Manitoba has pledged $100,000 per playoff round to help fund the Jets' Whiteout street partiesGETTY IMAGES
The Manitoba government has pledged up to $400,000 (all figures C) in funding for the Jets' '19 Whiteout street parties outside Bell MTS Place during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which is "potentially $398,000 more than last year," according to Ryan Thorpe of the WINNIPEG FREE PRESS. The funding, which will be "provided through Travel Manitoba, marks a significant increase in provincial support" from '18. Through three rounds of playoff hockey and nine of the public gatherings last season, the province "kicked in just $2,000." This year, however, the Manitoba has "offered $100,000 per round." The nine '18 Whiteout parties accompanying Jets home games "came with a total price tag of approximately" $2.2M. The parties were free last year, but will cost $5 per fan this year. True North Sports & Entertainment VP/Communications & Content Rob Wozny would not provide sales figures, but said that the street parties are "on pace to experience greater turnouts than what was recorded during the first two such events last year." The capacity for tomorrow's and Friday’s street parties is "roughly 15,000," while the first gatherings of '18 "saw 6,000 and 9,000 fans, respectively" (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 4/9).
MARIO'S TV: In Pittsburgh, Jason Mackey noted the Penguins will be hosting downtown watch parties at a "different location this year," as the team is moving their big screen to the parking lot "directly across from PPG Paints Arena." The first game of Islanders-Penguins in Pittsburgh is Sunday at 12:00pm ET. There will be "local bands performing outside, and fans can test their skills at interactive games." Also returning for the playoffs are "Gold-Outs" in which the Penguins "will distribute gold T-shirts and towels to all fans in attendance" (POST-GAZETTE.com, 4/8).
SCAVENGER HUNT: The Predators announced a Drive to the Cup ticket contest in which fans "can enter to win one of 50 pairs of tickets per playoff game by finding anything with the Bridgestone logo on it." On the day of each home game, the 50 winners "will be contacted directly with additional information on how to claim their pair of tickets." The scavenger hunts "take place the day before each Predators playoff game -- home and away -- in neighborhoods in and around town" (TENNESSEAN.com, 4/8).
