NHL Jets fan outrage "appears to be at the heart of a True North Sports & Entertainment decision to permanently scrap a controversial plan to charge fans for breaking up their season ticket packages," according to Ken Wiebe of the WINNIPEG SUN. What had fans "up in arms and taking to social media to voice their displeasure" was a proposed C$2.50 per-ticket fee to reprint and redistribute tickets for Jets home games. As True North held a press conference to "launch Phase 1 of its digital ticketing platform and the release of the Jets season ticket card" yesterday, President & CEO Jim Ludlow "unveiled a host of upgrades" to MTS Centre before "finally tackling the issue." Ludlow said, "The intention is for the fee to be waived year over year. We hear our fans." Wiebe noted the plan, "was part of a move from paper tickets to season-ticket cards this season and the original handout said the fee would only be waived for the current 2013 season." That was the "biggest concern for fans, many of whom saw the potential fee as a cash grab." For fans who prefer to receive the traditional paper season tickets this season, Ludlow said that the Jets will "make them available" for a cost of C$60 (WINNIPEGSUN.com, 1/15). In Winnipeg, Paul Friesen noted the ticket card alone has "riled up traditionalists who like to keep ticket stubs as souvenirs" (WINNIPEG SUN, 1/15).
