Keystone Centre
 | |
| Former names | Keystone Arena |
|---|---|
| Location |
1175 18th Street Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 7C5 |
| Coordinates | 49°49′51″N 99°57′36″W / 49.83083°N 99.96000°WCoordinates: 49°49′51″N 99°57′36″W / 49.83083°N 99.96000°W |
| Owner | Keystone Agricultural & Recreation Centre Inc. |
| Operator | Keystone Agricultural & Recreation Centre Inc. |
| Capacity |
5,102 (Hockey) 5,000 (Royal Manitoba Winter Fair) |
| Surface | Multi-surface |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | November 13, 1970[1] |
| Opened | April 2, 1973[2] |
| Expanded | 1982, 1992 |
| Construction cost |
$3.4 million[3] ($19.8 million in 2016 dollars[4]) |
| Architect | Ward & Macdonald Associates[1] |
| Tenants | |
|
Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) (1972–present) Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba (1972-present) | |
| Website | |
|
www | |
The Keystone Centre is a multi-purpose facility located in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. Its main 5,102-seat arena, Westman Communications Group Place, is the home of the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League and the annual Royal Manitoba Winter Fair.
Aside from Westman Communications Group Place, the Keystone Centre also features an exhibition hall for trade shows and agricultural events, two smaller hockey arenas, and the Brandon Curling Club. A hotel complex operated by Canad Inns is located adjacent to the Keystone Centre and features accommodations, a waterpark, restaurant, pub, and gaming lounge.
The Keystone Centre has been the site of numerous major sporting events, most recently the 2010 Memorial Cup. The Wheat Kings, playing as the host team, advanced to the championship game, but came up short against the heavily favored Windsor Spitfires.[5][6] Other major events held at the Keystone Centre include the 1999 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships (co-hosted with Winnipeg), the 1995 Ford Men's and Women's World Curling Championships, the 1993 and 2002 Scott Tournament of Hearts, the 1997 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials, and the 1994 Air Canada Cup.
The Western Canadian Junior "B" Hockey Championship, the Keystone Cup, is named after the Keystone Centre as it was the alternate site used by the original tournament in 1983 that took place in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.
The original structure was built in 1973 and was a joint venture between the City of Brandon, the Government of Manitoba, and the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba, which organizes the Royal Fair each March. The Keystone Agricultural and Recreation Centre Inc., a non-profit corporation formed by the three parties, owns and operates the complex and grounds. The Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba contributed the original land and assets. The City of Brandon and the Province of Manitoba have agreed to cover any operating deficits of the Keystone Centre.
The Keystone Centre has seen numerous expansions since its opening, including the construction of the Canad Inns hotel that replaced the Manex Arena, the former home of the Wheat Kings. The complex underwent through an interior redesign in the summer of 2007. On May 1, 2007, Westman Communications Group purchased the naming rights to the main arena and viewing lounge.
References
- 1 2 "Provincial Exhibition Association of Manitoba fonds". Brandon University. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ↑ "The Official opening of the Keystone Center occurred on 2nd April 1973". eBrandon. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ↑ "Work Stars on Brandon, Man. Exhibition Center". Amusement Business (Billboard Publications) 83 (3). 1971.
- ↑ Canadian inflation numbers based on Statistics Canada. "Consumer Price Index, historical summary". CANSIM, table (for fee) 326-0021 and Catalogue nos. 62-001-X, 62-010-X and 62-557-X. And Consumer Price Index, by province (monthly) (Canada) Last modified 2015-09-08. Retrieved September 22, 2015
- ↑ "Brandon Wheat Kings to host 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup". Western Hockey League. October 16, 2008. Archived from the original on October 21, 2008. Retrieved October 16, 2008.
- ↑ "Brandon wins bid to host 2010 Memorial Cup". CBC Sports. October 15, 2008. Retrieved October 17, 2008.