The AHL is coming back to Winnipeg next season. Downtown businesses and groups like the Downtown BIZ are excited, because it will mean more people coming to downtown Winnipeg. But with the positive, there are potential negatives.

Add the 38 home games of the AHL franchise to the 41 games the Winnipeg Jets already play, and it means thousands more people coming downtown.

"We know that a Jets game is filled with 15,000 people, and people are dying to get seats, so this is just another opportunity to get people out to the MTS Centre," said Jason Syvixay, managing director, Downtown BIZ.

More people at the MTS Centre could also potentially mean more people going to downtown businesses, both before and after the game.

The cityplace's Boston Pizza general manager said it could be great for the restaurant.

But some worry it won't be so great for concert and event fans.

"If they're going to be using that facility, then it might take up some space, especially in the winter time, with two teams in there," said hockey fan Ryan Hookham.

Kevin Donnelly, who books events into MTS Centre, says some tours are already driving past Winnipeg because the Jets and other events occupy space on the calendar. Donnelly  said no firm decision has been made so far on where the team will play or what it will be called, but if it is in the MTS Centre, he said it’s possible it may cost us a few concert dates.

"That's the struggle always, and it happens frequently," he said.

He said it happens all the time already because the Jets, or other events like Disney on Ice, occupy the date a tour wanted.

Still, big acts continue to be booked. Donnelly says he'll work harder, and in advance, encouraging promoters to bring concerts and shows here on open dates.

"No one has told me to take the winter off, now that we have two hockey teams, so our goal is to keep the traffic coming through at the volume, and the variety that the market has supported."

And he is confident Winnipeg will still get its fair share of shows at the MTS Centre. Donnelly also points out there are many other cities with two professional sports teams in the same building, and they still manage to book plenty of concerts.

- with a report from Jon Hendricks