Let’s just put a little more emphasis on the name of Manitoba’s capital, shall we? Welcome to WINnipeg.
The city has become the envy of sports fans in other markets as its pro teams continue to carve their names into history.
The NHL’s Winnipeg Jets and CFL’s Blue Bombers are fully in the spotlight for their ongoing remarkable runs, while the baseball Goldeyes just capped a season in which they clinched their division and played for the league championship, and the basketball Sea Bears have shattered league attendance records after just two seasons in existence.
“How fun would it be to be in Winnipeg right now?” sportscaster Jay Onrait recently said on his TSN show, SC with Jay Onrait.
It’s an oft-repeated comment these days, on podcasts, websites, radio and TV sports shows, and among rival teams.
For Neal Einarson, the answer is simple: “It’s phenomenal to be a Winnipeg sports fan right now.”
He’s been a Bombers season ticket holder for 23 years, suffering through a nearly 30-year Grey Cup drought, and has had Jets season tickets since the franchise relocated from Atlanta in 2011.
Einarson is soaking it all in, but is also realistic.
“It’s not going to last forever, so we have to enjoy every moment of it.”
The Jets are off to the fastest start in history. Not their history — in the history of the NHL.
The Bombers, meanwhile, have triggered talk about being a dynasty as they head to their fifth consecutive CFL championship game this weekend.
“I’ve been going to Bombers and Jets games since I was a kid, and I’ve never seen a run like this. Winnipeg is the hottest sports city in Canada, and it’s an incredible time to be a fan,” said Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham.
Saturday was particularly monumental, as the Jets and Bombers both entered the annals of their respective leagues.
The Jets won their 14th game in just the 15th game of the season on Tuesday, becoming the quickest team to ever do that. The Bombers dismantled the Saskatchewan Roughriders to win the CFL West Division final.
“From an analysis perspective, I think it’s a big deal, because it’s almost impossible to do [what the Jets did], and usually it requires a healthy dose of luck for a team to pull this off,” said Sean Reynolds,…
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