WINNIPEG – More seats were added to the MTS Centre this summer — toilet seats, that is.
True North Sports & Entertainment increased washroom capacity in the 300 level during the NHL off-season by installing 52 new toilets and urinals. The renovation is part of True North 2020, a long-term, multimillion-dollar plan to give the MTS Centre a facelift.
“It’s all part of improving the experience,” said Kevin Donnelly, senior vice-president of venues and entertainment with True North Sports & Entertainment. “We’re going through the entire building and taking a look at not only where there were deficiencies but to also bring the building up from an AHL to NHL building.”
A total of $6 million worth of work was done to the downtown arena over the last few months. The biggest changes were to the upper concourse. On top of the bigger washrooms, two new lounges were built and the Observation Deck Bar & Buffet expanded. The largest of the two lounges is Towers, a 1,200-square-foot space overlooking Graham Avenue and Hargrave Street.
Other changes include a new bar on the suite level and a bigger Jets Gear store.
Future projects will see a new scoreboard installed, more HD screens added and the concourse updated.
Roughly $17 million in renovations has already been done to the MTS Centre since the Winnipeg Jets returned in 2011. True North expects an additional $23 million will be spent on upgrades over the next six years.
“We’re not looking at doing this on the back of increased costs, but we think we have a long term strategy to manage these costs,” said Donnelly.
Fans saw the new additions for the first time during Monday’s pre-season game between the Jets and Minnesota Wild.
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