|
Post by jimsabo21 on Jan 31, 2011 22:15:52 GMT -5
Nobody supports the NHL returning to Winnipeg more than I do, and I truly believe selling all 15,000 seats will be easy. That said, when comparing "club seat" pricing of other NHL rinks, there is one pretty big difference ...
Almost all newer rinks in the NHL have standard 19 or 20 inch seats. Their club sections can have seats up to 22 inches wide. These seats can sell for $150-$200 each and are often the only seat appropriate for an overweight hockey fan.
The "widest seats" at the MTS Centre are 19 inches wide (located in the John Labatte Lounge). Unfortunately, each and every other seat in the MTS Centre is only 17 inches wide which is about as small as a seat can get. So, if you want to pay $7500 per seat to sit at centre ice, your comfort level will be less than someone sitting behind the net in the John Labatte Lounge. When you think about it, an MTS Centre seat on the red line is up to 5 inches more narrow than the same seat in the new Pittsburg arena.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a huge guy, and fit in the seats fine. However, think of your typical middle aged hefty "well to do" professional in a parka paying $150 to sit near centre ice. If you can afford $15,000 per year for two season tickets, you are probably used to the small comforts in life (flying business class, drive a big SUV, etc ..).
As a Moose Season ticket holder, I think the "crowdedness" of the row is somewhat masked because it's rare that everyone in your row actually shows up to the game. For instance, the seat beside my season ticket is unoccupied 50% of the time. We use this free seat to pile the jackets, etc. However, when our row is full, you certainly notice the lack of elbow room.
Am I the only one that has noticed this?
|
|
|
Post by archiseek on Jan 31, 2011 22:19:53 GMT -5
It's been said to me by someone who regularly goes to Canucks games that the seats are small here - and the clearance between rows is shorter too....
|
|
|
Post by Ric O. on Jan 31, 2011 22:21:47 GMT -5
Nope, you're not the only one. It is close.
|
|
|
Post by jimsabo21 on Jan 31, 2011 22:27:01 GMT -5
Well, I guess now that this thread got burried in the "MTS Centre and Beyond", we'll get few other opinions ... does anyone know the average size of NHL seats in other rinks?? Tough to find information about this stuff except for brand new buildings
|
|
|
Post by jimsabo21 on Jan 31, 2011 22:39:37 GMT -5
I will try to compile the seat sizes of other rinks:
Consol Energy Center (Pittsburgh): Up to 24 inches (can't find the smallest seats) ACC (Toronto): All seats either 19 or 20 inches
|
|
|
Post by jhendrix70 on Jan 31, 2011 23:03:40 GMT -5
No offense but, why bother? Seems like a massive waste of life to find out width of seats at NHL venues. It's not going to change the MTSC seat configuration currently in place!
Just enjoy the 17" seats we have, appreciate how intimate games will be and go from there.
|
|
|
Post by jimsabo21 on Jan 31, 2011 23:23:43 GMT -5
No offense but, why bother? Seems like a massive waste of life to find out width of seats at NHL venues. It's not going to change the MTSC seat configuration currently in place! Just enjoy the 17" seats we have, appreciate how intimate games will be and go from there. Because I am curious by nature. Always have been, and it's served me very well so far. I think it's somewhat relevant because we aren't really comparing apples to apples when we speak of "premium seating".
|
|
|
Post by aj9000 on Feb 1, 2011 11:45:48 GMT -5
We use this free seat to pile the jackets, etc. However, when our row is full, you certainly notice the lack of elbow room. I do not go to the MTS centre that often at the moment; however, when I go in the winter, I park at the library and leave my jacket in the car and take the walk ways to the MTS centre
|
|
|
Post by jetsorbust on Feb 1, 2011 12:33:18 GMT -5
We use this free seat to pile the jackets, etc. However, when our row is full, you certainly notice the lack of elbow room. I do not go to the MTS centre that often at the moment; however, when I go in the winter, I park at the library and leave my jacket in the car and take the walk ways to the MTS centre No doubt bigger seats would be better, all else equal. But we're hockey fans, not fickle southerners looking to be entertained by laser lights and free give away tickets - I'll settle for a slightly smaller seat if it means our arena cost bloody half of what other arenas do!
|
|
|
Post by The Unknown Poster on Feb 1, 2011 13:19:24 GMT -5
I also find the seats uncomfortable, being a guy of 6'2" 240+ lbs. But of the times I've been to MTSC (A few concerts, wrestling, one Moose game), it's never more than a slight annoyance. Ie., it's never the thing I talk about when I leave.
