True North Sports & Entertainment President and CEO, Jim Ludlow joined political dignitaries and music industry officials today to announce that Winnipeg will host the 2005 Juno Awards April 1 - 3, 2005. The centerpiece CTV-televised Juno Awards show will originate from the MTS Centre. This is, Ludlow noted, the first event of national significance booked for the new sports and entertainment centre.

"Brace yourself, Winnipeg. Canada's music awards will soon be at your doorstep," said Melanie Berry, President of The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Berry and CARAS chairman Ross Reynolds were on hand to make the announcement official.

"For a number of years we've been answering the hypothetical question…if you build it, will they come?" Ludlow said. "Today's announcement makes real our claim that a new entertainment centre will be the catalyst that sees more shows, bigger shows and more exciting entertainment spectacles barnstorm through Winnipeg."

Premier Gary Doer called the announcement "a proud day for Manitoba and a great opportunity for us to showcase our talent and our city." The Premier also joked that Manitoba liquor laws might need to be reviewed in 2005 in order to allow bars to remain open to top the celebratory spirit achieved by host city St. John's, Newfoundland in 2002.

"This city is going to rock and rock hard," Mayor Glen Murray said. "This is going to be a great coming out party for the new downtown Winnipeg."

The three levels of government have committed about $800,000 to hold the Junos in Winnipeg and private sponsors, including MTS Centre, have also committed support. The three-day event could inject as much as $20 million into the Winnipeg economy.

In 2004 we'll put the roof on the new Entertainment Centre and be open for business by November," Jim Ludlow concluded. "Then in 2005, we'll welcome the Juno's to town and blow the roof off with the biggest and best week of celebrations the awards have ever seen."

In addition to the televised awards gala at MTS Centre, there'll be a two day series of concerts and showcases to be held in downtown bars, an autograph session called Juno Fan Fare, a songwriters' circle open to the public, a pre-televised awards show at the Convention Centre and many other industry private parties.