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Post by jimsabo21 on Aug 12, 2011 13:41:34 GMT -6
Hi Fellow 300 Level Season Ticket Holders,
We are the lucky ones. We have season tickets! That said, many of us in the lower rows have slightly obstructed views of the goals because of the heightened guardrails in entryways AND the wire mesh filling. This is also an issue in the 200 level; however, the wire mesh was replaced with plexiglass almost immediately after the MTS Centre openned. The 300 level was kept in tact because of the relatively few events that require the upperbowl to be used.
Fast forward to 2011 and we have an NHL team again! The 300 level will be in full use, and because of this, I am asking True North offer us the same consideration they gave the 200 level by replacing wire mesh with plexiglass!
I counted 490 seats where a net in obstructed. That is 8% of all upperbowl seats. Nearly 50% of all upperbowl seats have an "ice obstruction" (albeit much less severe) because of the wire mesh and guardrails.
If this is a concern to you, please let Linzy Jones, Jim Ludlow, Robert Thorsten, John Olfert, Jeff Mager, Bill Hibbard, Mike Labay and / or your ticket rep know! Please do so in a polite, considerate email.
Their email addresses are:
ljones@truenorth.mb.ca
jludlow@truenorth.mb.ca
rthorsten@truenorth.mb.ca
jolfert@truenorth.mb.ca
jmager@truenorth.mb.ca
bhibbard@truenorth.mb.ca
mlabay@truenorth.mb.ca
You can also send in snail mail (might have more impact as many emails get ignored) to
TRUE NORTH SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT LTD.
260 Hargrave Street
Winnipeg, MB R3C 5S5
Thanks, and see you all at the rink in fall!
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Post by jimsabo21 on Aug 12, 2011 13:43:09 GMT -6
Here is the letter I sent True North:
Greetings,
Let me start by thanking True North Sports & Entertainment for bringing the NHL back to Winnipeg. I, along with many others have been dreaming of this day for a long time! We are truly blessed as a city to have an organization such as True North enhancing the quality of all our lives.
The reason I am contacting you today is to raise awareness of the obstructed views from the 300 level due in large part to safety railing installed along the front row. In particular, the heightened railing at each entry area create substantial obstructions for most of the lower five rows. Because eye sight is linear, I was able to use geometric principles to count the number of seats where a goal would be obstructed. While nearly all 300 level seats have some minor obstructions due to the high rails, the total number of seats which have an obstructed view of the goal is 490 (8.3% of all seats). Most of these 490 seats are situated in the lower four rows of the P5 seating area (most expensive section in the upper deck).
Great news! There is an easy solution to this problem: Replace the wire mesh with plexiglass. Ideally, all rails would be gone, and the “new” safety rail would be seamless plexiglass. When you think about it, plexiglass is the only barrier at ice level separating the fans from 100mph pucks and 250lbs men bodychecking each other. If we trust plexiglass at ice level, then surely it would do an adequate job in preventing falls from the 300 level. As a Moose season ticket holder, I am well aware than the 200 level guard rails are filled with plexiglass rather than wire mesh. Why can’t the same courtesy be offered to 300 level ticket holders?
It appears True North has been busy upgrading many areas of the MTS Centre to prepare for the NHL season. Many of these renovations are purely aesthetic (new flooring, paint schemes, etc.). While these upgrades are necessary, what could possibly be more important than the view of the game? After all, isn’t that what it’s all about – the view of the game from your seats? I have committed $46,080 for four seats in section 319, row 3 for the next four years. Two of my four seats have a severe obstruction of the near goal. There are 490 other fans in the same boat as me representing $5,644,800 in committed season ticket sales that might not be able to see the puck slide into the net. As a former Moose Season Ticket holder, I was unaware of these obstructions in the 300 level when the seat selection survey was sent.
Included is an MTS Centre seating chart where the red dots represent seats that would have an obstructed view of the goal. Also included are views from my particular seats (section 319, row 3). Once again, thank you for bringing the NHL back to Winnipeg. The cherry on top would be an un-obstructed view of the game from my seats!
Sincerely,
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Post by jimsabo21 on Aug 12, 2011 13:49:06 GMT -6
Here are the seats with a net obstructed because of guardrails. Replacing wire mesh with plexiglass would remedy this problem! Attachments:
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Post by jimsabo21 on Aug 12, 2011 13:51:56 GMT -6
Here is an example of a seat with guardrails in front ... Attachments:
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Post by wpgjetsbrian on Aug 12, 2011 14:02:11 GMT -6
wow brutal... I have to imagine they will be putting in Plexiglas to replace the wires soon... it would only make sense. The only thing is, even with the Plexiglas you still get the big rails in the way. I have a similar problem in 209 with the rails.
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Post by domi on Aug 12, 2011 14:11:46 GMT -6
How many rows up in section 308 does that effect? I couldn't exactly make it out from your picture (which was very impressive by the way)?
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Post by jetsorbust on Aug 12, 2011 14:20:52 GMT -6
My seats are in row 6, section 315 and this doesn't appear to be a problem, but I went with my friends who are in row 1 Section 324 (I think) and they have an obstructed view because of the rail/mesh as well.
