You want to spend $6,000 on a bandwagon?

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/06/2011 (5212 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

So I’ve been thinking about buying NHL season tickets, I casually told my husband.

You’re kidding.

No, I think it’s just something we should do, kind of our civic duty. Like donating to the United Way, and church.

You’re kidding.

No, really. The team needs our support. We need to fill that arena. Everyone’s watching, our hometown pride is at stake… 13,000 seats or bust.

Margo, you’re a Bomber fan. You don’t even like hockey.

That’s not true. I went to a few Jets games with Dad. I remember thinking if I tipped forward an inch, I would plummet 300 crappy seats to my death. That, and the big guy stuffed beside me spilling beer on my boots. The new arena is way nicer. Great sightlines.

You don’t even know the names of the NHL teams, let alone the players. You cheated on the Fantasy Hockey Draft.

I can learn. The boys can teach me. They’re big fans. This would be a huge thrill for them.

You want to spend $6,000 for tickets for the kids.

Think of it as an investment in this city.

Surely there are more reasonable investments for a non-hockey fan. You’re pledging to attend a total of 180 hockey games over four years? We don’t know where we’ll be in four years. And you won’t even turn on the TV to watch a game.

This is different. This is Our Team. Who wants to miss that first game between that Other NHL City and ours? It’ll be electric. It’s important to get on this bandwagon, fast.

You want to spend $6,000 on a bandwagon?

OK, it’s more than a bandwagon. It’s a chance to be part of a brand-new community; we’ve been hanging out with those theatre types all winter, it’s time to embrace our national Canuckness. This is our game.

So is lacrosse, and $6,000 could probably buy a lacrosse franchise.

I know it’s a lot of money. But we can pay in monthly instalments. Like our Hydro bill. Think of the kids, honey. It’s their future.

You never even took them to a Moose game.

Yes, I did. Somebody’s birthday party. Marty Moose was there.

Mick E.

Whatever. He made the birthday boy cry. This is the big league, baby. The Jets will have a less creepy mascot for sure.

They’re not going to be called the Jets.

You’re kidding.

No, they’re talking about naming them the Manitoba Polar Bears or Falcons or something completely different.

You’re kidding.

OK, that’s it. I give up.

Great. I’ll go get the credit card.

margo.goodhand@freepress.mb.ca