Winnipeg | NHL Jets

[trueviking]

i wish it was bigger too, but other than that, i dont agree that other arenas are much better.....and there is an argument that 15000 is a perfectly acceptable size for NHL....the economics of a 17000 seat or 15000 seat arena are only marginally different...nowhere near make or break....i wish it was larger mainly for perception.

[drew]

Originally Posted by DowntownWpg

- washrooms, not enough; and within, not enough urinals. I could get more descriptive, but I'll spare you of that.

If you don't like the amount of washrooms - blame the National Building Code of Canada. It's got nothing to do with the facility itself.

I'll pretty much guarantee you the building has the minimum required amount of "holes" available, and that every facility in Canada is the same this particular regard.

[ILYR]

If Copps Coliseum can be renovated to be a NHL rink, so to can the MTS centre. As it sits the MTS centre is in far better shape and quality to Copps, both with respect to Hockey and concerts (no disrespect to Copps). That being said, who really knows if they will ever even have to renovate Copps.

[J-MAN]

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

Hey DowntownWpg, are you old enough to ever set foot in the Winnipeg Arena? now that was beyond sub-standard

I'll second that

[wags_in_the_peg]

NHL brass said NHL would never return to Winnipeg. So if you are a business person who owns a AHL (or IHL) franchise are you going to build an 18,000 seat arena to fit 6000-7000 people in plus a few concerts that MIGHT hit 18000? or are you going to be a little more $ sense and TAKE A HUGE GAMBLE and build a 15000 seat arena hoping to land a few world class hockey, curling events and a few concerts and will have decent seating for your minor league team.

yeah we can whine and complain until my wife stops nagging me but you know what, it is what it is and a decision to build a 15000 seat arena make more financial sense.

when the Jets left in 96 so did I, to Calgary then Vancouver. I returned in 98 and never thought we'd see NHL until lots of southern teams failed. I've kept the faith and still do.

We will see NHL here by 2012 and some renos will happen to the MTS Centre, it won't sit 18000 but improved upper lever concessions and washrooms and we'll all be happy again.

PS - Go JETS Go

[ILYR]

Some interesting numbers.

Average AHL attendance in Winnipeg, Hamilton, and Toronto
For playoffs number of games played at home in brackets.
Hamilton won the Calder cup 2007
Manitoba in this years final.

Year Manitoba Hamiton Toronto
2009 playoffs 10109(10) 2768(3) 2819(3)
2008-2009 7769 4624 3728
2008 playoffs 7665(3) out 2708(10)
2007-2008 7807 4575 4348
2007 playoffs 6649(7) 4653(12) out
2006-2007 7769 4888 3829
2006 playoffs 7430(10) out 3811(3)
2005-2006 8079 5120 4362

[Only The Lonely..]

Originally Posted by drew

If you don't like the amount of washrooms - blame the National Building Code of Canada. It's got nothing to do with the facility itself.

I'll pretty much guarantee you the building has the minimum required amount of "holes" available, and that every facility in Canada is the same this particular regard.

For all the money spent trying to gussy up our downtown with a fancy new rink; that carefully crafted image is quickly ruined when people turn to peeing in the alley because they can't get into the John.

I think if professional hockey is to make it in Winnipeg our arena can't be so careless as to leave money on the table.

A small-market like Winnipeg needs to be able to ring every penny it can out of the fanbase to make this thing work.

That means a much better staffed second deck, and improved access to washroom facilities and concessions.

I for one would have easily spent another $40 on concessions but decided that it wasn't worth the wait to miss another period of playoff hockey.

[drew]

Originally Posted by Only The Lonely..

For all the money spent trying to gussy up our downtown with a fancy new rink; that carefully crafted image is quickly ruined when people turn to peeing in the alley because they can't get into the John.

I think if professional hockey is to make it in Winnipeg our arena can't be so careless as to leave money on the table.

A small-market like Winnipeg needs to be able to ring every penny it can out of the fanbase to make this thing work.

That means a much better staffed second deck, and improved access to washroom facilities and concessions.

Again I have to question why you guys think the MTS is any worse in this regard than any other newish arena? They are all built to the same standards. You aren't allowed to use a "trough" system anymore, so what do you expect?

I guess you'll be having these same complaints when the new stadium is built sans trough as well?

[g35]

MTS upper deck has enough washrooms but not enough concessions. I had to walk halfway around the concourse before I found one selling food and not ice cream/beer. There might have been some I walked by (can't remember) but there were no open ones.

[Pegger5]

Originally Posted by DowntownWpg

To answer your questions (Wags & Viking)...
Related, but if the NHL wants to screw Winnipeg from getting a team, they only have to raise the minimum capacity specification by about 50 seats. They could even make it as high as 16,200, meaning that the MTS Centre doesn't quality, but every current NHL arena still does. I think time will tell that building the MTS Centre to the NHL's minimum seating capacity spec will prove to be a critical mistake, making the MTS Centre substandard as a tool to bring the NHL back to Winnipeg.
.

