WINNIPEG – It’s usually home to the Winnipeg Jets but this weekend MTS Centre transforms into a dirt track that’s home to Monster Jam, the monster truck extravaganza.
“We need to cover the ice, remove the glass, remove all the dasher boards… protect the ice with two layers of plywood,” said MTS Centre senior director of facility operations Ed Meichsner.
The transformation takes about 90 truckloads of dirt, which are brought in to the area from just outside of Winnipeg.
The dirt dumping starts at 8:00 a.m. and continues for 10 straight hours until the entire surface is covered with dirt 12 inches thick. Then it’s time for the final touches on the course for Monster Jam.
“This year we’re calling it the hybrid track because it’s the perfect balance of the course for our freestyle action and our racing action,” said Derek Striegle. “It’s unlike anything that we’ve ever seen before in monster jam.”
All to be taken down and transformed into an ice rink before the next Jets home game Tuesday.
“Once the dirt’s out you got to clean the building, you got to dust everything down, you got to make sure everything’s fine and safe for everybody,” said Meichsner
A big job for some big trucks.
Comments