Our ticket rep said he couldn't say for sure because he doesn't know, but he believes that they likely will be replacing the mesh with plexiglass as you have suggested. Like I said, he couldn't say for sure and had no idea when, but he mentioned what you said about it being replaced in the lower level way back in 2004.
I would think that is for sure going to happen, but as wpgjetbrian said, you still have the rails as a problem. I'm wondering if it's not possible to have rail-less glass? I would have to think it can be done... anything can be done if you're willing to pay!
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Post by kidshowtime on Aug 12, 2011 14:21:36 GMT -6
damn.. those rails got BIG.
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Post by jimsabo21 on Aug 12, 2011 14:40:46 GMT -6
How many rows up in section 308 does that effect? I couldn't exactly make it out from your picture (which was very impressive by the way)? Hi Domi. For Section 308, it would be: row 1, seats 1-3 row 2, seats 1-6 row 3, seats 1-8 row 4, seats 1-13* *Row 4 may or may not have an obstructed view of the net based on your height. However, row 4 will still have a signifacant "ice obstruction" because of the rails. |
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chad77
4th Line Grinder
Posts: 148
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Post by chad77 on Aug 12, 2011 14:41:31 GMT -6
My seats are in row 6, section 315 and this doesn't appear to be a problem, but I went with my friends who are in row 1 Section 324 (I think) and they have an obstructed view because of the rail/mesh as well. Our ticket rep said he couldn't say for sure because he doesn't know, but he believes that they likely will be replacing the mesh with plexiglass as you have suggested. Like I said, he couldn't say for sure and had no idea when, but he mentioned what you said about it being replaced in the lower level way back in 2004. I would think that is for sure going to happen, but as wpgjetbrian said, you still have the rails as a problem. I'm wondering if it's not possible to have rail-less glass? I would have to think it can be done... anything can be done if you're willing to pay! section 315 row 9 is where I am jetsorbust!!!! seat 3 is mine seat 4 is my buddies see ya there |
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Post by jimsabo21 on Aug 12, 2011 14:45:00 GMT -6
damn.. those rails got BIG. The camera lens is certainly deceptive as it focuses on the nearest object. In reality, the obstruction isn't quite as exagerated as the picture makes it seem to be ... HOWEVER, it would still be much better with plexiglass. Plexiglass will especially help those that have to look at an angle where the layer of wire mesh become even more opaque. Even if your are sitting up in rows 6-8, the raised railing will take away a chunk of the near side ice - so I would still encourage you to email True North and suggest plexiglass! Thanks to all. |
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Post by jimsabo21 on Aug 12, 2011 14:47:03 GMT -6
My seats are in row 6, section 315 and this doesn't appear to be a problem, but I went with my friends who are in row 1 Section 324 (I think) and they have an obstructed view because of the rail/mesh as well. Our ticket rep said he couldn't say for sure because he doesn't know, but he believes that they likely will be replacing the mesh with plexiglass as you have suggested. Like I said, he couldn't say for sure and had no idea when, but he mentioned what you said about it being replaced in the lower level way back in 2004. I would think that is for sure going to happen, but as wpgjetbrian said, you still have the rails as a problem. I'm wondering if it's not possible to have rail-less glass? I would have to think it can be done... anything can be done if you're willing to pay! Rogers Arena in Vancouver sky suites (500 level) have completely seamless glass with no hand rails. The view is amazing - so it can be done. Ideally, this would be the best solution for the upperdeck. |
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Post by NHLWinnipeg on Aug 12, 2011 14:47:12 GMT -6
damn.. those rails got BIG. The camera lens is certainly deceptive as it focuses on the nearest object. In reality, the obstruction isn't quite as exagerated as the picture makes it seem to be ... HOWEVER, it would still be much better with plexiglass. Plexiglass will especially help those that have to look at an angle where the layer of wire mesh become even more opaque. Even if your are sitting up in rows 6-8, the raised railing will take away a chunk of the near side ice - so I would still encourage you to email True North and suggest plexiglass! Thanks to all. Sorry if this is a silly question, but what is used in most other NHL buildings -- plexiglass? Have you looked into this? Do you have any pictures of the alternative? Thx. |
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Post by jimsabo21 on Aug 12, 2011 14:51:49 GMT -6
Our upperdeck is unique whereby the "entry area" is at row 1, and you need to walk up from there. Because of this, the MTS Centre has this widened "pushed out" platform immediately infront of the "entry area" which include heightened safety rails - which creates all the obstructions.
Almost every other rink I found has the "entryway" midway through the section, so there is no need for the widened platform.
We also seem to be one of the few NHL arenas that have handrails up each staircase which themselves create obstruction. Must be stricter building codes in Manitoba.
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Post by dkehler on Aug 12, 2011 14:53:59 GMT -6
Good job starting this thread and compiling all the "evidence" jimsabo. As you know, I have the same issue with the railing in front of the wheelchair seating in the 300 level. Additionally, the railing is intentionally lower in the wheelchair sections which makes it rather unsafe for able-bodied companions standing near as one could easily topple over the railing. A higher Plexiglas "fence" would solve this problem and eliminate the obstructed viewing.
I will tweet this thread to the official Winnipeg Jets and Scott Brown's twitter account.
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