Winnipeg Jets

[Oilkountry]

Originally Posted by Biff

More paint and concourse improvements.

I wonder if thats the end of true north 20/20

[hexrae]

Originally Posted by Oilkountry

I wonder if thats the end of true north 20/20

I thought it was a plan to improve the building over a 6 year period (2014-2020), hence the 20/20 name.

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by hexrae

I thought it was a plan to improve the building over a 6 year period (2014-2020), hence the 20/20 name.

The first year of the plan was 2013, the 2020 thing I believe is just because it's their "vision" — nothing to do with the year 2020. They announced it as a 5 year plan.

[Oilkountry]

Originally Posted by buzzg

The first year of the plan was 2013, the 2020 thing I believe is just because it's their "vision" — nothing to do with the year 2020. They announced it as a 5 year plan.

Dubbed "True North 2020," the major reinvestment plan driving the evolution of the MTS Centre is expected to cost between $20 million and $30 million and be completed over six years.

6 years from 2013 takes you to 2019 but I just don't see what else they can do after concourses and locker room. Anything significant anyway. So i'm curious what is going in over the next 3 off seasons. New lighting I suppose? both the interior and exterior is aging tech. either then adding seating areas i just don't see what's left

[oftheMoon]

^^^ I can see an improved multimedia being added into the mix at some point. Like those video systems that project 3D type images on the ice, etc.

Just another thought I had about increasing the building size. What about eliminating just the east sidewalk on Hargrave to make that corridor larger? Still allows for the same vehicle traffic and pedestrians could use the west side.

[CoryB]

^^ The public walkway is at the suite level. Eliminating it would add minimal to the game/event side of the building.

I think, and have for some time, as others have said mirror the press box on the east side. The challenge is that expansion would need to be pretty self contained including food and beverage service and washrooms. On the pressbox side it looks like there are public spaces built into the corners.

[bomberjet]

Is it really worth all the effort for the cheapest seats in the building? TNSE made a good point they have the most expensive seats they will ever have already. Anything they're adding to the upper deck; as in raising the roof, etc etc; are $60 seats. Spending millions for upgrades for cheap, nose bleed seats doesn't really make sense.

There's really not much they can do that will make any financial sense, until it's new arena time. If you're merely trying to get more people in the building, then adding a press box style, or old Winnipeg Arena style, nose bleed group of sections might work.

[esquire]

^ Yeah, a mirror to the east side press box with loge/club seats/skyboxes is probably the last of the low-hanging fruit when it comes to expanding the capacity of MTS Centre. It would be a huge job of course, but I'm assuming it wouldn't require major structural modifications like raising the roof or anything like that.

Given that the 300 loge seats just went on the market though, I'm guessing it'll be a while before TNSE adds a lot more premium seating to sell. When you look at the names on the skybox doors, there are a lot of fairly small-time companies sharing skyboxes... it's a bit of a reminder of the relative lack of depth of the corporate market here. The market is close to tapped, but that could change if the Jets go on a playoff run and build massive fan excitement. When it comes to ticket sales, it seems as though several Canadian teams are still coasting on their SCF appearances in the last decade plus.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Is it really worth all the effort for the cheapest seats in the building? TNSE made a good point they have the most expensive seats they will ever have already. Anything they're adding to the upper deck; as in raising the roof, etc etc; are $60 seats. Spending millions for upgrades for cheap, nose bleed seats doesn't really make sense.

There's really not much they can do that will make any financial sense, until it's new arena time. If you're merely trying to get more people in the building, then adding a press box style, or old Winnipeg Arena style, nose bleed group of sections might work.

Dollars to donuts any new seating will be premium. Whether it's a press box-type structure on the west side or another ring of seating right at the top, it'll be loges, club seats, skyboxes or some such. They aren't going to spend a fortune to add P7s.

[oftheMoon]

Originally Posted by CoryB

^^ The public walkway is at the suite level. Eliminating it would add minimal to the game/event side of the building.

I think, and have for some time, as others have said mirror the press box on the east side. The challenge is that expansion would need to be pretty self contained including food and beverage service and washrooms. On the pressbox side it looks like there are public spaces built into the corners.

Not the suite level walkway. I mean expanding out on the east sidewalk at street level of Hargrave to increase corridor size of the lower bowl area. Just to give it more space. Does nothing for capacity, but improves event experience as there's more room to move.