Show us all proof the NHL has a minimun seating capacity ?? Where, What, When ?
MTS Centre kicks ass over most arenas because of the 3 concourse system unlike many rinks like the Calgary Saddledome that has only one 360 concourse... Believe me I have season tickets for the Flames..and have been to few games when it has been sold out 15K (4 years ago I believe with the Moose) and two NHL preseason games.
I think the bottom line is you are embarrassed it only has 15,000 seats vs. 18,000 seats. Why is "bigger is better" when you can still get same revenue per game in MTS vs lets say Ottawa senators game ?? You must drive a big truck?

[DowntownWpg]

Originally Posted by Pegger5

Show us all proof the NHL has a minimun seating capacity ?? Where, What, When ?
MTS Centre kicks ass over most arenas because of the 3 concourse system unlike many rinks like the Calgary Saddledome that has only one 360 concourse... Believe me I have season tickets for the Flames..and have been to few games when it has been sold out 15K (4 years ago I believe with the Moose) and two NHL preseason games.

Mark Chipman, during the proposal and construction phases of the MTS Centre, stated many times that they are building the MTS Centre to meet (and be a little over) the minimum required capacity for an arena to qualify to host an NHL team. Anyone who followed the politics and construction of the MTS Centre knows this as well.

The idea behind the minimum capacity, is the league's revenue sharing. They set such a minimum threshold, to ensure that the teams can (at least on paper) be viable partners and avoid too many "have nots," given the revenue sharing arrangement.

As for "proof," beyond what I wrote... you'll just have to do a search yourself, pal.

Originally Posted by Pegger5

I think the bottom line is you are embarrassed it only has 15,000 seats vs. 18,000 seats. Why is "bigger is better" when you can still get same revenue per game in MTS vs lets say Ottawa senators game ?? You must drive a big truck?

Again, I won't be wasting my time with this. You obviously just dropped by, and haven't read my or other people's posts.

[DowntownWpg]

Originally Posted by drew

Again I have to question why you guys think the MTS is any worse in this regard than any other newish arena? They are all built to the same standards. You aren't allowed to use a "trough" system anymore, so what do you expect?

I guess you'll be having these same complaints when the new stadium is built sans trough as well?

I take it that the National Building Code of Canada has outlawed troughs? Wonder why... something to do with infection prevention and control?

Thanks for the info about the National Building Code, though.

However, I'm one who feels that just because there is a minimum criteria, that does not mean that one needs to only meet said minimum criteria. Perhaps they would have went 'above and beyond' if they had more space to work with. Another reason why I think they choose an ill-advised location for the MTS Centre.

[drew]

^ above and beyond the national building code only exists on Holmes on Homes...

[Pegger5]

Originally Posted by DowntownWpg

Mark Chipman, during the proposal and construction phases of the MTS Centre, stated many times that they are building the MTS Centre to meet (and be a little over) the minimum required capacity for an arena to qualify to host an NHL team. Anyone who followed the politics and construction of the MTS Centre knows this as well.

The idea behind the minimum capacity, is the league's revenue sharing. They set such a minimum threshold, to ensure that the teams can (at least on paper) be viable partners and avoid too many "have nots," given the revenue sharing arrangement.

As for "proof," beyond what I wrote... you'll just have to do a search yourself, pal.


Again, I won't be wasting my time with this. You obviously just dropped by, and haven't read my or other people's posts.

I don't need to research because you are claiming something that is not true so the onus is on you to back up your statement. No one has ever heard or read there is a minimum from the NHL documented so you must be making crap up that is not reality... It is about per game revenue NOT the amount of seats. If that was the case Detroit, Chicago, Montreal, Ottawa would have the have the most revenue in the league but they don't !
I am not embarassed about MTS Centre like you and it has been proven to be one of the top venues in North America time after time...It is NHL ready...

Because it is 2000-3000 seats short of what you think is an ideal rink for NHL...and for a guy that lives in Winnipeg you should be proud of such a great facility...

By the way, I have read all the posts in this NHL section...

[jmt18325]

How someone can think the MTS Centre is a bad facility is beyond me. Yes, it's a bit small, but it is certainly a money maker, and it's certainly not embarrassing.

[rrskylar]

The MTS centre is an adequate arena, not great, but it was built on a site that was limited to say the very least. My sources tell me any future expansion will be tough at best.

[jmt18325]

Yes, everything in Winnipeg always sucks. I get so tired of the same negativity time and again.

[Distill3d]

I for one would rather see a game at the MTS Center than GM Place.

[eemy]

Originally Posted by Pegger5

I don't need to research because you are claiming something that is not true so the onus is on you to back up your statement.

Not that I disagree with you, but this statement is pretty funny.

[trueviking]

you guys heard this rumour of the thompson family connection to chipman and his aspirations for an NHL team....i have heard it from a couple of sources and apparently vic grant dropped hints of it on cjob.