Winnipeg | Naawi-Oodena | Kapyong Barracks Redevelopment

[bomberjet]

Who is paying for the arena? It would mostly be their problem. haha Would be nice though to have a small to mid size arena in Winnipeg. If the ice sheet is used just like any other ice sheet in the City, it's lesser of a problem. Ie: it's rented out everyday all winter for local hockey.

What do the rinks in Steinbach or Portage hold? How much was the Steinbach arena again, north of $100 million?

Edit: Steinbach is $75 million and only holds 2400 for hockey! Portage is 1675. Civic centre is 1500.

6000 seats seems rather ambitious.

[Wpg_Guy]

The funding model would not be finalized until after the feasibility study is complete. At that point, a future City Council would need to vote on whether to contribute any public funding toward the leisure rinks. However, due to the non-compete clause with True North, the City would be prohibited from contributing to the larger arena.

[bomberjet]

The non-compete clause needs to be abolished. TNSE has a stranglehold on the City already. A small arena maybe drawing a curling bonspiel or some lower level hockey surely is not stealing TNSE's lunch.

[wags_in_the_peg]

this is going to turn into a incredible poor PR move by them in terms of getting public support. A twin rink, with walking track or something, many will support but pushing City and other to help fund a 6000 seat arena is ridiculous. I'm very connected to JR hockey in our province and I can tell you there is 0 demand for anything like this.

[bomberjet]

Something like steinbach would be the upper limit IMO.

[Mr Tall Forehead]

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

this is going to turn into a incredible poor PR move by them in terms of getting public support. A twin rink, with walking track or something, many will support but pushing City and other to help fund a 6000 seat arena is ridiculous. I'm very connected to JR hockey in our province and I can tell you there is 0 demand for anything like this.

Totally agree. Copy and paste something like Seven Oaks or hockey for all centre and it would be perfect for SW Wpg. A facility like that would be busy 10-11 months a year but a 6000 seat rink is totally overkill.

[FactaNV]

Think anyone could change their mind to a water park?

[Wpg_Guy]

An arena has always been part of their plan. It would generate significantly more income than a water park, while the rinks would be strongly supported by the surrounding community. They want to include amenities that appeal to the broader neighbourhood.

[neutroniks]

What if... they did a Water Park, that slides INTO the Ice Rink

[FactaNV]

Originally Posted by neutroniks

What if... they did a Water Park, that slides INTO the Ice Rink

I like the cut of your jib

[Wpg_Guy]

Feasibility study planned for arena on former Kapyong Barracks site
Malak Abas
Sunday, Jul. 5, 2026

A First Nations development group is hoping to pull in prospective sports teams with plans to build an arena in south Winnipeg.

The Treaty One Development Corp. is exploring the feasibility of a 6,000-person arena in Naawi-Oodena, the former Kapyong Barracks site, on the southeast side at Taylor Avenue and Kenaston Boulevard.

The hope is to give aspiring athletes a large space to practice, and possibly even bring a junior or professional sports team to Winnipeg, said chief development officer Cody Mercer, who listed the Western Hockey League or National Lacrosse League as examples.

“Not just working for Treaty One, but also in our membership of the seven communities, there’s a ton of athletes, and really we see that when they’re getting to that higher level of hockey or anything like that, they’re having to move away,” he said. “We thought this is an idea that we can try to bring (in) a team.”

Treaty One is partnering with the city on a feasibility study.

The city is covering $95,000 of the planned $128,000 study, funded through land dedication reserve funding from the River Heights-Fort Garry ward and the Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry ward. The rest is being funded by Treaty One Development Corp.

“I saw an opportunity, because we’re in quite desperate need, and (it’s) a great partnership opportunity to work with Treaty One to see if we can help facilitate the creation of community rinks,” said River Heights-Fort Garry Coun. John Orlikow.

The city is only helping to fund the study for now. Orlikow said the city would be unable to offer funding for a large-scale arena because True North Sports and Entertainment currently holds a non-compete clause that limits the size and type of arenas that can be built.

“Two community rinks, even three, would be fine,” Orlikow said.

The Free Press has reached out to True North for comment.

But Mercer said with the prospective arena being built on an urban reserve, there is a separate permit system, and building a large rink may still be possible.

The feasibility study will make that clear, and if a 6,000-seat rink isn’t possible, Treaty One plans to build as large of a space as they can, Mercer said.