[robertocarlos]

Originally Posted by oftheMoon

Not the suite level walkway. I mean expanding out on the east sidewalk at street level of Hargrave to increase corridor size of the lower bowl area. Just to give it more space. Does nothing for capacity, but improves event experience as there's more room to move.

Why don't you go stretch your legs on the sidewalk?

[bomberjet]

I think we're just going to have to live with MTS Centre as is. TNSE has added more lounge and seating space in areas outside of the concourse. Upper deck I'm speaking of. They put the new atrium lounge out and above the lower atrium area. They put that other lounge area in the corner by TN Square. Seems they're trying to get people out of the concourse and into these areas, freeing up space for people to move.

I really don't have much of an issue with my seats in the upper deck. Sure it can be tight, but its a sporting event. Washroom wait times are minimal, even at intermissions. I have my beer guy that I always go to. Minimal wait if any. Just gotta figure it out. Lower level has even more space than the upper level, with only about 1000 more fans down there.

[CoryB]

A possibility if they are adding more seats to the top of the upper bowl is essentially push the existing seating back a couple of rows, stick the new lodge seats on place of row 1 of the existing upper deck, etc.

In terms of the press box style seating, making it a premium experience and including self service food stations built into the price could help with the space issues. Then you really just need a couple of staff in either corner to handle alcohol sales.

[Oilkountry]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

I think we're just going to have to live with MTS Centre as is.

I cant say I agree. Press box expansion was 1 Million. So lets say loge expansion is 2.5M accounting for concourses and access. Sell those seats for even half 60%ish of the existing loge seats $3900 a piece at even 150 seats. $585,000 multiplied by 20 years is 14.6M for the Jets alone ROI in 4-5 year on NHL revenue alone, plus concession and that's not including any concerts,moose playoffs or other events. realistically it could translate into an additional million a year into true Norths business revenue.

Option 2. They built the organ room in 315 because they could build a floor up to it. Ive always envisioned them making mini suite loge type seating this same way. basically smashing out the walls from 310-317 and 301-325 and building 4 foot deep rooms with stool type seats and a rail. You would have to remove 2 seats for every entrance But you could have 6-8 loge seats per room.



Rogers arena sort of did the same thing although i'm pretty sure they did suites or a club? look at the upper corner



ton of room to do this too. They could potentially do this the full bowl. They would have to somehow cantilever over the edge but it's doable



But on the ends it's just a matter of knocking down walls and building up a floor, roof and walls. Hell they have the room to build a club up there

[bomberjet]

All good ideas. But why would anyone pay extra for the crappiest seats in the rink? Upper deck ends and corners are the worst.

Also, I think you're underestimating the cost, especially for cantilevering full rooms off the upper deck.

Again, good ideas. But why would I pay more than my P6 tickets to sit further away?

[CoryB]

Why are people willing to pay close to P1 prices to sit in the upper deck loges? Part of the appeal of the behind the goals mini suites would be essentially having a mini, private suite at the event. That alone would be worth a premium. There would likely be other add-ons to justify the cost too like perhaps a special discount card for concessions or something.

[bomberjet]

Upper deck loges are good seats. Well decent. Behind the nose bleeds, not so much. My opinion I guess.

Buddies have seats at IGF which are directly above the vomitories. 6 seats in their own little area. It sucks. You're away from the rest of the fans. Much like suites at hockey games. Cool at first. Really shitty for any sort of fan interaction or experience.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

All good ideas. But why would anyone pay extra for the crappiest seats in the rink? Upper deck ends and corners are the worst.

Also, I think you're underestimating the cost, especially for cantilevering full rooms off the upper deck.

Again, good ideas. But why would I pay more than my P6 tickets to sit further away?

Common sense takes a vacation when it comes to hockey ticket prices. There are apparently people who are voluntarily spending nearly $11,000 a season ticket to watch the Oilers from the very back of the upper deck, behind the net no less.



I'm sure if TNSE goes to the trouble of installing new seating, it won't be P6 or P7.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Buddies have seats at IGF which are directly above the vomitories. 6 seats in their own little area. It sucks. You're away from the rest of the fans. Much like suites at hockey games. Cool at first. Really shitty for any sort of fan interaction or experience.

Ha...I'm envious of the people who sit in those seats, it's like a poor man's skybox. I'm surprised to hear that they don't love it!

[robertocarlos]

Surely those Sportsnet Club seats include all the catered food you can eat. Maybe even a couple of beers.