MTS Centre

MTS Centre is Winnipeg’s largest concert venue, with room for almost 17,000 fans. It is also the city’s largest arena, home ice to our professional hockey team, Manitoba Moose.

Celine Dion has played here. So have Cher, Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Tim McGraw, Lenny Kravitz, Feist and Neil Young.

Elton John had two sold-out shows here; but it was Metallica who drew the largest-ever crowd, a capacity 16,215, in 2009.

Booked for 2010 are: Guns ’n Roses, Motley Crue and Blue Rodeo plus Stars on Ice and Cirque du Soleil’s Alegria.

MTS Center is also the place to see basketball, indoor soccer, rodeo and motocross.

In just over 5 years (it was completed in 2004), MTS Center has become among the top 20 busiest concert and sports entertainment venues in North America (at # 19) and is in the top 30 in the world.

So if you come here for a concert or event, you’ll be in a good spot to enjoy the buzz and also in good company. More than 5 million people have joined the crowd here since it opened.

Granted, the place is one vast 444,000 square foot barn. Not much can be said for the acoustics. The sight-lines could be better. The rink is not regulation size, according to the National Hockey League. Lots of people still think it cost too much (others believe the iconic Eatons store that was torn down so it could be built should have been preserved).

It’s no nirvana, but if you want the mega-crowd mind-melting rock concert experience, MTS Centre delivers. (But be warned -- if you buy tickets to see Rock God or Rock Goddess up close and personal and pay top dollar to be on the floor, right in front of the band, don’t be surprised to find yourself parked on a flimsy metal folding chair for the show. That’s just the way it is.)

There are entrances at each corner, but the most convenient (and also closest to the box office) is at Portage and Donald (the corner with the glass cylinder).

Services in the building include the usual fast-food outlets. There are elevators and escalators and 27 washrooms.

Barrier-free seating (with companion seating) is available (but limited).

MTS Center is connected to the skywalk (to Portage Place and cityplace malls) and to Tavern United sports bar in the old Eaton’s powerhouse building.

Where to park near MTS Centre

Indoors at cityplace mall or Millenium Library or outdoors at city parking lots (there is one on almost every block downtown).