Sports Arena Facilities Management is Hard at Work up in Winnipeg
Up in Winnipeg, Manitoba facility management personnel are working on the implementation of new hockey facilities and the improvement of old ones. Let's back up a minute, though. Canada, as you are probably aware, is the birthplace of hockey; despite the sport originating there, only seven cities (Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver) north of the border currently have teams in the world's premier hockey league, the NHL.
Until this past offseason, that number was just six. That's because Winnipeg's franchise was moved southwest to Phoenix, Arizona. Despite its own stadium and revenue issues, the Coyotes, as they are now known, still play out in the desert. However, another southern hockey club was facing dire straits and was forced to relocate. Founded in 1999, the Atlanta Thrashers became the Winnipeg Jets a few months ago.
With the first season for the new Jets (the old Winnipeg franchise was also called the Jets) now underway, the city is looking to reinvigorate hockey so that they can avoid losing a second NHL franchise, as Atlanta just did.
The local government has put forth an "expression of interest" in non-prof and community organizations or companies in order to spur development of state-of-the-art arenas. Architects and Facility Management Program facility management experts will come together and discuss what can be done to get projects for modern, attractive stadiums – not unlike the MTS Iceplex that serves as the Jets' practice facility and is home to the minor league Winnipeg Blues – rolling forward.
"We're looking for newer stuff," Mayor Sam Katz told the Winnipeg Sun. Continuing, he made mention of several obsolete and ramshackle local arenas that house a total of 44 sheets of ice — not all of which are owned and operated by the city.
"It would be nice if we could get some newer ones, instead of the older ones. That's what we're trying to do," he said. "We're trying to get new, improved, state-of-the-art." The mayor noted that "anybody can respond" with their plan for a certain kind of development, ownership arrangement or management model "with creative ideas" to improve the rink infrastructure.
"We all know the success of MTS Iceplex. We're going to look at other opportunities like that to see if there is anything," Katz said. "Could a for-profit come forward and build a four-plex? Is that possible? Yes. As could community-minded people, not for profit. Anybody can."
Any new buildings could also support other sports like soccer. Having them do so, though, will require even more creative thinking during the planning stages and would add another layer of difficulty for facilities management personnel once they open their doors.
Whatever they ultimately decide on, the important thing for the city is fostering a strong hockey culture so that the kids of today grow up to be the fans and players of tomorrow. Getting a hockey club is one thing; keeping it for good is an entire other matter, as Winnipeg has learned.
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