Canada Life Centre

Canada Life Centre
Canada Life Centre when it was known as the MTS Centre
Winnipeg is located in Canada
Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Location in Canada
Winnipeg is located in Manitoba
Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Location in Manitoba
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
Elevation236 m (774 ft) AMSL
OwnerTrue North Sports & Entertainment
OperatorTrue North Sports & Entertainment
CapacityConcerts: 16,345
Ice hockey: 8,812–15,225
Record attendance17,000
(2018 Metallica concert)
SurfaceIce
Construction
StartedApril 16, 2003
BuiltApril 2003 – November 2004
OpenedNovember 16, 2004 (2004-11-16)
Construction costC$133.5 million
($178 million in 2020)
ArchitectSink Combs Dethlefs
Number TEN Architectural Group
Smith Carter
Project managerHammes Company
General contractorPCL Constructors Canada
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
canadalifecentre.ca

Canada Life Centre is a multi-purpose sports arena located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is the home arena for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Winnipeg Sea Bears of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). It is also the home of the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League (AHL).

History

After the Canadian retail company Eaton's went bankrupt, the building was left vacant. It was then bought and replaced the Winnipeg Arena which was demolished on March 26, 2006. The arena was originally known as True North Centre during planning but naming rights were bought by Manitoba Telecom Services (MTS).

The arena opened on November 16, 2004 with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League (AHL) moving in and becoming the main tenant of the arena. They played their first game in the building the next day and defeated the St. John's Maple Leafs 4–2 in front of a sellout crowd.

On June 1, 2011, it was announced by True North Sports & Entertainment chairman Mark Chipman, National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman, and Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger that a deal had been finalized to by the Atlanta Thrashers and relocate them to Winnipeg, with them playing their home games at MTS Centre. On October 9, 2011, the newly-reborn Winnipeg Jets played their first regular season NHL game back in Winnipeg after 15 years. They lost to the Montreal Canadiens 5-1 in front of a sold-out MTS Centre.

After Bell Canada purchased MTS in spring 2017, the arena was renamed to MTS Centre on May 30 and then Bell MTS Place when Bell Canada took over the company. The most recent name change was on July 15, 2021, when insurance and financial services company Canada Life entered into a 10-year naming rights agreement with True North Sports & Entertainment, which owns both the Jets and the arena. It was renamed to the Canada Life Centre.

The arena has been home to the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League (AHL), the Jets' top minor-league team, two different times. The team first played there from 2004 to 2011 before moving to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, and then returned to Winnipeg in 2015.

References

  1. ↑ "Metallica breaks attendance record, dishes $10K to Winnipeg Harvest". CBC.ca. September 14, 2018.
  2. ↑ Inflated values automatically calculated.
  3. ↑ "From the CBC archives: Hello MTS Centre … goodbye, 'Old Barn'". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Atlanta Loses Thrashers as N.H.L. Returns to Winnipeg". The New York Times. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Jets lose, Winnipeg wins". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  6. ↑ "MTS Centre, Iceplex renamed following Bell takeover of MTS". CBC. The Canadian Press. May 30, 2017. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Jets arena to be renamed Canada Life Centre". NHL.com. NHL Enterprises, L.P. June 16, 2021. Archived from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  8. ↑ 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.

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