NHL Jets ownership group True North Sports & Entertainment yesterday announced a new no re-entry policy will "take effect in September" and will be "applied 365 days a year at events at MTS Centre in an effort to address the air temperature in the building and the safety in intersections around it," according to David Larkins of the WINNIPEG SUN. True North said that frequent entry and re-entry "impacts the air temperature because it lets cold air in" during the winter, and "humid air in" during the summer. The company also said that it will "curtail pedestrian traffic outside the building." Five remaining NHL rinks "allow for some sort of re-entry during events, with Toronto being the lone Canadian market." It has not been "uncommon for Jets fans to leave the arena during intermissions to visit one of the nearby bars for a quick drink that comes at a cost lower than what's available at MTS Centre." True North Senior VP/Venues & Entertainment Kevin Donnelly said that those who smoke "are being told to go without." Donnelly noted some NHL venues "offer smoking zones." But he said that "given the lack of space around the outside of the arena for such an area he doesn't foresee Winnipeg having that option" (WINNIPEG SUN, 5/4).
