After their most impressive season to date, the Jetties are getting ready to battle it out in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Now's the time to prepare for a proper Winnipeg Whiteout.
We don’t need to tell you how big this is for the city and the Jets organization, and surely you’ll feel the buzz as soon as you hit the streets of downtown and see a sea of Jets jerseys entering the Winnipeg Whiteout Street Party area and Canada Life Centre.
Here’s a guide to ensure you get the most out of your Whiteout experience –– from where to stay, where to eat and how to get gear to support the team.
And of course, opposing fans are always welcome in the Whiteout! Go Jets Go!
The WPG Whiteout Street Party (presented by Crown Royal)
For starters, how great is it that Gimli, Manitoba's own Crown Royal is this years street party sponsor?
This year's party will take place down Donald Street beside the arena, jutting out into Graham Avenue and the parking lot between The Met and the Holy Trinity church ( here's the map). There are four entrances (via Portage, Graham from the west, Donald from the south, and one off Smith), bars, washrooms and food trucks in designated areas, and a massive screen and stage by the Portage Ave entrance. The Met will also be open the whole time for additional food and bar needs.
Admissions are $10 with all proceeds going towards the True North Youth Foundation, and the street party on Donald's capacity is 5,000 fans.
A further 1,200 fans can pay $20 to attend the Party in the Plaza at True North Square which too will have outdoor bars and a massive outdoor screen for viewing.
Tickets for both events go on sale on Tuesday, April 15. $5 for all tickets sold will also go to United Way Winnipeg.
What to wear
A plain old white T won’t cut it, so check out the True North Shop with various locations around the city including Canada Life Centre to get suited up. For some more fun unofficial NHL gear, you can also find lots of Whiteout gear from our friends at We Heart Winnipeg, North Flag and The Peg Authentic.
Our friends at Travel Manitoba also have previously published 6 Winnipeg Whiteout fashion tips to help get your street party outfit on point.
How to get to Canada Life Centre
Winnipeg Jets hockey fans remain unrivalled, especially when playing on home ice in one of the loudest and most intense arenas to watch NHL hockey – Canada Life Centre at 300 Portage Avenue.
Fans come from far and wide to shout "True North" at the top of their lungs during the Canadian anthem, so regardless of how you get to Winnipeg, whether you are flying direct from LAX, or Atlanta, took a road trip from a neighbouring province or state, or are coming in for a night out from the 'burbs,' here are helpful directions to the rink.
To help you plan your route when you get here, here's where you can park, transit information and accessibility info.
Where to stay
Downtown Winnipeg is filled with outstanding properties, from locally owned boutique hotels to international brands everyone will recognize. Here are some hotels within walking distance to Canada Life Centre:
Delta Hotels by Marriott Winnipeg | 350 St Mary Ave | 0.3 km
Alt Hotel Winnipeg | 310 Donald St | 0.2 km
Holiday Inn & Suites Winnipeg-Downtown, an IHG Hotel | 360 Colony St | 0.5km
Radisson Hotel Winnipeg Downtown | 288 Portage Ave | 0.2km
Fairmont Winnipeg | 2 Lombard Place | 0.6 km
Fort Garry Hotel, Spa and Conference Centre | 222 Broadway | 0.7 km
Mere Hotel | 333 Waterfront Drive | 1.1 km
Inn at the Forks | 75 Forks Market Rd | 1.1 km
Humphry Inn & Suites | 260 Main St | 0.6 km
Hampton Inn by Hilton Winnipeg Downtown | 330 York Ave | 0.5 km
Find a full list of Winnipeg hotels listed here, and for the latest hotel offers, check out our Packages & Deals.
What to see
Winnipeg is a quirky city brimming with world-class attractions. Visiting them will keep you busy all series long while some of our main attractions are just minutes from downtown.
Explore the largest collection of contemporary Inuit art at WAG-Qaumajuq, the city's internationally celebrated art gallery featuring snowdrift-like architecture and innovative curatorial processes that bridge the far North to the centre of Canada. Embark on a metaphorical and physical journey from darkness to light through the ever-changing interactive exhibits at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
Buy from some of Manitoba’s top makers at The Forks Market where your shopping experience also includes excellent food kiosks and more than 20 unique wines and craft beers on tap at The Common.
Where to eat and drink local
Let this handy little guide point you to some of the best restaurants in Winnipeg, shown through our top culinary categories. For those looking to stick close to the rink, there are some prime pre-and post-game spots to check out offering lots of game day specials.
Capital Grill Broadway | 100-275 Broadway
Rudy's | 375 Graham Ave
The Merchant Kitchen | 314 Donald St
The Met | 281 Donald St
Pho Hoang | 235 Portage Ave
Tipsy Cow | 285 Portage Ave
Blaze Restaurant and Lounge | Ground floor of Delta Hotel, 350 St Mary
East India Company | 349 York Ave
Danook | 58 Albert St
King + Bannatyne | 100 King St, Unit D
Pubs, taprooms & wine bars
Devil May Care | 155-A Fort St
Yellow Dog Tavern | 386 Donald St
King’s Head |120 King St
Shannon’s Irish Pub | 175 Carlton St
Thomas Hinds Sampling Room |185 Carlton St #106
Garrick Hotel Bar | 287 Garry St
Introduce your taste buds to Winnipeg's ever-growing brewery scene when you stop for hops at Winnipeg's 20+ craft breweries.
Coffee shops
After a night of enjoying Winnipeg Whiteout festivities, you might need a solid cup of coffee, so here's a guide to local coffee spots downtown and in the Exchange District.
Want to dig into Winnipeg’s food scene further? Find countless articles on chefs, food events, breweries and cocktail bars at PegCityGrub, Winnipeg’s most popular culinary website.
