Winnipeg Jets
Rink: Canada Life Centre
Capacity: 15,321
Built: 2004
League: NHL
City: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Home Of: Winnipeg Jets
Games Attended: 1
Only Game: February 10, 2024 vs Pittsburgh
Unique Arena: #80
NHL Arena: #9
Canada Life Centre is located in the heart of downtown Winnipeg. It’s a red brick building that’s meant to take inspiration from the old flagship Eaton’s Store that stood in its place, until being torn down in the early 2000s to make way for what is now the home of the returned Winnipeg Jets. There are pedestrian bridges attaching it to several buildings around it, and I noticed many more through downtown Winnipeg. This photo was taken less than an hour into my first trip inside Manitoba, so I don’t know much of the history and why things are laid out the way they are, but I would assume it’s to help people stay inside away from their harsh winters. Outside sits a statue of former a Jet great, the late Dale Hawerchuk, which is fantastic.
Canada Life Centre is the smallest building in the NHL. With only 15,000 seats, it means even at the back row (which this picture is from) has a great view of the ice. Some seats along the side at the top of the upper bowl have an obstructed view of the scoreboard thanks to the overhanging press box, but otherwise there isn’t a bad seat in the house. The video board, while not nearly as massive as some in the league, is about the perfect side for the building. The lower bowl is steeper than most buildings of its size. The upper bowl is steep as well and it makes every seat so much closer to the ice than many other buildings in the NHL (that I’ve been to).
While the current Winnipeg Jets are a totally separate franchise from the original 1972-1996 Jets, it’s great to see them really embracing the history of the old team. It’s done in such a way that it feels like the Jets have always been around and have just updated their look over the years. I was lucky enough to attend on one of the nights where they wore their 1980s jerseys, which was fantastic and apparently a pretty regular occurrence. There is just as much retro Jets gear in the team stores as there are with the modern logos as well.
If a building like this was able to be built in the late 90s perhaps the Jets wouldn’t have left in the first place. That said there are much nicer buildings in the league that have more amenities. That can be chalked up to the fact that Canada Life Centre is now 20 years old, and was built at a time slightly before luxury totally took over. The concourses honestly feel like slightly bigger ones from Bud Gardens in London. There are Jets logos and colours everywhere and there’s no mistaking who really lives here, which is always a great touch.
As I said, the team has really embraced the history of the old Jets to the point that both franchises feel one and the same. As you can see here there are even banners up for old Jets players with period correct logos. Since the Jets’ return in 2011, the reputation of the fans and atmosphere in Winnipeg has usually been a rowdy one. When I got the chance to go to a Jets game, they were one of the top teams in the NHL standings, but after now 13 years of the team being back the crowd felt a little subdued. Eventually a very close and well played third period really woke them up and I got a glimpse of their reputation, but I didn’t expect to have to wait til the third period for a sold-out crowd on a Saturday night to get a Go Jets Go chant going.
That said I am very happy to have gotten to a Jets game. It might be the smallest market in the NHL, but I really hope this one will last long into the future, and I hope maybe one day down the line to get to go again.
