Keystone Centre

The Keystone Centre is a multi-purpose facility located in Brandon, Manitoba. Its main 5,102-seat arena, which is known as Assiniboine Credit Union Place, is the home of the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League and the annual Royal Manitoba Winter Fair.

The original structure was built in 1973 and was known as the Keystone Centre. It 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 was established through an agreement between the City of Brandon and the Province of Manitoba that saw the two parties share equally in any deficit of the Keystone. The Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba contributed the land and assets of the day, and the three parties formed the leadership of the corporation.

A ten-member board of directors consisting of two representatives from the City of Brandon, two from the Province of Manitoba and two from the Provincial Exhibition, in addition to four members at large from the community appointed by the Leadership Group. The corporation employs a general manager and staff who carry out the management and operation of the facility.

There have been several expansions to the Keystone Centre. In 1982 approximately 30,000 square feet of space was added with the development of the Manitoba Room, Pioneer Lounge, and Amphitheatre. In 1992, in response to ever-growing needs in the community, a major expansion was completed which added 165,000 square feet of new tradeshow and recreation space.

Today the Keystone Centre sits on approximately 90 acres in Brandon's busiest commercial district and offers 540,000 square feet of multi-use all under one roof. As a significant contributor to the quality of life in Westman, the Keystone Centre plays an important role in the area of social and economic impact. Boasting over 1,500 event days annually, the Keystone Centre hosts a diverse array of activities providing a large component of the social, recreational, cultural and agricultural fabric of the area, and is one of Brandon's largest economic catalysts.

El hotel Canad Inns reemplazó al Manex Arena , antiguo hogar de los Wheat Kings. El complejo fue remodelado en su interior durante el verano de 2007. El Keystone Centre también cuenta con una sala de exposiciones para ferias comerciales y eventos agrícolas, dos pistas de hockey más pequeñas y el Brandon Curling Club .

El 1 de mayo de 2007, Westman Communications Group adquirió los derechos de denominación del estadio principal y la sala de espectadores. Westman Communications Group finalizó sus derechos de denominación del estadio principal en octubre de 2017, y la señalización se retiró en enero de 2018. ^{[ 5 ]} El 2 de febrero de 2018, Westoba Credit Union adquirió los derechos de denominación del estadio principal y la sala de espectadores. ^{[ 6 ]}

El Westoba Place albergó la Memorial Cup de 2010. [ ^{7 ] [ 8 ] Otros} eventos importantes celebrados en el Keystone Centre incluyen el Campeonato Mundial Juvenil de Hockey sobre Hielo de 1999 (organizado conjuntamente con Winnipeg ), el Campeonato Mundial de Curling Masculino y Femenino Ford de 1995 , el Labatt Brier de 1982 , el Scott Tournament of Hearts de 1993 y 2002 , las Pruebas Olímpicas Canadienses de Curling de 1997 y la Air Canada Cup de 1994. El 13 de octubre de 2017, Curling Canada anunció que el Tim Hortons Brier de 2019 se celebrará en el Keystone Centre del 2 al 10 de marzo. ^{[ 9 ]}

El Campeonato de Hockey Junior "B" del Oeste de Canadá, la Copa Keystone , recibe su nombre del Keystone Centre, ya que fue la sede alternativa utilizada por el torneo original en 1983, que tuvo lugar en Portage la Prairie, Manitoba .

La WWE celebró su evento principal, Monday Night Raw, el 23 de octubre de 1995.

• Keystone Centre