MTS Centre Ranks 23rd in the World

From http://www.mtscentre.com/press_releases/content.php?press_id=54.

True North Sports & Entertainment Limited and the MTS Centre are pleased to announce PollStar Magazine, one of the leading journals in the entertainment industry, has placed the MTS Centre 23rd in their Mid-Year Top 100 list of arena venue ticket sales in the entire world.

Through the first six months of 2005, the MTS Centre has sold 111,694 tickets. These tickets sales include entertainment events only and do not include sporting events, such as hockey.

The MTS Centre is ranked fourth in Canada, ahead of such venues as the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary (40th), the Corel Centre in Ottawa (44th), Rexall Place in Edmonton (62nd), and General Motors Place in Vancouver (78th).

The MTS Centre was ranked 17th in North America, ahead of such venues as Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, CA (24th), the United Center in Chicago, IL (28th), the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO (31st), and Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN (42nd)., among others.

“Such a significant ranking in a one of the entertainment world’s most important magazines can be attributed to the acoustic attractiveness of the building to touring acts, its ability to adapt to different crowd sizes, and the work of our entertainment division and building management team, led by Senior Vice-President, Event Management and Building Operations, Kevin Donnelly,” said Jim Ludlow, President & CEO of True North Sports & Entertainment Ltd.

“This ranking in the entertainment industry around the world is a tremendous compliment to Winnipeg entertainment fans. It has been an extremely busy first six months of 2005,” said Donnelly, “and we can promise Winnipeggers an even busier next six months with the likes of Pearl Jam, Def Leppard, and other significant acts on the horizon.”

“To be named to the top 25 busiest arena venues in the world is a major accomplishment for the city of Winnipeg,” said Ludlow. “And we expect to maintain, if not improve our position in PollStar’s list due to the schedule of events that will come through the MTS Centre. In fact, to date, over 800,000 fans, including hockey, have come to the MTS Centre since it opened in November, 2004. We anticipate hitting the one million fan mark by our one-year anniversary in mid-November, 2005.”