The Brandon Wheat Kings have renewed their partnership with the Keystone Centre, and as part of that renewed agreement, improvements to the fan experience are on the way.
The Wheat Kings and Keystone Centre are extremely pleased to announce a ten-year lease to keep the Black and Gold playing in their historic home. Though the financial terms of the deal will not be disclosed, both parties are pleased to have reached an agreement and are excited to start working on improvements to the facility.
“We are thrilled to have been able to reach a new agreement with the Keystone Centre for the next ten years,’ said Wheat Kings owner and governor Jared Jacobson. “With this new deal, we provide stability for our franchise and while at the same time enhancing the experience of our fans and supporters. We look forward to partnering with the Keystone Centre to make those plans a reality.”
Fans will notice some big upgrades as part of the new agreement. One major area of improvement will be in the seating. The current seats, which were formerly part of the Winnipeg Arena before being moved to Brandon in advance of the 2010 Memorial Cup, will be replaced.
“Our fans are the best in the league, and they deserve the best possible experience when they come to the rink,” Jacobson said. “We know our fans will love the product we put on the ice in the years to come, and we want them to love the gameday experience too. That means giving them a comfortable place to watch from.”
New, more modern seats will fill the arena ahead of the 2024-25 season. These seats will have arm rests, cup holders, more legroom and space on the sides, and be more comfortable than the historic seats. Due to the larger seat size and design of the new seats, arena capacity will decrease in the lower bowl, creating a more intimate atmosphere.
“The Keystone Centre and The City of Brandon are very fortunate to house a WHL team, we have seen so much talent come and leave through our doors, on and off the ice,” said Keystone Centre VP of Sales / Assistant General Manager Connie Lawrence. “We are proud partners of the Wheat Kings and as we move forward we can expect to see this partnership flourish and grow.”
In addition to new seats, a dehumidifier along with air conditioning will also be part of the plan moving forward. The new agreement will also see the Keystone Centre improve its accessibility for disabled fans. Fans will also find the Keystone Centre will be more cash friendly.
“With the City and Province recently committing to their new funding agreement, it is great to see the Keystone Centre and the Brandon Wheat Kings sign a 10-year lease.” Stated Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett. “The Brandon Wheat Kings are recognized throughout Canada, and are a major economic driver for our area. I’m certain all of Westman looks forward to cheering on Manitoba’s only WHL team for years to come.”
The work of installing the new seats will begin in the 2024 offseason.
The Wheat Kings are back on the ice on Friday to take on the Moose Jaw Warriors for their final home pre-season game, before turning their attention to the 2023-24 Home Opener on Friday, September 22nd vs the Regina Pats.
(Article courtesy of the Brandon Wheat Kings)
