True North Sports & Entertainment
Encyclopedia
True North Sports and Entertainment Limited (TNSE) is a Winnipeg
, Manitoba
based company that owns and operates the MTS Centre
in downtown Winnipeg
and the Winnipeg Jets
of the National Hockey League
. The company also owns the Jets' minor league affiliate, the St. John's IceCaps
of the American Hockey League
(formerly the Manitoba Moose
). Aside from hockey, TNSE is also active in bringing high-profile concerts and shows to Winnipeg.
and several local investors. Their goal was to build a new entertainment and sports venue in downtown Winnipeg
to help revive the city's downtown area and possibly one day bring an NHL franchise back to Winnipeg. The original Winnipeg Jets played in the city from 1972 to 1996 before relocating to Phoenix, Arizona
. Ownership of the Moose was transferred to TNSE in 2003.
The 15,004-seat MTS Centre
was completed in fall 2004 and became the new home of the Moose, replacing the Winnipeg Arena
. The arena was built at a cost of $133.5 million on land acquired from Osmington Incorporated, a real estate firm owned by Toronto billionaire David Thomson
. In exchange for the land, Osmington took a minority share in TNSE. Since its opening, the new arena has also hosted numerous concerts and other non-hockey events, and become one of the busiest entertainment venues in North America.
Chipman and Thomson (through Osmington) gradually bought out TNSE's other shareholders to gain sole ownership of the company. Chipman's shares are held through his family's holding company, Megill-Stephenson Co., of which he is president. Megill-Stephenson also owns the Birchwood Automotive Group
in Winnipeg.
In summer 2010, TNSE opened the MTS Iceplex
, an arena and training complex located on the western edge of Winnipeg, just north of the Birchwood dealerships. The Iceplex features four ice surfaces and is used by several amateur teams, local minor hockey
, and recreational leagues. The Jets also use it as their training and practice facility. The Iceplex has also hosted major events, such as the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge
.
In May 2011, TNSE purchased the Atlanta Thrashers
and relocated the team to Winnipeg, subsequently renaming them the Winnipeg Jets. As a result, TNSE relocated the Moose to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
for the 2011-12 season, renaming them the St. John's IceCaps
. The IceCaps are the top minor league affiliate of the Jets.
, in New York to make a presentation about bringing an NHL team to Winnipeg, either through expansion or relocation. TNSE wasn't alone—the NHL also met with interested parties from Houston, Kansas City
, Seattle, and Las Vegas--but were most impressed by the presentation by the Winnipeg group.
In 2009, Bettman approached Chipman about the possibility of taking over the struggling Phoenix Coyotes
. The Coyotes were on the verge of declaring bankruptcy
and were purchased by the league out of bankruptcy court later that year. In October, Chipman made a second presentation to the league about relocating a team to Winnipeg.
The Coyotes ownership issue remained unresolved in May 2010. As the league was not prepared to cover the team's losses for another season, the league executive reached a tentative agreement to sell the Coyotes to TNSE, allowing them to relocate the franchise back to Winnipeg. This was intended as a back-up plan, as the league's first choice was to keep the team in Arizona. With no other investors in place, the league asked the City of Glendale
to cover the Coyotes losses for the 2010-11 season. Facing a tight deadline, city council voted in favor of the deal rather than risk losing the primary tenant of their arena. According to Chipman, TNSE came "within ten minutes of acquiring (the Coyotes)".
After a failed bid to sell the team to Matthew Hulziser, the NHL and TNSE resumed their negotiations in spring of 2011. Glendale city council decided to cover the teams losses for another year, so TNSE shifted their focus on another opportunity—to acquire the Atlanta Thrashers from the Atlanta Spirit group
. On the morning of May 31, 2011, the sale was finalized and announced at a press conference held at the MTS Centre. The sale and relocation of the team to Winnipeg was approved by the NHL Board of Governors on June 21. Mark Chipman confirmed that the team would be known as the Jets at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft on June 24. The Jets played their inaugural game on October 9, 2011 in front of a sold-out crowd at the MTS Centre, losing 5-1 to the Montreal Canadiens
.
building, located across the street from the MTS Centre, into a new exhibition centre, named the MTS Centre Exhibition Hall. It opened on September 17, 2010, with the controversial Bodies: The Exhibition, which ran until the end of January 2011. On February 12, 2011, the hall opened it's doors to Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, which is produced by RMS Titanic Inc., it featured close to 200 of the over 5,500 collected artifacts from the doomed ocean liner. Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition wrapped up its stay in Winnipeg on July 31, 2011.
On August 19, 2011, the MTS Centre Exhibition Hall opened its final showcase, Da Vinci the Genius. The show is expected to run into November, however a final date has not been set.
The MTS Centre Exhibition Hall is expected to close permanently in late 2011 as TNSE's lease on the building runs out. The site has been slated for redevelopment.
The entire project will take up nearly the entire city block. Construction is expected to begin in November 2011 and be completed in 2013.
