Canada Life Centre

Coordinates: 49°53′34″N 97°8′37″W / 49.89278°N 97.14361°W / 49.89278; -97.14361
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Canada Life Centre
The Phone Booth[1][2]
Exterior of Canada Life Centre (as MTS Centre) in 2010.
Canada Life Centre is located in Manitoba
Canada Life Centre
Canada Life Centre
Location in Manitoba
Canada Life Centre is located in Canada
Canada Life Centre
Canada Life Centre
Location in Canada
Former namesTrue North Centre (planning/construction)
MTS Centre (2004–2017)
Bell MTS Place (2017–2021)
Address300 Portage Avenue
LocationWinnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Coordinates49°53′34″N 97°8′37″W / 49.89278°N 97.14361°W / 49.89278; -97.14361
OwnerTrue North Sports & Entertainment
OperatorTrue North Sports & Entertainment
CapacityIce hockey: 15,321
Concerts: 16,345
Record attendance17,000 (Metallica concert - September 13, 2018)[3]
SurfaceIce
Construction
Broke groundApril 16, 2003[4]
BuiltApril 2003 - November 2004
OpenedNovember 16, 2004
Construction costCA$133.5 million
($207 million in 2021 dollars[5])
ArchitectSink Combs Dethlefs
Number TEN Architectural Group
Smith Carter
Project managerHammes Company
Structural engineerMartin/Martin, Inc. / Crosier Kilgour[6]
Services engineerM*E/MCW-AGE[7]
General contractorPCL Constructors Canada Inc.[8]
Tenants
Winnipeg Jets (NHL) (2011–present)
Manitoba Moose (AHL) (2004–2011, 2015–present)
Winnipeg Sea Bears (CEBL) (2023–present)
Winnipeg Alliance FC (CMISL) (2007, 2010)
Winnipeg Ice (WHL) (2023)
Website
Venue Website

Canada Life Centre (formerly Bell MTS Place) is an

indoor arena in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The arena is the home of the National Hockey League's Winnipeg Jets and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Manitoba Moose.[9][10][11]

The arena stands on the site of the former Eaton's Winnipeg store, and is owned and operated by True North Sports & Entertainment. The 440,000 square feet[4] (41,000 m2) building was constructed at a cost of $133.5 million CAD. It opened on November 16, 2004, as MTS Centre, replacing the since-demolished Winnipeg Arena. It has a capacity of 15,321 for hockey and 16,345 for concerts.

History

With the bankruptcy of the iconic Eaton's retailer, the famed store that was originally constructed in Winnipeg was emptied in late 2001.[12] Various alternative uses for the building (including residential condominiums) were suggested, but ultimately the arena was deemed to be the most viable and beneficial to the city's struggling downtown by Winnipeg Mayor Glen Murray and True North.[13] After a small, but emotional resistance to losing the Western Canadian landmark Eaton's building by some locals and the Save the Eaton's Coalition, which inspired a "group hug" of the "Big Store" by a reported 180 people in 2001, the store was demolished in 2002 to make way for the new entertainment complex.

The arena officially opened on November 16, 2004, replacing the aging

Timothy Eaton statue that was once a main feature of the store is also housed on the concourse of the arena, one floor directly above where it stood on the ground floor of the original Eaton's building.[14]

Originally known as the "True North Centre" during its planning and construction stages, it was named MTS Centre as part of a naming rights agreement with Manitoba Telecom Services (MTS). It was renamed Bell MTS Place on May 30, 2017 following Bell Canada's acquisition of MTS.[15][16] On June 15, 2021, True North announced that the naming rights had been sold to Winnipeg-based Canada Life Assurance Company under a 10-year agreement, renaming it Canada Life Centre.[17][18][19] It is often nicknamed "The Phone Booth", due to its naming rights having previously held by telecom companies.[1][2]

Events

Ice hockey

American Hockey League

SAP Center at San Jose) to be home to both an NHL team and its AHL affiliate.[9][10] Only the lower bowl, which has a capacity of 8,812, is used for the majority of Moose home games.[10]

The arena hosted the

AHL All-Star Classic
on February 1, 2006, in which Team Canada defeated Team PlanetUSA, 9-4.

National Hockey League

From 1972 to 1996, the original

Phoenix Coyotes
(now Arizona Coyotes).

Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, which sat 16,170 but lacked modern design elements. Chipman stated that the arena's current size was sufficient for an NHL team due to the unique economics of the local market.[21]

Prior to receiving an NHL team, the MTS Centre hosted several NHL preseason games. The first was held on September 17, 2006 between the Edmonton Oilers and the Phoenix Coyotes (the former Winnipeg Jets) in front of a sold-out crowd, which the Oilers won 5–0.[22] The NHL exhibition game became an annual event for the MTS Centre, concluding in September 2010 when the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Chicago Blackhawks, led by captain and Winnipeg-born Jonathan Toews, played the Tampa Bay Lightning in front of a crowd of 14,092.[23]'

On May 19, 2011,

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, and Premier of Manitoba Greg Selinger held a press conference at the MTS Centre to announce the deal, which was formally approved by the NHL Board of Governors three weeks later. As part of the transition to the NHL, the arena went through some minor renovations to bring it in line with the league's standards, including construction of additional press boxes, shuttered lighting, flexible rink glass, and an upgraded ice refrigeration system.[26]

As part of a partnership to subsidize the mortgage of MTS Centre in the wake of the Jets' return, the province reached a 20-year agreement with True North granting it up to $4 million in gaming revenue per-year from designated video lottery terminals downtown. These VLTs would initially be located at the Tavern United sports bar next door to MTS Centre, with the option for True North to construct its own lounge at the nearby Cityplace mall. True North would open a Shark Club sports bar and gaming centre at Cityplace in 2013.[27][28][29][30]

Further improvements were made over the next few years, including concourse improvements, installation of a new HD scoreboard, and the replacement of metal rails with plexiglass to eliminate obstructed views around the arena. A total of 278 premium seats were added to the upper level in 2015, slightly increasing the arena's capacity.[31]

With a capacity of just over 15,300 for NHL games, Canada Life Centre is currently the smallest permanent arena in the NHL.

Western Hockey League

In May 2023, the

Wayne Fleming Arena. [32] Previously, the Brandon Wheat Kings played select games at the arena due to scheduling conflicts with the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair
.

International

Canada Life Centre co-hosted the 2007 IIHF Women's World Championship with Selkirk, which was won by Canada. Other international matches hosted at the arena included 2005 World Junior Championship pretournament games, the fifth game of the 2007 Super Series between Canada and Russia, and the medal round of the 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge.

Curling

Canada Life Centre hosted the

Canadian Open
.

Combat sports

On June 15, 2013, the arena hosted UFC 161.[33]

In professional wrestling, it hosted a broadcast of WWE Raw on February 24, 2020, which was ultimately the final non-hockey event to be held at the arena before the implementation of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.[34][35] WWE SmackDown was broadcast from Canada Life Centre on September 30, 2022, as part of WWE's first shows in Canada since the beginning of the pandemic.[36][35]

On March 15, 2023,

Mayor of Winnipeg Scott Gillingham and Premier of Manitoba Heather Stefanson with a portion of Winnipeg’s Wordsworth Way being renamed Chris Jericho Way, and a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.[38]