“It really gives that pride to our membership that we’re owning an arena, we’re operating an arena, and, really, showing how First Nations were cut out of the economy for so long — but we’re here now, and we’re pushing to be a part — and a big part — of it.”

Winnipeg Free Press

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by borkborkbork

Jets, Moose, Sea Bears, Goldeyes, Bombers. Can a city of ~800k support more than 5 professional sports franchises?

With the rapid growth of women's pro sprots teams in North America it seems to be more a question of when Winnipeg will get one. I know there is work underway to to try and get a NSL expansion team and the market seems primed for a PWHL team. PWHL is essentially shut out of the market though with TNSE controlling the only viable facility and the competition that would bring for ticket sales for the Moose.

The NLL and indigenous gatherings definitely would make sense as other tenants for the 6000 seat arena. If it is designed with a possible 4000 seat expansion possible "if needed" it could be a viable venue for PWHL and they may be willing to start in the 6000 seat version.

WHL while pulling in lower attendance numbers would fill up more nights for a facility even if it doesn't fill the seats. Sort of like the Valour, Bisons, and Rifles at Princess Auto.

The real intriguing one though is likely the Sea Bears. Their average attendance is just over 6000 and they are not owned by TNSE. Building a new multi-sport arena where the Sea Bears are one of the lead tenants and not and after thought like TNSE could make this an interesting proposition.

[trueviking]

I can't really see the business case for a $125 million arena in a city the size of Winnipeg....who is paying for that and what tenants are creating the payback.

True North also has an exclusivity to these types of venues. Its why the Ice guys were building outside of the city.

[ColdRain&Snow]

I mean technically reserve land is owned by the federal government right? So I'm not sure True North's exclusivity clause would apply here since the land is not within the jurisdiction of the City of Winnipeg.

[Mr Tall Forehead]

^ that would be my take on it too…and a PR nightmare if TNSE ever tried to challenge it.

[trueviking]

good point.

I still can't see who is paying for something like this, and what the real use would be....a couple community rinks is more appropriate.

[CoryB]

Considering The Ex, the Ice and now Naawi-Oodena have all kicked tires on proposals that are all very similar there would seem to be some sort of market for it. I know The Ex already hosts a bunch of small to mid sized events in their Exhibition Hall and nearby ASD has its own share of events. Also looking at TNSE it isn't necessarily about programming the facility every night of the year.

As an example if you combine NLL and Sea Bears you likely have programmed more nights a calendar year that all of Princess Auto Stadium. Between just NLL and Sea Bears you could be looking at attendance of 126,000 a year or about half what the Bombers draw a year in a facility that would be a lot cheaper to build and likely cheaper for annual maintenance.

As for the TNSE exclusivity agreement, my understanding was that it was a funding agreement with the city, province and perhaps federal government, that they would put money into a covered sports venue. The lack of being fully enclosed is how Princess Auto Stadium got around the agreement.

Now being within Winnipeg on indigenous land means the facility would need a service agreement with the city. Normally that would be cash from the facility in lieu of property taxes for things like water, sewer, emergencies services, etc. It is possible the city may get creative here and essentially provide those services "for free" which may successfully skirt the TNSE agreement. It may even go further and cover the service agreement for the larger Naawi-Oodena development at a favorable rate, not unlike the arena district agreement TNSE has.

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by CoryB

Now being within Winnipeg on indigenous land means the facility would need a service agreement with the city. Normally that would be cash from the facility in lieu of property taxes for things like water, sewer, emergencies services, etc. It is possible the city may get creative here and essentially provide those services "for free" which may successfully skirt the TNSE agreement. It may even go further and cover the service agreement for the larger Naawi-Oodena development at a favorable rate, not unlike the arena district agreement TNSE has.

The servicing agreement for all of Naawi-Oodena is already in place, it was signed in 2022, it's called the Gaawijijigemangit Agreement. Treaty One Nation will pay the City an annual Services Charge equal to 65% of the regular municipal property taxes that would have been charged on the Treaty One Land if it were not set aside as a tax-exempt Reserve.

[inlp89]

Soooo, NLL team name? The Winnipeg Unicorns?

[trueviking]

Princess Auto Stadium was paid for mostly by the government. I don’t see the same political desire to build an arena for an unknown tenant as I do the Blue Bombers.

The Sea Bears are fun but they don’t need their own facility and are hardly a sure thing long term.

We will see what this study shows I guess.