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
based company that owns and operates the MTS Centre
MTS Centre
The MTS Centre is an indoor sports arena and entertainment venue in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and home of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. It is located on the former Eaton's site and is owned and operated by True North Sports & Entertainment. The 440,000 square feet ...
in downtown Winnipeg
Downtown Winnipeg
Downtown Winnipeg is centred around Portage Avenue and Main Street, and is bounded by the Assiniboine River on the south, Colony and Balmoral Streets on the west, Notre Dame Avenue, Princess Street, and Logan Avenue on the north, and the Red River on the east. It includes the Exchange District,...
and the Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets were a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They began play in the World Hockey Association in 1972, moving to the National Hockey League in 1979 following the collapse of the WHA...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. The company also owns the Jets' minor league affiliate, the St. John's IceCaps
St. John's IceCaps
The St. John's IceCaps are a professional ice hockey team based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the American Hockey League and are the AHL affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League .From...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(formerly the Manitoba Moose
Manitoba Moose
The Manitoba Moose were a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba that played in the International Hockey League from 1996 to 2001 and American Hockey League from 2001 to 2011. The team moved to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador in 2011 to become the St...
). Aside from hockey, TNSE is also active in bringing high-profile concerts and shows to Winnipeg.
History
TNSE was founded in 2001 by Manitoba Moose co-owner Mark ChipmanMark Chipman
Mark Chipman is the principal owner and chairman of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. He is also chairman of True North Sports & Entertainment, which operates the Jets and their home arena, the MTS Centre....
and several local investors. Their goal was to build a new entertainment and sports venue in downtown Winnipeg
Downtown Winnipeg
Downtown Winnipeg is centred around Portage Avenue and Main Street, and is bounded by the Assiniboine River on the south, Colony and Balmoral Streets on the west, Notre Dame Avenue, Princess Street, and Logan Avenue on the north, and the Red River on the east. It includes the Exchange District,...
to help revive the city's downtown area and possibly one day bring an NHL franchise back to Winnipeg. The original Winnipeg Jets played in the city from 1972 to 1996 before relocating to Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. Ownership of the Moose was transferred to TNSE in 2003.
The 15,004-seat MTS Centre
MTS Centre
The MTS Centre is an indoor sports arena and entertainment venue in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and home of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. It is located on the former Eaton's site and is owned and operated by True North Sports & Entertainment. The 440,000 square feet ...
was completed in fall 2004 and became the new home of the Moose, replacing the Winnipeg Arena
Winnipeg Arena
Winnipeg Arena was an indoor arena located at 1430 Maroons Road in Winnipeg, Manitoba, across the street from Canad Inns Stadium and just north of Polo Park.Built in 1955, it was owned by community-owned Winnipeg Enterprises Corporation...
. The arena was built at a cost of $133.5 million on land acquired from Osmington Incorporated, a real estate firm owned by Toronto billionaire David Thomson
David Thomson, 3rd Baron Thomson of Fleet
David Kenneth Roy Thomson, 3rd Baron Thomson of Fleet is a Canadian media magnate. He is the son of the late Kenneth Thomson, 2nd Baron Thomson of Fleet and his siblings are actress Taylor Thomson and Peter Thomson...
. In exchange for the land, Osmington took a minority share in TNSE. Since its opening, the new arena has also hosted numerous concerts and other non-hockey events, and become one of the busiest entertainment venues in North America.
Chipman and Thomson (through Osmington) gradually bought out TNSE's other shareholders to gain sole ownership of the company. Chipman's shares are held through his family's holding company, Megill-Stephenson Co., of which he is president. Megill-Stephenson also owns the Birchwood Automotive Group
Birchwood Automotive Group
The Birchwood Automotive Group, headquartered in the Pointe West AutoPark in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is Manitoba's largest automotive dealership group....
in Winnipeg.
In summer 2010, TNSE opened the MTS Iceplex
MTS Iceplex
The MTS Iceplex and Hockey Canada Centre of Excellence is an ice hockey facility located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The building, which opened in August 2010, is owned and operated by True North Sports and Entertainment, which also owns the MTS Centre in downtown Winnipeg and the Winnipeg...
, an arena and training complex located on the western edge of Winnipeg, just north of the Birchwood dealerships. The Iceplex features four ice surfaces and is used by several amateur teams, local minor hockey
Minor hockey
Minor hockey is an umbrella term for amateur ice hockey which is played below the junior age level. Players are classified by age, with each age group playing in its own league. The rules, especially as it relates to body contact, vary from class to class...
, and recreational leagues. The Jets also use it as their training and practice facility. The Iceplex has also hosted major events, such as the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge
2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge
The 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge was an ice hockey tournament held in Winnipeg and Portage La Prairie Manitoba, Canada between December 29, 2010 and January 4, 2011. The World Under-17 Hockey Challenge is held by Hockey Canada annually to showcase young hockey talent from across Canada...
.
In May 2011, TNSE purchased the Atlanta Thrashers
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...
and relocated the team to Winnipeg, subsequently renaming them the Winnipeg Jets. As a result, TNSE relocated the Moose to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
for the 2011-12 season, renaming them the St. John's IceCaps
St. John's IceCaps
The St. John's IceCaps are a professional ice hockey team based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the American Hockey League and are the AHL affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League .From...
