The Jets drew 13,693 for their third home game tonight, and the numbers are heading the wrong way while the Connor Hellebuyck saga drags on.
Winnipeg sold out the opener last Friday with 15,209. Wednesday's game against Colorado drew 14,006.
Three home games, three straight drops. In a building this size, every empty seat shows.
The timing makes it stranger. The Jets came into the night 3-0-1, with Stuart Skinner and Clay Stevenson holding the crease, before falling to Anaheim.
Winning usually sells tickets. This time, the off-ice noise might be louder than the results.
Hellebuyck still isn't playing as he waits for a trade. Buffalo, Utah and Carolina are the frontrunners, and Kevin Cheveldayoff hasn't found a deal he likes.
Kevin Cheveldayoff's handling of Hellebuyck hangs over the Jets
Fans have watched their franchise goalie sit out while the front office holds firm on its price. That kind of standoff wears on a fan base.
Some will start asking bigger questions about the market. The league is debating expansion into Texas, and attendance dips in Winnipeg always draw attention.
It's far too early for that kind of talk. Three games is a small sample, and early-season crowds can swing for plenty of reasons.
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The trend is still concerning. A winning team shouldn't be losing fans, and the Jets need to resolve the Hellebuyck situation before frustration turns into empty seats for good.
Right now, the Jets are like a restaurant collecting great reviews while half the tables sit empty.
Winnipeg hosts Minnesota on Tuesday. That crowd number will be watched almost as closely as the score.
Winning hockey helps. Restoring faith in the front office might be the harder fix.
Should Jets fans be worried about falling attendance?
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Hellebuyck confirms he would waive his NTC to join struggling team as Elliotte Friedman adds to major update
