $10 apiece.

There will be another outdoor event at True North Square, where up to 1,000 fans can partake in the first ever “Party in the Plaza.” Tickets for that event cost $20.

These will be among the biggest public gatherings in downtown Winnipeg since pre-COVID-19 pandemic times.

While Munoz admits he has not followed the hockey club this season, he is looking forward to the event.

“Obviously, I’m cheering for the Jets because we’re just excited to see what goes on downtown, and the further they make it, the more fun we’re going to have,” he said.

Munoz noted reservations at Earls are already full booked for next weekend. It’s the same story blocks away at Local Public Eatery.

“I think I’ve gotten at least 20 texts from people already asking to book reservations. We’ll definitely be busy,” said Riley Edwards, general manager of the bar and restaurant.

Local is always a frequent destination for Jets fans, but staff there are expecting the whiteout to reach new levels, he said.

It will be the first time the staff have experienced working during the event, which hasn’t occurred since the Jets’ 2019 playoff run. At that time, the business was just taking over the 274 Garry St. location, which was formerly occupied by the Pint Public House.

“We’re just trying to encourage people to come downtown… just to create a fun environment and get everybody excited.”

It’s been a tough season for the Jets, who, after a spectacular start, collapsed in the second-half and scraped their way into the post-season. The same can be said about Winnipeg’s downtown area, which was hit hard by the pandemic and is still struggling to recover, Edwards said.

The influx of fans and revenue will be welcomed by businesses in the area, who typically see traffic reduced downtown as people leave for summer holidays, he said.

“The city needs this.”

Jets jerseys and Whiteout-themed apparel are flying off the shelves at Royal Sports on Pembina Highway, where staff have already ordered a restock of popular items.

“We’ve gotten a huge influx of customers from it,” manager Austin Smyth said. “We have a lot of stock left right now, but we anticipate a lot more getting sold.”

Smyth estimated roughly 30 per cent of the businesses daily sales are related to the upcoming playoff series. He and his colleagues at the locally-owned sports store are hoping for a lengthy playoff run.

He reflected on the Jets 2018 playoff run, which marked the inaugural whiteout street parties.

Sales were outstanding then, with the Jets defeating the Minnesota Wild and the Nashville Predators before losing to the Vegas Golden Knights in the western conference final.

The city saw nine street parties that year, bringing an estimated 120,000 people downtown.

Tickets for this year’s parties are to go on sale Monday at 10 a.m. on Ticketmaster.

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca