The building that has been hailed as the saviour of downtown Winnipeg and one of the catalysts for the return of the National Hockey League is getting a makeover.
Before the Winnipeg Jets make their much-anticipated return to the city this fall, about $1 million in improvements need to be made to the MTS Centre to bring it up to league standards.
At the top of the list is a $500,000 upgrade to its ice plant, the installation of acrylic glass around the ice surface and an overhaul of the home and visiting dressing rooms.
The number of luxury suites is also being expanded from 48 to 55, in part to accommodate the over-the-top support from the corporate community - there's a lengthy waiting list for the suites, which cost between $104,000 and $197,000 annually. The capacity of the press box is being increased as the building makes the jump from six years of hosting the American Hockey League.
The MTS Iceplex, the $26.2 million facility with four rinks that was built a year ago, is also getting an upgrade. Before it can become the part-time practice venue for the Jets, changes such as a fenced-in parking lot to provide the proper security for the players' vehicles, must be completed.
– Compiled by Geoff Kirbyson
from Western Investor August 2011
