Southeast Event Centre construction progresses

Local media was given the opportunity to tour the Southeast Event Centre on Nov. 22, as Steinbach senior manager of operations Paul Penner and Southeast Event Centre general manager Jeffrey Bannon shared the progress to date.

The $74 million, 94,000 sq. ft. facility will feature two indoor ice surfaces (including the current T.G. Smith Arena), will be able to fit 4,000 people for concerts using a centre stage configuration, offers a multiuse facility for court sports and banquets, will have an indoor play structure and will be new home for the Steinbach Pistons.

The facility will also be home to Forum & Bistro, a restaurant headed up by chef J.P. Charpentier.

Bannon said all food served at the SEC will be fresh and much will be locally sourced.

The new arena design offers spacious seating and great views, private boxes and a large new press box.

Penner said he has seen progress every day.

“We probably have 140 people here every day who are working hard to get this done,” he said. “Every day I see different areas being completed, so it’s moving along quite well.”

Penner said he’s excited that this facility will be able to accommodate so many different types of events.

Their website offers as an example art exhibitions, Broadway- style performances, comedy shows and festivals, concerts featuring top artists and local talent, craft shows, curling bonspiels, dance competitions, dog shows, farmers’ markets, gymnastics events, hockey games and tournaments, ice capade-style shows, science fairs, sledge hockey tournaments and travelling gallery exhibits.

“We’ve got sporting events, we’ve got a banquet facility… it’s a complete event centre that we can enjoy as a community,” he said.