Entertainment

Main article: List of entertainment events at Canada Life Centre

Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum

Main article: Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "The Phone Booth is rockin'". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Kreviazuk, Chris (January 23, 2012). "Fixing Up The Phone Booth". NHL.com. Winnipeg Jets. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  3. ^ "Metallica breaks attendance record, dishes $10K to Winnipeg Harvest". CBC.ca. September 14, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "Quick Facts". True North Sports & Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  5. ^ 1688 to 1923: Geloso, Vincent, A Price Index for Canada, 1688 to 1850 (December 6, 2016). Afterwards, Canadian inflation numbers based on Statistics Canada tables 18-10-0005-01 (formerly CANSIM 326-0021) "Consumer Price Index, annual average, not seasonally adjusted". Statistics Canada. Retrieved April 17, 2021. and table 18-10-0004-13 "Consumer Price Index by product group, monthly, percentage change, not seasonally adjusted, Canada, provinces, Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit". Statistics Canada. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  6. ^ "Crosier Kilgour - Projects". Archived from the original on September 7, 2011.
  7. ^ "Number TEN Group - Recreation".
  8. ^ "MTS Centre | Buildings | EMPORIS". November 2, 2012. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012.
  9. ^ a b "True North relocates AHL franchise to Winnipeg". Winnipeg Jets. March 12, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
  10. ^
    CTV Winnipeg
    . Retrieved March 13, 2015.
  11. ^ "TRUE NORTH SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED UNVEILS MANITOBA MOOSE AS NAME OF AHL FRANCHISE & ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF TICKET CAMPAIGN". MooseHockey.com. Manitoba Moose. May 4, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  12. ^ a b "MTS Centre (True North Centre". PCL Construction. Archived from the original on September 6, 2008. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  13. ^ Ternette, Nick (December 3, 2009). "The MTS Centre Has Not Revitalized Downtown". The Uniter. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  14. ^ "Timothy Eaton statue begins relocation to MTS Centre". Concertticketcenter.com. October 29, 2003. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
  15. ^ "MTS Centre, Iceplex renamed following Bell takeover of MTS". CBC News. Canadian Press. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  16. ^ "Jets home arena renamed Bell MTS Place". NHL.com. NHL Enterprises, L.P. May 30, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  17. ^ Winnipeg Jets PR (June 15, 2021). "Welcome to Canada Life Centre, home of the Winnipeg Jets". WinnipegJets.com. NHL Enterprises, L.P. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  18. ^ "Jets arena to be renamed Canada Life Centre". NHL.com. NHL Enterprises, L.P. June 16, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  19. ^ Moore, Kelly (June 15, 2021). "The home of the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose is getting a new name". GlobalNews.ca. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  20. ^ "Thrashers Headed to Winnipeg". ESPN. June 1, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  21. Yahoo Sports
    . Retrieved November 21, 2010.
  22. ^ The Canadian Press (September 16, 2006). "Former Jets Return to Winnipeg After 10 Years". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved May 17, 2009.[permanent dead link]
  23. ^ Wiebe, Ken (May 5, 2009). "Lightning to Host Oilers at MTS Centre". Winnipeg Sun. Retrieved May 17, 2009.
  24. ^ Brunt, Stephen (May 19, 2011). "Atlanta Thrashers Moving to Winnipeg". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  25. ^ "Sources: Thrashers Deal Not Done". ESPN. May 19, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
  26. ^ "Daly Says MTS Centre Meets Most League Standards As Is". TSN. June 9, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  27. ^ "Aboriginal leader wants province to put cards on table about Winnipeg 'casino'". Times Colonist. January 25, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  28. ^ Updates, Bartley Kives Posted: Last Modified: | (January 10, 2014). "Jan 2014: Teaming up for public money". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  29. ^ "Shark Club eating into First Nations gaming profits, says chief". CBC News. February 26, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  30. ^ Kives, Bartley (March 2, 2012). "Mar 2012: Millions to aid True North". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  31. ^ "MTS Centre Makeover". Winnipeg Sun. September 16, 2015.
  32. ^ "Winnipeg Ice to play WHL championship home games at Canada Life Centre". CBC News. May 9, 2023. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023.
  33. ^ Staff (March 5, 2013). "UFC hits Winnipeg for UFC 161 on June 15". ufc.com. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
  34. ^ Allen, Taylor (February 21, 2020). "Winnipeg's glory days in wrestling may be long past, but a resurgence could be brewing". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  35. ^ a b "WWE is returning to Winnipeg in January". CTV News Winnipeg. November 8, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  36. ^ Currier, Joseph (December 2, 2021). "WWE postpones January tour of Canada". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW results. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  37. ^ "Winnipeg is Jericho: Jericho, Omega at centre of AEW Dynamite in Winnipeg". CTV News Winnipeg. March 13, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  38. ^ McKendrick, Devon (March 15, 2023). "'I'm a very proud Winnipegger': Chris Jericho honoured by mayor and premier". CTV News Winnipeg. Retrieved April 18, 2023.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Canada Life Centre.
Preceded by Home of the Manitoba Moose
2004–2011 		Succeeded by
Mile One Centre
(as St. John's IceCaps
)
Preceded by
Mile One Centre
(as St. John's IceCaps
)
 Home of the Manitoba Moose
2015–present 		Succeeded by
present
Preceded by
Philips Arena
(as Atlanta Thrashers
)
 Home of the Winnipeg Jets
2011–present 		Succeeded by
present
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Canada_Life_Centre&oldid=1220021816"