Opened on October 18, 1955, the Winnipeg Arena stood at 1430 Maroons Road in the city’s Polo Park district and served as the heart of Manitoba hockey for nearly five decades. Designed by architects Moody and Moore and built by Bird Construction at a cost of approximately $2.5 million CAD, the building initially seated around 9,500 fans. Renovations in 1979 expanded NHL-era capacity to 15,565, cementing its place as one of the major hockey venues in western Canada.
Over its 49-year lifespan the arena was home to a parade of tenants beginning with the Winnipeg Warriors of the Western Hockey League in 1955. The Winnipeg Jets arrived in 1972 for the WHA’s inaugural season and remained through two leagues — WHA (1972–1979) and NHL (1979–1996) — until the franchise relocated to Phoenix after the 1995–96 season. The Manitoba Moose then kept the lights on through stints in the IHL and AHL until the arena’s final event on November 7, 2004. Demolition followed on March 26, 2006, and the site was eventually redeveloped as the Polo Park North retail complex.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: 1430 Maroons Road, Polo Park, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Opened: October 18, 1955
- Closed: November 7, 2004
- Demolished: March 26, 2006
- Peak Capacity (NHL era): 15,565
- Primary Tenants: Winnipeg Jets (WHA 1972–79; NHL 1979–96), Manitoba Moose (IHL/AHL 1996–2004)
- Construction Cost: Approximately $2.5 million CAD
- Notable Event: 1972 Canada–Soviet Summit Series, Game 3
The Jets Era
The Winnipeg Jets defined the arena’s identity across two separate professional hockey leagues. The team joined the World Hockey Association in 1972 and quickly built a dynasty, winning three Avco World Trophies before the WHA folded and the Jets were absorbed into the NHL in 1979. During the NHL years the arena’s upper decks were added, pushing capacity to 15,565 and routinely selling out as Winnipeg proved itself one of the league’s most passionate hockey markets.
Financial pressures, an unfavorable exchange rate, and the absence of a new arena agreement ultimately forced the Jets to relocate to Phoenix after the 1995–96 season, leaving the old barn to the Manitoba Moose. The Moose played their last game there in November 2004 before the new MTS Centre (now Canada Life Centre) opened downtown, rendering the Polo Park facility redundant.
Historic Moments and Legacy
Beyond hockey, the Winnipeg Arena hosted some of the most significant moments in Canadian sports history. Game 3 of the legendary 1972 Canada–Soviet Summit Series was played there, drawing a national audience and cementing the building’s place in the country’s collective memory. The arena also hosted Game 3 of the 1974 Summit Series and served as a venue for the 1999 IIHF World Junior Championships, which drew roughly 170,000 fans across the tournament.
The 1999 Pan American Games brought basketball and volleyball competitions to the building, underscoring its versatility. After the final puck dropped in 2004, the arena sat vacant before the City of Winnipeg approved a $1.45 million demolition contract. By March 2006 the structure was gone, leaving behind decades of memories and a site that now anchors a retail and office development north of the Polo Park Shopping Centre.
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Winnipeg Arena FAQs
When did Winnipeg Arena open and close?
Winnipeg Arena opened on October 18, 1955, and held its final event on November 7, 2004. It was demolished on March 26, 2006.
Which teams played at Winnipeg Arena?
Primary tenants included the Winnipeg Warriors (WHL, 1955–1961 and 1980–1984), the Winnipeg Jets (WHA 1972–1979 and NHL 1979–1996), and the Manitoba Moose (IHL/AHL, 1996–2004).
What was Winnipeg Arena’s seating capacity?
The arena opened with roughly 9,500 seats. After upper-deck renovations in 1979 it reached a peak NHL-era capacity of 15,565. During its final AHL years capacity was listed at about 13,985.
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Photo: Unknown photographer, Winnipeg Tribune, 18 October 1954, page 22. / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.