Whether it's the roar of a packed NHL arena or the crack of a bat on a warm summer evening, Manitobans are passionate, loud and fiercely loyal to their home teams. From the NHL, CFL or CEBL in Winnipeg to major junior hockey in Brandon, here's where to find the best live sports action across the province.

Key Takeaways

• Winnipeg is home to five professional sports teams spanning hockey, football, basketball and baseball, all playing within one city.
• The Winnipeg Jets and their famous Whiteout playoff tradition are a bucket-list experience for any hockey fan.
• Brandon is home to the Wheat Kings, one of the WHL's most storied major junior franchises, just two hours west of Winnipeg.
• Summer is the best time to take in Blue Bombers football or a Goldeyes baseball game. Both offer a family-friendly atmosphere at an accessible price point.
• The Sea Bears bring professional basketball to Canada Life Centre each spring and summer, making Winnipeg a year-round sports destination.

Winnipeg Jets

If ever there was a hockey city full of passionate fans, it's right here. The Winnipeg Jets are the heart of Manitoba's sports identity. Whether it's a regular season game or a playoff "Whiteout” game, Jets fans arrive ready to make noise from the first puck drop to the last. Take in a game at Canada Life Centre, right in the heart of downtown Winnipeg, where the intensity of the crowd is something you'll feel in your core. The state-of-the-art arena offers plenty of dining options like the infamous Jet Dog and the nearby Hargrave St. Market has several food and beverage options for before the game in a market-hall atmosphere.

The NHL team was welcomed back with open arms when True North Sports & Entertainment brought the franchise from Atlanta in 2011, ending a 15-year absence since the original Jets left for Phoenix after the 1995–96 season. During the anthem, listen for the moment fans belt out the words "True North" during the line "true north strong and free" – a nod to the passion and pride many Winnipeggers feel toward their home team.

Single game tickets are regularly available for purchase online or at the Canada Life Centre box office.

Manitoba Moose

Before the Jets returned, Winnipeg cheered for the Manitoba Moose – and the Moose aren't going anywhere. As the Jets' AHL affiliate, the Moose play at Canada Life Centre and offer all the live hockey excitement of a professional game at a more family-friendly price point.

If you've got kids in tow, a Moose game is an ideal introduction to live hockey. Say hello to Mick E. Moose, the team's beloved mascot, and settle in for an afternoon or evening of fast, hard-hitting hockey from the next generation of NHL talent. Their season starts in fall and runs until late spring.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

When the grass comes out at Princess Auto Stadium, so do Winnipeg's football fans. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers – known to their fans as the blue and gold – are one of the CFL's most successful franchises, with back-to-back Grey Cup titles in 2019 and 2021 (the 2020 CFL season was cancelled due to COVID-19).

The stadium atmosphere on game day is something to experience. Thousands of fans fill the stands with that unmistakable mix of prairie pride and competitive fire that defines Bombers football. Tickets are available through the Blue Bombers website, and the season runs through the summer and into November.

Winnipeg Goldeyes

For a different kind of summer sporting activity in Winnipeg, head to Blue Cross Park for a Winnipeg Goldeyes game. Baseball in Manitoba has a long history, and the Goldeyes – who play in the American Association – carry that tradition forward with an experience built for families and casual fans alike.

With tickets starting as low as $10, a playground on site, numerous food options, a family room and a Craft Beer Corner, there's plenty to keep everyone happy between innings. Situated right in downtown Winnipeg, the views from the stadium are hard to beat. Don't forget to grab a cold one in a beer bat and stick around for post-game fireworks on Friday nights throughout the summer.

Winnipeg Sea Bears

Professional basketball has found a home in Winnipeg. The Winnipeg Sea Bears joined the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) in 2023 and play their home games at Canada Life Centre each spring and summer.

Manitoba's first professional basketball team in over two decades, the Sea Bears have quickly built a loyal following and fans are known for record-breaking attendance since the team first hit the court three years ago. The CEBL season offers fast-paced, high-energy basketball in an intimate arena setting. Check the Sea Bears website for the current season schedule and tickets.

Brandon Wheat Kings

Manitoba's sports story doesn't end in Winnipeg. About two hours west in Brandon, the Brandon Wheat Kings have been a cornerstone of Western Hockey League play since 1967 – and one of the most storied franchises in Canadian major junior hockey.

The Wheat Kings play at Assiniboine Credit Union Place, part of the Keystone Centre complex on Brandon's exhibition grounds. For visitors making their way across the province, a Wheat Kings game is a genuine and affordable piece of Manitoba sports culture.

The WHL season runs from September through May, with playoff hockey extending into spring. Tickets are available through the Wheat Kings website.

More Leagues and Teams to Watch

Manitoba's sporting depth runs well beyond the professional ranks. Across the province, junior and community-level hockey leagues are producing some of the most exciting – and most affordable – live sport you can catch on any given weekend.

