The Seat Selection Process

I had the chance to speak with a Winnipeg Jets season ticket holder this week about the seat selection process.  This particular season ticket holder was lucky enough to have purchased during the general on sale.

Two weeks ago he received an e-mail indicating that True North had set up an account on their website; the e-mail included a username and a password. It appears that this portion was set up through Ticketmaster. In the e-mail it stated that season ticket holders would receive another e-mail with instructions between 6-8 weeks from that date to come to the MTS Centre and make an appointment.

Now he just had to spend the rest of the time scouring the P5 seats (grey) trying to determine where in fact he’d like to sit for the next 3 years.

Read more about the seat selection process after the jump.

Surprisingly, 2 weeks later the e-mail arrived, it was on a Friday night, at midnight (aka early Saturday morning). This e-mail indicated that the recipient was to make an appointment for the next week to come to the MTS Centre and select their seats. Making an appointment was very similar to buying tickets to an event on Ticketmaster, a credit card was required to “buy” the appointment, but no money was charged. He knew he would have to act quickly, as it is first come, first serve for seat selection. Even at 1am, his first choice for an appointment time was quickly taken.

He had tickets in section P5, but later found out that some other P5 holders did not receive their e-mail quite yet.

Before the appointment, season ticket holders are required to print out and bring a form which includes a questionnaire, it asks to rank 3 sections of preference, seat number preference, row preference, as well as preference to sit beside another season ticket holder.

When arriving at the appointment, he took the escalator up to the 300 level, bringing the admission ticket and printed form. The process is like Ticketmaster, but in person. A True North representative, will give season ticket holders about 2 or 3 options to select your seat, they do not show you what else is available, and according to them everything else has been reserved. (The season ticket holder whom I spoke to had doubts whether or not this was actually true). It was noted that the first 6 rows in the upper deck, had been already taken by Moose season ticket holders.

He picked the seats he wanted, and even had a chance to sit in them. It was noted that all of the seats in the upper deck provide great views; however, he told IC that rows 11 and 12 (the back two rows) have a partially obstructed view of the scoreboard due to the roof & awning.

While he did not see any construction, he stated that he would not be drinking beer on that level, as there were not nearly enough bathrooms. The True North representative indicated that they would be adding more bathrooms, as well as permanent concessions. When asked if they would prefer if “trough” style toilets should be installed, the season ticket holder did not think there would be enough room for them to fit.

That is one season ticket holder’s account on the seat selection process, if you have already selected your seats; feel free to post in the comments.