What MTS Centre's new luxury suites will look like

[slippy]

By now everyone knows (or should know) the MTS Centre cannot and will not and doesn't need to expand seating. But it can however add several new luxury suites above the upper deck seating across from the press box. True North's latest e-mail indicates it's in a 5-year renovation and enhancement plan for the MTS Centre, or, as they put it: "fan experience improvement/capital expenditure multi-year plan" (until 2015), which, I personally believe, will finish in spectacular fashion with the addition of 10-12 new luxury suites. There certainly is demand for it. This will result in new official capacity for NHL games somewhere between 15,103 - 15,147.

Here's some pics of what it might look like:

(San Jose's arena, designed by the same architects as MTS Centre; you can see the suites at the top)


Bruins arena



MTS Centre currently has 57 luxury suites (including 2 party suites). The new total will be 67-69 suites. And these suites, since they're further from the ice, will be cheaper than the existing ones.

On a related note, the future home of the NY Islanders, Barclays Center, may seat only 14,500 for NHL hockey- but they have 100+ luxury suites in their building. Yikes! That's the NY market for ya though...


Suites will be located ACROSS from the press box. (side not shown in this photo)


These extra suites will bring a ton more money than 1,000 extra seats ever could. The great thing is, the Jets don't even need it.

[TheDeuce]

Nov 12, 2012 5:13:08 GMT -6 slippy said:

{snip}

On a related note, the future home of the NY Islanders, Barclays Center, may seat only 14,500 for NHL hockey- but they have 100+ luxury suites in their building. Yikes! That's the NY market for ya though...

But the Islanders have to share the luxury suite revenue with the Nets. Along with any non-team specific revenue like naming rights, tax concessions or subsidies, leased space, and the like. With MTS every dollar that goes in there goes to True North.

Given the waiting list for suites at MTS I suspect these skysuites will be snapped up instantly.



m.

[j05121]

They should start it now since the place will not be used much.

[Guardian]

Thanks for the update slippy!

Can they put suites at both ends behind the nets as well?

[jval07]

I always thought the HP Pavillion (San Jose pictured above) and the MTS Centre were almost identical copies of each other other than them having the extra ring of suites. Looking at that pic, I noticed they probably have an additional concourse level as well judging by tunnels mid lower-bowl as well as between the suites at the top of the lower bowl. If that's the case, great design to reduce the conjestion in the concourse during intermissions.
I'd love to see an extra ring of suites even on just the side opposite the press box.

[mikecubs]

Slippy +1 this is an excellent post. 10-12 more luxury boxes would be perfect for MTS. 100 or so more people won't clog up the concorses like 1000 more people would and the luxury boxes will bring in a lot more cash than 1000 cheap seats would.

Regarding Barclays Center it may not have 104 luxury boxes for hockey. Thats for basketball. I think for hockey you could lose 12-18 luxury boxes.

Take a look at this seating chart

seatics.tickettransaction.com/BarclaysCenter_EndstageGA_2012-12-03_2012-06-26_0820_tn.gif

Anything with an A or B in front of it is a luxury box.

Then compare it to this chart.
cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1264487/barclays-center-seating-chart.jpg

I assume on the left hand side the luxury boxes will have an extremely limited view or no view at all and won't be sold or will be sold very cheaply.

[JETStender]

Nov 12, 2012 10:46:25 GMT -6 Guardian said:

Thanks for the update slippy!

Can they put suites at both ends behind the nets as well?

It's a mirror of the existing Press box Level. 2 Party suites in the corners, nothing in the ends.

[JETStender]

Nov 12, 2012 5:13:08 GMT -6 slippy said:

MTS Centre currently has 57 luxury suites (including 2 party suites). The new total will be 67-69 suites. And these suites, since they're further from the ice, will be cheaper than the existing ones.

No they wont be. They will still charge top dollar for these.

[Guardian]

Nov 12, 2012 16:03:25 GMT -6 JETStender said:

Nov 12, 2012 10:46:25 GMT -6 Guardian said:

Thanks for the update slippy!

Can they put suites at both ends behind the nets as well?

It's a mirror of the existing Press box Level. 2 Party suites in the corners, nothing in the ends.

Is there a architectual reason for this or is it simply that True North wants only to mirror the Press Box?

[jval07]

That Barclay's configuration for hockey is crazy. There will be no specators, except for a few upper sections at one end of the rink??? And that's how it's going to be for years and years down the road? Seems horrible.

[JETStender]

Nov 12, 2012 16:08:53 GMT -6 Guardian said:

Nov 12, 2012 16:03:25 GMT -6 JETStender said:

It's a mirror of the existing Press box Level. 2 Party suites in the corners, nothing in the ends.

Is there a architectual reason for this or is it simply that True North wants only to mirror the Press Box?

Yes architectural, there is nothing to support it.

[jval07]

This (Barclays Center) is a horrible design for hockey. That one sliver section of seats in the zone face the wrong direction. That's brutal.

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[Deleted]

Nov 12, 2012 16:34:35 GMT -6 jval07 said:

This (Barclays Center) is a horrible design for hockey. That one sliver section of seats in the zone face the wrong direction. That's brutal.

if the Islanders continue to suck after the lockout, fans might want to be wishing they could face the wrong direction.

[Deleted]

if mts centre can figure out a way to put luxury seats on the roof, being able to watch the game from a "bird's eye view" transparent domed floor, I say Kudos to them for thinking of a way to generate more money. Good for them!

[Deleted]

Slippy, you've gained weight...