$1-M in MTS Centre upgrades
Player locker-rooms, ice plant get attention
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/06/2011 (5339 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
WHILE much of Winnipeg worries about the logo that will adorn the uniform of the city’s new NHL franchise this fall, there’s no doubt what many workers around the MTS Centre and the MTS Iceplex will be wearing — construction hats and work boots.
Both buildings require changes that will improve their ability to house an NHL team this fall.
Sources close to True North Sports & Entertainment said the MTS Centre, which opened in the fall of 2004, is currently undergoing an approximately $1-million renovation, including a $500,000 upgrade to the ice plant.
Improvements are also planned for both the home and visiting teams’ dressing rooms, as well as the installation of acrylic glass surrounding the ice surface. (The latter is an NHL requirement designed to reduce concussions.)
Scott Brown, director of corporate communications at True North, declined to comment on specific construction activity.
“There are extensive renovations going on, renovations that need to be done before the season starts. They aren’t fundamental changes to the buildings,” he said.
At the Iceplex, the $26.6-million facility that opened with four rinks nine months ago, changes revolve around security for the players, who will practice there a dozen or more times this season.
For example, a fenced-in parking lot and added security will ensure that overly exuberant fans aren’t allowed to stake out players’ SUVs and high-end vehicles.
There’s also the matter of how to handle security when scheduling open and closed practices.
“It will be a mad house,” said one source.
“You don’t want the fans interfering with the practice. With 1,500 people cheering, it would be tough (for the coaches to run the practice). An open practice would have to be more of an event. Fans may have to watch from the restaurant.”
Remodeled
It’s also expected the restaurant, which is located on the second floor, will be remodeled with an NHL concept.
There are also plans to redo the logos in the centre of the four rinks as well as possibly change the colour scheme of the building — all dependant on what the team will ultimately be named.
Other activity at the MTS Centre includes the expansion of the number of corporate suites to 57 and the virtual doubling of the number of camera positions to 37.
The latter will involve an unspecified number of “seat kills.” Renovations to the MTS Centre press box started in 2010.
geoff.kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca