It’s the moment hockey fans have been waiting for -- Jets vs Oilers, outdoors at Investors Group Field for the Heritage Classic.
"I'm ready to cheer. I'm ready to yell. I'm ready to lose my voice," said Jets fan Marc Amphabannasouk.
“Go Jets Go” chants echoed throughout the stadium as fans from eagerly awaited puck drop. The game was delayed more than an hour due to the way the sun was reflecting off the ice.
But that didn’t stop fans from seeing the historic rivalry come to life outdoors.
Brad Pilling drove from Calgary to meet his family from Ottawa to see their beloved Oilers play.
"I'm excited to see the Oilers, absolutely, put the boots to the Jets in an outdoor, beautiful sunny setting. It's going to be fun," said Pilling.
READ MORE: Jets beat Oilers in alumni game at Investors Group Field
It's estimated that around 8,000 people came to Winnipeg this weekend to see both the alumni and regular-season games. Hotels and bars were packed, generating some major revenue for the city.
"We're looking at an economic impact for Winnipeg, this weekend, of close to $7 million, when you take into comparisons the hotel rooms, the restaurants, the bars. So great impact here for Manitoba and Winnipeg, specifically," said Manitoba Chambers of Commerce President Chuck Davidson.
The event was recognized on a national scale for the entire weekend, and Jets fans couldn’t be more proud of the show their city put on.
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"We have what every other large city has to offer. And there is no energy like an energy that is fueled by passion," said longtime Jets fan Naomi Pfeffer.
It’s a moment Jets fans say they have been waiting for, for a long time.
"It's like the icing on the cake pretty much," said Amphabannasouk.
READ MORE: Mathieu Perreault could be Jets' lucky charm at Heritage Classic
