MTS and True North announce naming rights agreement for MTS Iceplex

New Winnipeg facility will open on August 15, 2010

WINNIPEG, April 9 /CNW/ - MTS and True North Sports & Entertainment Limited is pleased to announce the new sporting facility being built to serve the Winnipeg community will be named the MTS Iceplex as part of a naming rights partnership agreement for the entire complex.

The MTS Iceplex is a 172,000 square foot multi-plex facility that includes such amenities as four NHL regulation-sized ice pads, 20 player dressing rooms, a pro shop, concession and vending, and a restaurant and lounge, high performance training facilities and office space for MTS Iceplex management and staff, Hockey Canada and Hockey Manitoba.

"We are very excited to share our name with this outstanding new facility that will serve countless young hockey players in Manitoba, as well as the Manitoba Moose, every year," said Kelvin Shepherd, President, MTS. "Our arrangement with the MTS Centre has already been a tremendous success, and our relationship with True North Sports & Entertainment is very strong. Extending this relationship to the MTS Iceplex is a natural fit, and we are proud to be a part of the development of this exciting new facility."

As part of the agreement, MTS will provide a full suite of advanced communications services to the MTS Iceplex facility, including improved wireless coverage for inside the facility, Wi-Fi connectivity for Internet access, and MTS Ultimate TV service.

"We are excited that MTS will be part of another successful sports facility in Manitoba. This facility will be an important part of the community and MTS, one of the largest contributors to the economy in Manitoba, is an ideal supporter for the facility," said Jim Ludlow, President and Chief Executive Officer, True North Sports & Entertainment. "Through our agreement with MTS, the patrons of this new facility will enjoy access to the latest in communications services and the potential for further innovative new services in the future."

True North Sports & Entertainment Limited, in conjunction with MTS, is also pleased to announce partnerships with the Assiniboine Credit Union, Red River Co-op, Remax Realtors, and the Winnipeg Free Press for the naming rights of the individual arenas within the MTS Iceplex.

The MTS Iceplex will not only serve as the primary practice facility for the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose, but will also be home to the Manitoba Junior Hockey League's Winnipeg Blues. Both the Moose and Blues will move into more expansive dressing rooms, complete with offices and athletic training facilities.

Construction of the MTS Iceplex is already underway and the facility is targeted to open August 15, 2010.

About True North Sports & Entertainment

True North Sports & Entertainment is a leading and innovative provider of sports and entertainment in Winnipeg and Manitoba. They are the owner and operator of MTS Centre, as well as the owner of the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose Hockey Club. The Moose are one of the leading franchises in the AHL in terms of attendance each season. MTS Centre is one of the country's leading entertainment facilities and was recently named the 2009 Air Canada Centre Major Facility of the Year by the Canadian Music & Broadcast Industry and has ranked in the top 20 entertainment venues by PollStar Magazine, one of the entertainment industry's leading publications. Since opening in November 2004, MTS Centre has welcomed close to five and a half million patrons to close to 900 different events.

About MTS

MTS is part of MTS Allstream, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. As one of Canada's leading national communication solutions companies, MTS Allstream provides innovative communications for the way Canadians want to live and work today. The Company has more than 100 years of experience, with 6,000 employees across Canada dedicated to a mission of delivering true value as seen through the eyes of our customers. MTS Allstream has nearly two million total customer connections spanning business customers across Canada and residential consumers throughout the province of Manitoba. The Company's extensive national broadband and fibre optic network spans almost 30,000 kilometres. MTS Allstream is a proud sponsor of Cindy Klassen, 2006 World Champion and Canada's greatest Olympian, and a proud contributor to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Manitoba Telecom Services Inc.'s common shares are listed on The Toronto Stock Exchange (trading symbol: MBT). Customers, stakeholders and investors who want to learn more about MTS Allstream services, markets, community commitments and record of creating shareholder value are encouraged to visit: www.mtsallstream.com.

For further information: MTS Allstream: Gillian Giesbrecht, MTS Allstream Corporate Communications, [phone], [phone], [email protected]; True North: Scott Brown, True North Sports and Entertainment, [phone], [phone], [email protected]