And still do this day, when I walk in there, when I am sitting in my tight seat, I still marvel at the beauty of MTSC.
The way I see it, we could have had 20" seats, large spaces between the rows and it would have been luxurious watching the Moose for the next 50 years. I'll take 17" and watch the NHL.
I can't do anything about the cramped conditions on airlines either. So what.
|
|
|
Post by jimsabo21 on Feb 1, 2011 14:23:23 GMT -5
I agree with everything you all have to say. I am in the same boat, I will pay whatever it costs to watch NHL hockey - and will do so gladly. Keep in mind we are 1000 strong registered on JetsOwner, so our level of passion is obviously higher than most. I'm thinking of the other "over sized" guys who may be able to afford NHL hockey, but the seat sizes COULD BE somewhat of a deterrent.
Anyway, the Labatte Lounge has approx 1200 seats that can accomodate any size. I know the guys at True North would be smart enough to push through wider seats in other areas if need be. Here is a simple idea on improvements in this area:
The genius in the MTS Centre design is that the "wide" seats inside the John Labatte lounge are (in theory), the "worst view in the lower bowl". The home team only shoots on that goal in the 2nd period; yet, this is the most expensive section in the rink! It costs more to sit behind the goal than it does to sit on the red line!
With that thought in mind, I think it might make sense for the MTS Centre to convert a few "less desirable" sections in the upper deck into a "mr. big and tall" (give it a fancy name like "platnium level" seating). Throw in waiter service, private bathrooms and private beer stand, and charge $95 per seat instead of $35. Each section in the upper deck has approx 10 rows, and each row has 15 seats. If you convert 3 sections in the upper deck above the Labatte Lounge, a row of 15 is reduced to a row of 13. However, each section turns into $506,350 of season ticket revenue instead of $215,250. If there would be demand for 3 sections in the upper deck of "platimum seating", that equates to an extra $1,000,000 per year in revenue.
This way, you kill two birds with one stone. You increase the comfort level for those that require it (bigger guys) while generating MORE revenue than you would have otherwise generated.
|
|
|
Post by Chewsonius on Feb 1, 2011 15:24:35 GMT -5
I am glad somebody started a thread on this. This is a serious issue, and I gaurantee that the size of the seats at MTSC will keep some people from coming to games. I am extremely disappointed that we will be stuck with this $130 Million arena for decades to come, while Quebec City, a similar size city, makes plans to build a beautiful $400 Million arena that will be larger both in capacity and the size of the seats. I know the politics of the two situations are much different, with Quebec having alot more federal votes than Manitoba, as well as the city and province ponying up $45 Million and $180 Million respectively, but I can't help but be disappointed.
That being said, back to the seats. When I go to Moose games, I pick my own seats, as I know there are certain rows where if you sit at the end, there is some extra leg room. I should add that I am 6'3 - 6'4, about 220 lbs. These tend to be in higher priced sections, no problem for a Moose game, but becomes an issue for me with NHL pricing. Availability of these seats may also be an issue with an NHL product, and I cannot afford season tickets in a premium section. I am 26 and on the lower end of the middle income bracket, and just bought my first home. I do not plan on giving up my Bomber season tickets if the NHL returns, and I expect those costs to rise with the new stadium, so my entertainment budget is limited. I am a big supporter of the ROTJ campaign and pledge to step up to the plate when it happens, but I have yet to determine my game plan. It will depend on the availability and price of seats that have more room, which will likely mean I will pay more and go to less games. On a recent trial run at a Moose game with my dad and brothers, my dad determined he was not prepared to pay NHL prices for the uncomfortable seating. Before the game, he was interested in attending 5 - 10 games per year.
|
|
|
Post by Chewsonius on Feb 1, 2011 15:55:37 GMT -5
I may have to support Winnipeg's new NHL team at the away games instead, my GF is a Westjetter and as her travel companion I can fly anywhere for very, very cheap. Here is what some current NHL cities have to offer me if I choose to attend a game at their arena instead, most of which do not have hobbit-sized seats:
NYI: 2 lower bowl hockey tickets + 2 tickets for a concert of my choosing - $99
Coyotes: $24.75/ticket at beautiful jobing.com arena, and $1 beer and hotdogs. Oh ya, a free snuggie as well. Don't get me started on the weather and the golf.
