MTS Centre
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| MTS Centre | |
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| Location | 300 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3C 5S4 |
| Broke ground | April 2003 |
| Opened | November 16, 2004 |
| Owner | True North Sports & Entertainment Limited |
| Operator | True North Sports & Entertainment Limited |
| Construction cost | $133.5 million CAD |
| Architect | Sink Combs Dethlefs, Number Ten Architectural Group |
| Former names | True North Centre |
| Tenants | Manitoba Moose (AHL) (2004-present)
Winnipeg Alliance FC (CMISL) (2007-present) |
| Capacity | Hockey: 15,015 |
The MTS Centre is an indoor arena at 300 Portage Avenue in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, at the former Eaton's site. It is owned by True North Sports & Entertainment Limited, at a cost of $133.5 million CAD, and is 440,000 square feet[1] (41,000 m²) in size. It opened on November 16, 2004, replacing the since-demolished Winnipeg Arena. It can seat 15,015 spectators for ice hockey and up to 16,333 spectators for concerts. It was formerly known as the "True North Centre" during planning and construction before Manitoba Telecom Services bought the naming rights for $7 million over 10 years.
The MTS Centre is home to the AHL's Manitoba Moose hockey team, and it hosted the 2005 Juno Awards and an NBA pre-season game between the Toronto Raptors and the Portland Trail Blazers. It was also home to the 2006 AHL All-Star Classic. This building is known for its excellent sound, which has made Winnipeg a more prominent location for concerts. On September 17, 2006, an NHL pre-season game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Phoenix Coyotes was held in front of a sold-out crowd. The Winnipeg Jets left the city in 1996 to become the Coyotes. The arena hosted another pre-season game on September 19, 2007 between the Coyotes and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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[edit] History
With the bankruptcy of the iconic Eaton's retailer, the famed store in downtown Winnipeg was emptied in late 1999. Various alternative uses for the building (including residential condominiums) were suggested, but ultimately the arena was deemed to be the most viable and beneficial to the city's struggling downtown. After a small, but emotional resistance to change by some locals, which inspired a “group hug” of the “Big Store” by a reported 18 people in 2001, the store was demolished in 2002 to make way for the new entertainment complex.
In an effort to recognize the store's history, red bricks were incorporated into the design of the arena façade, evoking the memory of the Eaton’s store that had once graced Portage Avenue. An original store window and Tyndall stone surround is mounted in the arena concourse to house a collection of Eaton's memorabilia. The Timothy Eaton statue that was once part of store is proudly housed in the MTS Centre.
[edit] Recent
In October 2006 the MTS Centre has improved its washroom facilities to eliminate long lines and it installed 340 "demountable" seats in the lower bowl to replace 352 narrower "retractable" chairs, in a renovation priced at more than $120,000. They also created a "peanut-restricted" zone for spectators allergic to the snacks.
Bon Jovi played the MTS Centre December 9th 2007 and was the largest event the centre has seen since its 2004 debut. 16,000+ fans enjoyed the New Jersey rock band and Jon Bon Jovi stated "We'll be back" during his performance. Upcoming Events include John Mellencamp (with Winnipeg's own Tom Cochrane), Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Alan Jackson with Brooks & Dunn, Cirque de Soleil, Tom Jones and Celine Dion.
On Saturday October 29, 2005, Mike Scott was the 1,000,000th customer through the door and received a pair of tickets to every event in 2006.
A waterpark is being talked about in downtown Winnipeg and how it would connect to the stadium.
[edit] NHL Tenants?
Commissioner Gary Bettman stated that Winnipeg is "a front-runner for an NHL team". The last team in Winnipeg was the Jets. However, this would require a significant increase to the seating capacity, as 15,000 would make it, by far, the smallest facility in the league.
[edit] References
- ^ Facility Information. Retrieved on 2006-12-27.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Winnipeg Arena |
Home of the Manitoba Moose 2004 – present |
Succeeded by Current |
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