Transcona Railer Express

Right in Winnipeg's east end, the Transcona Railer Express play out of Ed Golding Memorial Arena in the MMJHL – the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League, a ten-team league operating in and around Winnipeg for players aged 17 to 21. The Railer Express had a dominant 2025–26 season, claiming both the Art Moug Trophy as regular season champions and the Jack McKenzie Trophy as league champions. Players competing for a future in the game bring a gritty, determined energy to every game, and tickets are extremely affordable: adults $15, students and seniors $10, and children 10 and under free.

Niverville Nighthawks

One of the most remarkable stories in recent Manitoba sports history belongs to the Niverville Nighthawks of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL). Just four seasons after joining the league as an expansion franchise, the Nighthawks won the 2026 MJHL Turnbull Cup championship – and then kept going, claiming the 2026 Centennial Cup as Canada's National Junior A champions. Their home rink is the Niverville Community Resource & Recreation Centre arena, about 35 kilometres south of Winnipeg in the growing town of Niverville. MJHL season runs September through April.

University of Manitoba Bisons

University sport in Manitoba doesn't get bigger than the Bisons. The University of Manitoba fields 18 varsity teams across 10 sports – football, hockey, basketball, volleyball, soccer, swimming, track and field, curling, cross country and golf – all competing in the Canada West conference of U Sports. Football games draw some of the best university sport atmospheres in the province, with home games played at Princess Auto Stadium. Hockey is played at Wayne Fleming Arena on campus, while volleyball and basketball call the Investors Group Athletic Centre home. For visitors looking for high-level sport without the price of a professional ticket, a Bisons game is one of Manitoba's best-kept sporting secrets.

University of Winnipeg Wesmen

Don't let the size of the campus fool you. The University of Winnipeg Wesmen compete in basketball, volleyball, and soccer – and they do it with a national championship pedigree that rivals any university program in Canada, with 20 national titles to their name. All home games are played at the Duckworth Centre, tucked right into the heart of downtown Winnipeg. It's an intimate, energetic setting where the crowd feels close to the action and student spirit runs high. Check wesmen.ca for the current season schedule.

Brandon Bobcats

Brandon University's varsity teams – the Bobcats – compete in basketball, volleyball and soccer out of the Healthy Living Centre in Brandon. The program punches well above its weight: the Bobcats men's volleyball team won the 2025 U Sports national championship, hosted right at home in Brandon. If you're making the trip west to catch the Wheat Kings, it's worth checking the Bobcats schedule – a double-header sports weekend in Brandon is a genuinely rewarding way to see the city.

Sport-like Events Not to Miss

Live Thoroughbred Racing at Assiniboia Downs, May–October

Few summer traditions in Winnipeg are as enduring as an evening at Assiniboia Downs. Live thoroughbred racing runs from May 12 through October 7 every Tuesday and Wednesday, plus select Mondays, with post time at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free, parking is complimentary, and the atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming for first-timers and seasoned racegoers alike. The season's marquee event is the Manitoba Derby, the first jewel of the Western Canadian Triple Crown. Racing programs are available at the gate for $3.

High Speed Action at Victory Lane Speedway

Less than ten minutes south of Winnipeg on Highway 75 in St. Adolphe, Victory Lane Speedway has been putting on a show since 1973 and it remains central Canada's largest high-banked oval dirt track. Every Thursday night from June through September, the speedway hosts wheel-to-wheel racing across multiple classes including late models, WISSOTA Modifieds, stock cars and super trucks. It's loud, fast, affordable and genuinely fun for the whole family – admission for adults is $20, students 11–15 pay $10 and kids 10 and under get in free. Check the schedule at victorylanespeedway.ca before you go.

Plan Your Trip

When to go: Manitoba's sports calendar runs nearly year-round. Hockey (Jets, Moose and Wheat Kings) runs September through May. The Blue Bombers play June through November. The Goldeyes and Sea Bears both play spring through summer, making June through August a particularly rich window for sports fans.

Getting there: All Winnipeg venues are centrally located and accessible by car or transit. Canada Life Centre and Blue Cross Park are both in or near downtown Winnipeg. Princess Auto Stadium is located on the University of Manitoba campus, roughly a 20-minute drive from downtown accessible via Winnipeg Transit and a protected bike lane that starts downtown. Brandon is approximately a two-hour drive west of Winnipeg along the Trans-Canada Highway.

Book ahead: Jets playoff games and Grey Cup-run Bombers games can sell out quickly. For regular season games across all teams, single game tickets are generally available close to game day.

For families: Moose, Goldeyes and Sea Bears games are all strong options for families with younger children, offering lower ticket prices and relaxed atmospheres. Wheat Kings games in Brandon are also an excellent, affordable family outing.