Florida: Starting at $15/ticket.
Tampa Bay: $25 ticket including all you can eat peanuts, nachos, hotdogs, popcorn, soda and water. Or 4 tickets, 4 hotdogs, 4 sodas, for $56.
Nashville: Go to a game on a Tuesday and get 2 tickets for $22. All concession items are $2. Also included is a $5 gas voucher for your fuel.
Atlanta: I stay with my cousins and take them both to the game - $85 for 4 tickets and four combo meals
|
|
|
Post by brent006 on Feb 1, 2011 16:27:57 GMT -5
No offense but, why bother? Seems like a massive waste of life to find out width of seats at NHL venues. It's not going to change the MTSC seat configuration currently in place! Just enjoy the 17" seats we have, appreciate how intimate games will be and go from there. In addition to this, each period is only 20 minutes long (30 or so real minutes). Get up and stretch after each period!
|
|
|
Post by The Unknown Poster on Feb 2, 2011 14:40:20 GMT -5
We're lucky to have the arena we have. Think of the economic realities that existed in Winnipeg when True North had the vision to get it done. It's why we are in line for an NHL team now. It would be great to go back in time and build it larger or convince the idiot city to allow the side streets to be closed for a larger footprint etc...but we got what we got and it's very, very nice.
In 25 years or so when we have enjoyed an NHL team all that time and discussion turns to a new arena, we can build a palace. Hmmm...I wonder where that would be, probably some dilapidated downtown area not far from MTSC. Maybe Portage Place...lol
Question: How do you get into Labatt Lounge? I was at MTSC for a wrestling event and as we passed the lounge, a friend of mine was waved in by a friend of his and as I followed, I was practically jumped by the door guy.
|
|
|
Post by Guardian on Feb 2, 2011 14:55:02 GMT -5
I took my dad to a Team Canada World Junior pre-tournament game and the one thing I noticed is the seats were really small.
Unfortunately, I don't think much can be done about this.
|
|
|
Post by The Unknown Poster on Feb 2, 2011 14:59:21 GMT -5
I will try to go to some games when the NHL returns but season tickets aren't in the cards for me. I know walk ups will be hard to get though. Where the team will make money off of someone like me is a PPV Jets channel.
If they had every game on TV, I would buy that and use my 52" to its full capabilities.
|
|
|
Post by jimsabo21 on Feb 2, 2011 15:57:22 GMT -5
Question: How do you get into Labatt Lounge? I was at MTSC for a wrestling event and as we passed the lounge, a friend of mine was waved in by a friend of his and as I followed, I was practically jumped by the door guy. Any seat in section 124, 125, 126, 127, 224, 225, 226 and 227 are considered "John Labatt Lounge Sections". Basically, all seats are 19" wide (bigger seats), you have access to the Lounge, Private Bathrooms and in-seat service (for food and drinks).
|
|
|
Post by shtinky on Feb 2, 2011 16:00:49 GMT -5
What will happen to The Exchange Bar and Grill on the main floor when the NHL returns? That whole area is wasted space right now. A nice ice-level restaurant which basically serves up burgers to a handful of people on event nights - that could be a lot better than it is.
|
|
|
Post by allthisgold on Mar 14, 2011 14:30:21 GMT -5
There is no doubt that the seats are small. Some rows, such as directly above an entryway have even less leg room than other seats. However, a hockey game is only 3 hours and I will have no problem toughing it out. I will be more interested in watching the product on the ice than thinking about the seat sizes.
I love the MTS Centre so I don't want to bash it but another issue that I have found is that for some rows in the upper deck it is really hard to see the ice on the near boards.
|
|