Burton Cummings Theatre too hot to handle? Owners eye AC

A Winnipeg woman says she got heat exhaustion after seeing a show at the Burton Cummings Theatre in Winnipeg.

Rosita Lopez and about 1,200 other fans went to see Serena Ryder perform at the historic venue last week.

But Lopez said she left feeling sick.

“It was very uncomfortable,” said Lopez. “By the time the concert was over, I had quite a headache and through the night I was really ill.”

Temperatures hit 27 C on Wednesday last week when Ryder performed.

With all the people at the concert and the hot air rising, Lopez said the upper balconies where she was sitting were stifling.  

She said no fans were operating for air movement and the theatre does not have air conditioning.

True North Sports and Entertainment took over the 107-year-old building in April.

Senior vice president Kevin Donnelly said he completely understands Lopez’s complaints and knows the old building needs upgrades.

“I think that the venue has a reputation now for some of these deficiencies,” he said. “It’s going to take a long time to recover and for people to build their own confidences.”

Donnelly, who was also at Wednesday’s concert, said temperature control is just one of the things True North is working on in the building.