. The IceCaps are the top minor league affiliate of the Jets.
Bringing the NHL back to Winnipeg
In January 2007, Chipman was invited to meet NHL executives, including commissioner Gary BettmanGary Bettman
Gary Bruce Bettman is the commissioner of the National Hockey League , a post he has held since February 1, 1993. Previously, Bettman was a senior vice-president and general counsel to the National Basketball Association...
, in New York to make a presentation about bringing an NHL team to Winnipeg, either through expansion or relocation. TNSE wasn't alone—the NHL also met with interested parties from Houston, Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Seattle, and Las Vegas--but were most impressed by the presentation by the Winnipeg group.
In 2009, Bettman approached Chipman about the possibility of taking over the struggling Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
. The Coyotes were on the verge of declaring bankruptcy
Phoenix Coyotes bankruptcy
In addition to the bankruptcy of the Phoenix Coyotes, this article discusses the NHL's efforts to sell the club since purchasing it out of bankruptcy.----...
and were purchased by the league out of bankruptcy court later that year. In October, Chipman made a second presentation to the league about relocating a team to Winnipeg.
The Coyotes ownership issue remained unresolved in May 2010. As the league was not prepared to cover the team's losses for another season, the league executive reached a tentative agreement to sell the Coyotes to TNSE, allowing them to relocate the franchise back to Winnipeg. This was intended as a back-up plan, as the league's first choice was to keep the team in Arizona. With no other investors in place, the league asked the City of Glendale
Glendale, Arizona
Glendale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, located about nine miles northwest from Downtown Phoenix. According to 2010 Census Bureau, the population of the city is 226,721....
to cover the Coyotes losses for the 2010-11 season. Facing a tight deadline, city council voted in favor of the deal rather than risk losing the primary tenant of their arena. According to Chipman, TNSE came "within ten minutes of acquiring (the Coyotes)".
After a failed bid to sell the team to Matthew Hulziser, the NHL and TNSE resumed their negotiations in spring of 2011. Glendale city council decided to cover the teams losses for another year, so TNSE shifted their focus on another opportunity—to acquire the Atlanta Thrashers from the Atlanta Spirit group
Atlanta Spirit, LLC
Atlanta Spirit, LLC is an Atlanta, Georgia-based partnership who owned the NBA's Atlanta Hawks and their home arena, Philips Arena. The seven partners who comprise the group are Michael Gearon, Jr., Bruce Levenson, Ed Peskowitz, J. Rutherford Seydel, Todd Foreman, J. Michael Gearon, Sr., and Beau...
. On the morning of May 31, 2011, the sale was finalized and announced at a press conference held at the MTS Centre. The sale and relocation of the team to Winnipeg was approved by the NHL Board of Governors on June 21. Mark Chipman confirmed that the team would be known as the Jets at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft on June 24. The Jets played their inaugural game on October 9, 2011 in front of a sold-out crowd at the MTS Centre, losing 5-1 to the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
.
MTS Centre Exhibition Hall
In August 2010, TNSE announced it was converting the former A&B SoundA&B Sound
A&B Sound was a Canadian home electronics retailer based in Richmond, British Columbia. Its flagship store was located in Downtown Vancouver, and the chain expanded to other cities in B.C. and in western Canada, but the company began struggling in the 2000s decade and collapsed altogether in 2008.-...
building, located across the street from the MTS Centre, into a new exhibition centre, named the MTS Centre Exhibition Hall. It opened on September 17, 2010, with the controversial Bodies: The Exhibition, which ran until the end of January 2011. On February 12, 2011, the hall opened it's doors to Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, which is produced by RMS Titanic Inc., it featured close to 200 of the over 5,500 collected artifacts from the doomed ocean liner. Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition wrapped up its stay in Winnipeg on July 31, 2011.
On August 19, 2011, the MTS Centre Exhibition Hall opened its final showcase, Da Vinci the Genius. The show is expected to run into November, however a final date has not been set.
The MTS Centre Exhibition Hall is expected to close permanently in late 2011 as TNSE's lease on the building runs out. The site has been slated for redevelopment.
Hotel and retail complex
On June 28, 2011, Longboat Development Corporation, the real estate development wing of TNSE's parent company, Megill-Stephenson, announced plans for a $75 million development of a mixed-use tower across from the MTS Centre, on the north side of Portage Avenue. The key part of the project is a 20-storey, 200000 square feet (18,580.6 m²) tower featuring commercial space and a hotel. Most of the tower will be occupied by two tenants: Canadian firm Stantec and the Quebec-based Groupe Germain. Stantec will consolidate its Winnipeg operations within the tower's office space, while the Germaine Group will open an ALT Hotel that will occupy the top twelve floors. The rest of the building will be used as restaurant and retail space. A 450-stall parkade is also planned.The entire project will take up nearly the entire city block. Construction is expected to begin in November 2011 and be completed in 2013.