The owners of the new, as yet unnamed Winnipeg hockey team have begun selling season ticket packages in the hopes of reaching 13,000 subscribers before the end of the month.

And, team officials are hoping that Winnipeg fans will shell out what will amount to the NHL’s third-highest priced tickets for the honor of watching the new team at the MTS Centre. The team will begin playing in Winnipeg next season.

Prices will range from $39 to $129 per ticket, for an average cost of $84. Based on 2010 ticket prices, compiled by Team Marketing Report, only the Toronto Maple Leafs ($115.96) and the Montreal Canadiens ($86.44) had higher average ticket costs.

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Winnipeg has been without an NHL team for 15 years, since the Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix and became the Coyotes.

During a press conference this week, the new owners tried to paint a rosy picture of the ticket prices. At 15,015 seats, the MTS Centre is the smallest arena in the NHL, which adds to the high ticket cost.

“We think we’ve hit the sweet spot on ticket prices,” said Jim Ludlow, President and CEO of the team’s new owner, True North Sports and Entertainment. See video below.

True North CEO on NHL Ticket Drive – May 31, 2011 – Winnipeg, Manitoba from ChrisD.ca on Vimeo.