Premier Gary Doer and Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz reached the top of the stairs to the concourse of the MTS Centre in the same instant last night, kicking off a blue-ribbon reception to toast Winnipeg's new arena.

As cameras flashed, the two leaders shook hands, slapped each other on the back and grinned widely.

As a symbol of civic triumph, the two men were picture perfect.

The MTS Centre put on the ritz last night, with an inaugural event that attracted the province's political, business and arts movers and shakers, among the 12,000 who attended the sold-out event.

The excitement was palpable.

The $133.5-million entertainment building was mostly funded by private money, including investments by businesspeople who staked their private holdings on the success of the venture.

"This is a total community effort. The private sector put in 70 per cent (of the building's cost), with many of you putting your own capital at risk," Doer told the crowd.

It was a point Doer emphasized when the ribbon-cutting speeches began, after the crowd had mixed and mingled for an hour in the Winnipeg Free Press Concourse.

"This is a sign that when we work together, Manitoba is unstoppable!" Doer said. He listed off, by name, developments that are reviving the downtown, and couldn't resist looking forward to one more project the city has yet to land -- the Asper family's Canadian Centre for Human Rights museum at The Forks.

The enthusiasm was catching and the mayor made a point of applauding it.

"I'm just happy to be a part of a province with a premier who has such genuine enthusiasm," Katz said.

"Thank you for telling it the way it is," the mayor said when it was his turn at the podium.

"I'm confident this world-class facility will continue the forward momentum (like a) shot in the arm to stimulate the growth of our city," Katz said.

Last night's reception was a gigantic thank you to the private investors, whose project is the centrepiece of a hoped-for renaissance on Portage Avenue. Below the massive picture windows, thousands of people gathered in lineups along Portage Avenue, waiting to get in to the kick-off concert.

There were many people to see.

Among them were Hartley Richardson, Sandy Riley, David Asper, Gail Asper, Bill Fraser, Kevin Walters, Carol Vivier, Hugh McFadyen and Sherman Kreiner from the worlds of business, investment, media and film. Winnipeg Free Press owners Bob Silver and Ron Stern showed off the Winnipeg Free Press Concourse that surrounds the second level.

However, front and centre was Manitoba Moose owner Mark Chipman, a businessman who last night was heralded at the reception as a visionary by one dignitary after another.

"I remember being with Mark when the asbestos was falling on our heads at the old Eaton's Building," said Doer, reaching back a couple of years to the decision that would mean the arena would rise on the old Eaton's site.

Chipman was the glue that drew the private investors together, and last night they came partly to celebrate the new arena, but also to acknowledge his work to turn a dream into a reality.

Last night, he acknowledged the tributes with modesty.

Chipman said in an interview he felt humble and grateful.

"Humble because I'm a part of this. And I feel a great deal of gratitude to be part of such a collective effort," Chipman said.

MTS Centre facts

BUILT FOR SOUND

MTS Centre was designed with live music in mind. The following features are aimed at making concerts more enjoyable, as well as easier and less expensive to produce.

• Most of the building's interior is covered in fibre panelling to prevent sound from echoing off concrete. Panelling is concentrated on the north side of building, where most concert sound is directed.
• Bottom of the roof is covered with fabric panels to reduce "slap-back" from sound system below.
• An extremely flexible curtain system is capable of configuring the arena for concerts as small as 2,500 or as large as 15,000. One set encircles the lower bowl and can block off the entire upper seating area. A second set extends across ice surface.
• Numerous access points allow for flexibility in ticket-taking. Ticket scanners may be placed farther out in lobbies to create more "milling-about" space -- as well as room for portable concessions -- at well-attended concerts.
• Catwalk system on press-box level is integrated into the arena structure, enabling technicians to hang speakers, lighting or other heavy stage gear anywhere they like.
• Bottom level of building has room for several semi-trailers, enabling easier and faster load-in. Truck access is available via a tunnel that burrows under Hargrave Street.
• Tour buses can also drive directly underground, increasing security.
• There is room for TV and video production trucks on ice level, eliminating the need to park outside and run cable through a door.
• Four dedicated "green rooms" -- with carpeting, furniture and private bathrooms -- are available for performers. These can be combined into group space for larger troupes.

BUILT FOR SPORTS

Area sports fans are getting a facility that is light years ahead of the old Winnipeg Arena.

• The MTS Centre will seat a maximum 15,015 spectators for hockey. The lower bowl -- which will normally be used for seating at Moose games -- holds 8,812.
• Increasing the size of the ice surface for international hockey competitions will be easy. To increase ice width by 15 feet, to provide the 200-foot-by-100-foot international dimension, the cost is only two rows of seats on each side of the rink. The MTS Centre is one of only two such flexible arenas in North America.
• The same flexibility goes for curling events, making it easy to set up four or five sheets of curling ice.
• A conversion to a basketball court is built into the new arena's design, and it is also capable of hosting tennis competitions, indoor football, soccer, lacrosse and rodeo events.
• Converting the arena from sports uses to concert or exhibition events will most often take just a day or less. During hockey season, most non-ice events will take place on what's called an arena deck, a covering that goes right over the ice. It is quickly installed or removed to save the icemakers the hassle of having to remove or re-install the ice.

A group of dignitaries cuts the ribbon to officially open the MTS Centre last night. They are (from left): George Schott, president of Osmington Inc.; Cheryl Barker, president of Manitoba Telecom Services; Sherman Kreiner, CEO of Crocus; Jim Ludlow, President and CEO of True North Entertainment; Mark Chipman, chairman of True North and governor of Manitoba Moose; Premier Gary Doer; and Mayor Sam Katz.

Photo: Wayne Glowacki / Winnipeg Free Press