The True North Sports and Entertainment Centre now looks more like an arena than ever before with the installation of large sections of the pre-cast concrete slabs called the seating stadia. More than 25% of these pre-cast pieces which will form the base of the facility's seating aisles and chair platforms at the main concourse level have now been lifted into place.

The exterior form of the building is also more evident. The concourse floor of the suite or skywalk level concourse (one level up from the street) has now been poured in place. The majority of the columns have also been poured from the suite level to the upper concourse level (two floor levels above the street).

The first section of the upper concourse floor at the Donald Street and Graham Avenue corner will be poured before the end of this week. Once the upper concourse floor is completely poured, columns will be erected at that elevation and the seating "rakers" for the upper concourse stadia will be poured into place.

The 300-foot long ramp and tunnel from Carlton Street down and under Hargrave Street to the event level is now open and being used as the main construction access to the site. The new service ramp allows cement trucks and the fifty-foot semi-trailers carrying the pre-cast concrete stadia to drive right down on to the event floor where they are unloaded. The ramp, wide enough for two semi trailers to pass side-by-side, is receiving a good working test prior to its future and intended use as the essential access for moving show traffic and service vehicles in and out of the facility without disrupting pedestrians or vehicles on the surrounding streets.

The current work schedule at the MTS Centre site includes connecting the building to gas and sewer service, backfilling around the areas outside the foundation walls in preparation for new sidewalks to be laid and continued concrete and masonry work on stairwells, elevator shafts and other interior spaces of the facility.

With the approach of colder temperatures the first tarpaulins have been draped around the lower seating bowl to provide the hoarding behind which installers of electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems will work through the winter.

For more information contact:
Jim Millican
Vice President Marketing and Communications
True North Sports and Entertainment Ltd
(204) 989 - 6813, cell 792 - 4145

[MTS Centre Construction Updates Archive]