In order to be accepted and then to be successful in the National Hockey League, the city of Winnipeg probably needs a new arena. MTS Centre is too small in so many ways and to get the league to ever approve the move of a team from a major U.S. market to a tiny, prairie burg like Winnipeg, might take a bigger rink.
However, when it comes to sports facilities, that’s not the biggest problem the city faces.
The city of Winnipeg is absolutely desperate for a new 5,000-to-8,000-seat hockey arena.
When you consider that last year’s Manitoba Junior Hockey League final had to be played at the tired, cold, old and bleachered St. James Civic Centre; when you consider that our almost-defunct Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League franchise was forced to play all of its games on the road last season because there is no facility in Winnipeg; and when you consider that Winnipeg has entrepreneurs all set to acquire National Lacrosse League, NBA-Development League and Western Hockey League teams, but can’t because there is no available building in which to play, then perhaps it’s time for our governments to bury that stupid non-compete agreement with the MTS Centre, grow some balls and build something the city really needs
“I’m convinced that with the right building, we would have an NBA-D League team and an Indoor Football League team, whether it’s AFL II or IFL or whatever, if we had a proper facility,” said Earl Barish, the former owner of the IBA’s Winnipeg Cyclone and a man who has been in constant contact with the NBA.
“Winnipeg could be an international hub of minor pro sports franchises, if – and it’s a big if – we had a place to play.”
Right now, if some intelligent – and courageous – entrepreneur were prepared to build, he or she could draw the following leagues to Winnipeg…
1. The National Lacrosse League has stated publicly, it wants to expand to Winnipeg.
2. Barish has a conditional NBA-Development League franchise if a proper building is ever constructed.
3. Indoor Football. Both Barish and Winnipeg Goldeyes owner Sam Katz have been in contact with a number of representatives from the Arena Football League 2 and the Indoor Football League over the years as have members of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers board.
4. There are at least two ownership groups prepared to bring a Western Hockey League franchise to Winnipeg.
5. The Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League’s Winnipeg Alliance would be playing here right now if there was a proper place to play.
6. The top native hockey tournaments, the big ones that draw dozens of teams and thousands of fans, could finally have a home in Winnipeg.
7. The Manitoba Junior Hockey League, the remaining national volleyball team, figure skating, curling and the city’s two universities could all use the building for major events.
If anyone had the vision and foresight to build this arena, they would be sports heroes in this province for the next 100 years.
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