The MTS Centre Opened in Fall 2004 Courtesy Mtscentre.ca

Recently it has been rumoured that international architects have been sniffing around the MTS Centre, looking at various ways to increase seating capacity and/or the number of box seating. I have no idea if this is true.

But the significant question is this: Does the MTSC really need to be reworked for the NHL's return?

Evidence from April 4th makes anyone Offside who continue to believe the MTS Centre threatens Winnipeg's return to the NHL.

Another possibility to consider: would any potential changes to the MTSC make even more money for the team/rink owner?

Those two questions have never been made more clear then since April 4, 2009 with Gary Bettman’s email to Bill Daly and David Zimmerman, two of the NHL Commissioner’s top people. Courtesy of the Globe and Mail, see it for yourself on page 5 of 5:

http://v1.theglobeandmail.com/v5/content/pdf/bettman.pdf

In it, Gary Bettman states that should the Coyotes have to move, Winnipeg should be first offered the team before Hamilton as the building waiting in Southern Ontario is too old and clearly an issue to the NHL Commissioner. No mention of any concerns about the MTS Centre. Period.

This should tell us that the any perceived limitations of the MTSC as-is, certainly wouldn't hold back the NHL from offering us a team. This is a team in Arizona that might have to start seriously thinking about a relocation by the fall of 2009. Clearly, little in the way of rink modifications can be completed in less than one year to season puck drop.

And that is truly the second bit of good news coming out of this email; the first tidbit being that Winnipeg is most definitely on the NHL's mind when it comes, at least to team relocations, if not future expansion.

So if architects and others are looking at the rink then I suggest any shortcomings are not "franchise-threatening" but rather opportunities to see what if any return on investments are possible in considering changes to the MTSC. For all we know, the tire-kicking of potential changes may be nothing substantive, or they may be the signs of an NHL relocation coming to town sooner than most think or they may be completely unrelated to the NHL and much ado about nothing.

But at least we know that the NHL brass is satisfied with the MTSC as host to its' permanent return. And that is really our main concern.

Would I have loved for the new rink to be 50 boxes plus 16,500 seats? Sure thing! But I wasn't asked to pony up the cash to build it either! As long as the NHL, its’ board and the ownership is happy with the building, and the revenues it can generate, then really that’s all that matters.

The Summer of 2009 has offered nothing but tangible hope to ROTJ supporters. This private email between NHL brass being just one of those events.

Care to offer a differing view? www.mbmbforum.com awaits your post!

Chris
Chair, Manitoba Mythbusters
www.ManitobaMythbusters.com
www.myNHLincludesWinnipeg.com

~ The Reality May Surprise You! Excite You! ~